RICS Library Blog

New version of Homebuyer report is now available

2009-07-01T14:14:00Z

The Homebuyer Report Practice Notes 3rd edition which includes practice notes, report documentation including Choosing between surveys, Description of the HBR and Standard Terms of Engagement, Leasehold properties advice, report form and checklists are available for RICS members to view and download. The Practice Notes are available for purchase from RICS Books . Information on how to purchase a HBR Copyright License is available. RICS SurveyWriter , a software solution designed to save surveyors...(read more)

Construction industry still suffering skills shortage

2009-06-12T11:27:00Z

The third annual skills survey from the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) shows the construction industry still suffering from a skills shortage despite the recession. The number of respondents who reported a skills shortage was 77% and this was mainly due to companies being unable to afford to employ additional staff with 54% stating that they had made redundancies. The report warns that once the economy improves and industry demand rises there will be many previously skilled workers who choose...(read more)

BCIS E-tendering Survey Report

2009-06-11T13:44:00Z

BCIS e-tendering survey shows that the majority of surveyors have not yet explored the benefits of more secure web based e-tendering services. The percentage of tender documents sent solely in electronic format increased to 15% from 8% two years ago but the number of electronic documents delivered by physical means has also increased. For the BCIS press release More information about RICS e-tendering For information from the RICS Library please browse our online catalogue...(read more)

Valuing commercial property in uncertain times

2009-06-10T14:43:00Z

RICS Valuation Professional Group has issued timely guidance to lenders and valuers who are conducting loan security valuation reviews in circumstances when values are changing rapidly. Valuation Information Alert - Loan Security Valuation Reviews ( member only content ) is primarily aimed at commercial property....(read more)

Lost items

2009-06-09T14:20:00Z

RICS Libraries in London and Edinburgh aim to process all loan orders received by email or by fax in two working days. All material is sent by normal post so that you do not have to collect it from the post office, unless the package does not fit into your letter box. We ask RICS members to contact the RICS Libraries as soon as they realise that material is lost in the post. Since the RICS Libraries take full responsibility for items not delivered to you, we expect members to be responsible for the...(read more)

A useful resource

2009-06-09T10:09:00Z

If you need a copy of an article or law case from the huge stock of journals and case law that we hold then look no further! For £8.30 per item the pages can be posted to your work or home address, or if it’s a bit more urgent faxed for an extra £4.90. For more information or to request a photocopy simply email www.rics.org or call +440870 333 1600....(read more)

New suite of urban maps

2009-06-05T08:54:00Z

The GeoInformation® Group has announced a ground breaking and innovative new mapping programme. UKMap® is the UK's first commercially funded, large-scale topographic mapping and address database created completely independently of the Ordnance Survey. London is the first complete UKMap city covering over 1,700 sqkm and will be available from 1 September 2009. Areas to be published in 2010 include the West Midlands conurbation, Merseyside, Manchester and parts of Yorkshire....(read more)

Global research on energy efficiency in buildings

2009-05-18T08:03:00Z

Two major reports on energy efficiency in buildings have been published this year. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s (WBCSD) Transforming the Market: Energy Efficiency in Buildings shows how energy use in buildings can be cut by 60% by 2050, essential to meeting global climate change targets. The report is based on the most rigorous study ever conducted on the subject. Trevor Houser of the US Peterson Institute for International Economics has in Energy Efficiency in Buildings:...(read more)

Online library catalogue

2009-05-15T13:08:00Z

With the minimum effort you can view the huge range of books, DVD’s, CDs, videos, law cases, journals and all the other resources that we hold in the library! www.rics.org/catalogue User ID = membership number. PIN = date of birth backwards eg 28 July 1962 becomes 19620728. The power search option that you will see makes navigating the collection even easier. You can also renew the items you have on loan here!...(read more)

Minimum design standards for all new public buildings

2009-05-13T10:20:00Z

New cross government strategy pledges that all new public and private development will be built to the highest design standards. World Class Places stresses that high quality buildings and green infrastructure are ideas that cannot be dropped during difficult economic circumstances. Also, every important public sector project could have the opportunity to be advised or reviewed by a team of design experts from the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). For more information...(read more)

Forthcoming changes to Lands Tribunal

2009-05-12T14:42:00Z

With effect from 1 June 2009, the Lands Tribunal will become the Lands Chamber of the Upper Tribunal. Transfer of Tribunal Functions (Lands Tribunal and Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2009 outlines details of changes. Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) Fees Order 2009 relates to fees which will be payable in proceedings in the new Lands Chamber. Further information on the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal is available on Tribunals website....(read more)

How can I renew material borrowed from the RICS Library?

2009-05-01T15:39:00Z

RICS Members wanting to renew material on loan can do so in person, by letter, phone, email or online via our online catalogue as long as it is not required by another borrower. By telephone : Please call on +44 (0)20 7334 3749. If you are calling outside our opening hours, please leave the following details: -Your name and telephone number -Your membership number -Details of the items that need to be renewed. We will then contact you to confirm the new due date or if the material needs to be returned...(read more)

Room with a view

2009-04-28T07:49:00Z

The bookshop has recently moved within Great George Street to a new location right next to the library. Come and visit us in our new room. You will find the latest RICS publications, together with contracts and gift items. Unsurprisingly we specialise in books that we know surveyors need. Whether you want books for your course, need to gen up on something specific or just have an interest in a particular subject, we can help....(read more)

Time to change Empty Property Rate policy

2009-04-23T15:21:00Z

RICS and Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) have published an important survey of the impact of changes to the system of Empty Property Rate Relief. Empty Property Rates Survey April 2009 provides hard evidence about the actual impact of the changes and allows for a reassessment of the policy. RICS and LSH recommend that government should consider: either increasing Empty Property Rate Relief to 12 or 18 months before full business rates become payable or the removal or significant reduction of Empty Property...(read more)

How tall are our buildings?

2009-04-23T14:13:00Z

I recently received an enquiry looking for statistical data on the number of buildings in the UK by height. No-one seems to have done this kind of analysis and one can understand why. In theory this data could be extracted from the latest value-added height attribute databases such as Building Heights but no statistical aggregation seems to have yet been made available. Any ideas on this one?...(read more)