RICS Library Blog

New version of Homebuyer report is now available

Annette — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:14:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Construction industry still suffering skills shortage

Derry Thorburn — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:27:00 GMT

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...(read more)

BCIS E-tendering Survey Report

Derry Thorburn — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:44:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Valuing commercial property in uncertain times

Peter Reynolds — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:43:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Lost items

Nagwa Ahmed — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:20:00 GMT

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...(read more)

A useful resource

Andrew Davies — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:09:00 GMT

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....(read more)

New suite of urban maps

Annette — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:54:00 GMT

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....(read more)

Global research on energy efficiency in buildings

Peter Reynolds — Mon, 18 May 2009 08:03:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Online library catalogue

Andrew Davies — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:08:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Minimum design standards for all new public buildings

Derry Thorburn — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:20:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Forthcoming changes to Lands Tribunal

Annette — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:42:00 GMT

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...(read more)

How can I renew material borrowed from the RICS Library?

Nagwa Ahmed — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:39:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Room with a view

TNorton — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:49:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Time to change Empty Property Rate policy

Peter Reynolds — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:21:00 GMT

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...(read more)

How tall are our buildings?

Peter Reynolds — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:13:00 GMT

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...(read more)