Document downloads - Rural
Available downloads
-
Telecoms valuation checklist
While the principles of valuing a telecoms installation are no different from valuing any other lease, the valuer needs to understand the issues in the specialist market.
Two versions of the checklist are provided, one that applies under the old regime (the 1984 Telecommunications Code) and one that applies under the new (the 2017 Code). The threshold for deciding which applies is the date of the agreement - whether it is before, or after 28 December 2017.
Fundamental to the process is to determine whether you are valuing for the lessor or lessee, and for what purpose. The most common situations for a telecoms valuer will be valuing a site for sale, valuing a business in liquidation and specialist telecoms valuations.
The telecoms market is so specialist that it is vital to consider the individual circumstances that prevail on the site or sites that are being valued. In some instances, it is impossible to avoid setting new principles that will be used by others as precedents.
The valuer needs a sound understanding of the current market, operators and landlords, along with an up-to-date knowledge of legislation, guidelines and best practice.
This checklist is provided as a sample only. It is the user’s responsibility to check and adapt this as necessary to suit the particular instruction and prevailing circumstances. -
Contamination and environmental matters: property observation checklists
These property observation checklists from the RICS guidance note Contamination, the environment and sustainability: Implications for chartered surveyors and their clients. They can form the basis for research, and for compiling a record of methodical inspection.
These checklists are provided as a sample only. It is the user's responsibility to check and adapt them as necessary to suit the particular instruction and prevailing circumstances. -
Farm Business Tenancy Agreements 2012 (ARCHIVED)
These previous 2012 Agreements are now out of print and on isurv for information purposes only.
The current Agreements are the 2021 versions. -
Valuation of rural property
Published July 2019
Effective from 1 July 2019
Reissued October 2022
This professional standard applies to rural property in the UK only. For the purposes of this guidance, rural property means commercial farms and farmland, all forms of rural landed estates and residential property in the countryside with land attached.
This professional standard is primarily intended to remind registered valuers of matters that should be considered when completing a valuation of rural property. It is not intended as a substitute for training and experience or a short cut to meeting the requirements of the various applicable RICS professional standards. It may also be of use to clients in understanding the work and role of the rural property valuer and assist in arriving at properly agreed instructions.
The client base for rural property valuations can include:
• farmers
• landowners (private and public)
• estates
• lenders and other institutional clients
• developers
• investors
Some will have intimate knowledge of the industry and others less so. While the requirements of RICS Valuation – Global Standards (RICS Red Book Global Standards) will need to be met in every case, valuers will need to consider the individual requirements of each client carefully, both in terms of settling instructions and the level of detail and advice they include in their reports.
This document was reissued in October 2022 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in July 2019 as a guidance note. The regulatory requirements remain the same and no material changes have been made to the document. -
Valuation of trees for amenity and related non-timber uses (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
This guidance note is designed to assist the valuer in dealing with some of the issues that arise when dealing with the presence of trees as part of a property or as separate entities. -
Impact of peripheral urban land acquisition on indigenous communities' livelihood and environment around Uluguru mountains, Tanzania (RICS)
Published November 2008
This report looks at the impact of peripheral urban land acquisition on indigenous communities' livelihood and environment around the Uluguru Mountains in Morogoro, Tanzania. It was carried out in four wards in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania between April and September 2008.
This research has shown that land is increasingly becoming a market commodity in Morogoro Municipality and its market value is rapidly appreciating, resulting in stiff competition for the resource. Land speculation in the municipality is increasing, although there are minimal government efforts to discourage this activity, which has resulted in prices increasing beyond the reach of the majority of the local population. -
Valuation of woodlands and forests
Published March 2023
Effective from 1 June 2023
Valuation of woodlands and forests (2nd edition) empowers professionals undertaking valuations of these assets to consider the evolving array of complex factors that can impact their value. This professional standard outlines the bases of value that can be utilised depending on the purpose of the valuation. It also allows our professionals to maintain and enhance their specialist knowledge and ensure they are best placed to deliver on client demand to understand the value of woodland and forestry assets.
An updated version of this standard was published in May 2023. The updated version applies to Ireland with full endorsement from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI).
This professional standard is applicable to the UK and Ireland and is effective from 1 June 2023. -
Managing organisational change (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
These papers are aimed at surveyors who are assisting clients with organisational change or are re-organising their own professional practice. -
An overview and comparison of dispute resolution processes in the UK (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
There are many different dispute resolution processes in the UK, the idea being that all of them strive to meet these aims in different ways. However, 'one size does not fit all', and selecting the wrong process can result in the opposite outcome; an unacceptable result in the longest possible time, with the greatest possible expense and maximum stress on the participants. The purpose of this paper is therefore to give an accurate, non-legalistic and user-friendly overview of the main dispute resolution processes available to the property, land and built environment sectors in the UK. This should assist users in selecting the most suitable dispute resolution process for their particular dispute. -
Surveying safely
Published November 2018
Effective from February 2019
Reissued July 2023
Appropriate management of health and safety is a requirement for all RICS-regulated firms and RICS members, including property-related businesses. The requirement for such management has been put in place in many countries across the globe and across industry sectors and governmental organisations in order to protect individuals from harm.
This professional standard sets out basic, good practice principles for the management of health and safety for RICS-regulated firms and RICS members. It sets out principles for those engaged in the built environment as property professionals and includes health and safety responsibilities:
• at a corporate level (whether the RICS-regulated firm is large or small) and
• at the level of the individual RICS member.
It covers property-related businesses and identifies the moral, ethical and practical issues that confront RICS-regulated firms and RICS members everywhere, in all the work that they undertake.
This document came into effect on 1 February 2019.
This document was reissued in July 2023 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in November 2018 as a guidance note. The regulatory requirements remain the same and no material changes have been made to the document. -
Mining Waste Directive 2006/21/EC (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
This information paper was intended to explain the background to the MWD and give a broad overview of its implementation in England and Wales. It should not be relied upon as an interpretation of the law. -
Conflicts of interest for members acting as dispute resolvers (UK)
Published November 2020
Effective from 1 February 2021
Reissued October 2022
This professional standard covers the appointment of surveyors as arbitrators, independent experts, mediators, adjudicators, and other dispute resolvers.
Surveyors may be appointed as dispute resolvers either by private agreement between the parties in dispute, or via RICS or other formal appointing parties, such as the Law Society or the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb).
The aim of this second edition professional standard is to provide advice on dealing with possible conflicts of interest for surveyors who are appointed to resolve disputes. It also helps all parties involved in a dispute to understand the main principles and considerations, and to be aware of when an involvement may develop into a conflict of interest.
This document was reissued in October 2022 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in November 2020 as a guidance note. The regulatory requirements remain the same and no material changes have been made to the document. -
Farm stocktaking valuations
Published December 2016
Effective from December 2016
Reissued January 2023
Farm stocktaking valuations are required to assess the closing stock value, and thereby the proper profits or losses of a farming business, for inclusion in financial statements.
The aim of this professional standard is to assist professionals providing farm stocktaking valuations to correctly confirm instructions and prepare reports to clients that are Red Book-compliant, so as to ensure the highest standards of professionalism and clarity.
This document was reissued in January 2023 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in December 2016 as a guidance note. No material changes have been made to the document. -
TUPE: information for property managers (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
TUPE stands for The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006. New regulations to update TUPE 2006 came into force on 31 January 2014 under The Collective Redundancies and Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.
The purpose of TUPE is to provide employment protection on the transfer of a business from one individual to another or a change in responsibility for a contracted out service. In applying it, employment tribunals generally adopt what they call a ‘purposive’ approach, which effectively means they interpret TUPE to protect employees in line with the social objectives of the European ARD. -
Valuation of land for affordable housing Scotland
Published January 2013
In Scotland, a valuation of land for affordable housing can be required for several reasons, including: advice for loan security, acquisition, sale, evaluation of options, planning purposes, compulsory purchase, taxation and development appraisal for grant purposes.
This guidance note aims to inform the valuer’s approach to the valuation of land for sites in Scotland where there is a requirement to provide affordable housing or where the provider of affordable housing is seeking grant finance from the Scottish government. -
An investigation into the relationship between land administration and economic development (RICS)
Published June 2013
This research undertaken by the University of Reading’s Henley Business School investigated the relationship between land administration and economic development.
In this research, the national land titling programme of Thailand was studied as a successful example of this process and the surveying settlement programme in Bangladesh was selected as a detailed comparative case study of a village in the Gharinda Union. -
Farm Business Tenancy Agreements 2014 (ARCHIVED)
These previous 2014 Agreements are now out of print and on isurv for information purposes only.
-
BIM for beginners
The built environment sector is full of debate about BIM. In these times it is crucial to be clear on the current and future state of BIM.
This document is based on key points from the RICS guidance note 'International BIM implementation guide'. It gives a brief introduction to BIM for those who have yet to work with it. It looks at:
- what BIM is
- the technology behind BIM
- how BIM is used in project delivery and
- the implications of BIM on organisations. -
RICS property measurement
Published January 2018
Effective from 1 May 2018
Reissued May 2024
Following the publication of IPMS: All Buildings, please note this document is in the process of being updated. Please see the RICS website for further updates.
RICS property measurement comprises the following two elements:
1. Professional statement: property measurement
a) Application of this professional statement
b) Technical definitions
c) IPMS: Office Buildings, as applied under the professional statement
d) IPMS: Residential Buildings as applied under the professional statement (applies to office measurements and residential measurements only – download these below).
2. RICS IPMS data standard
This document reflects the IPMS standards (IPMS: Office Buildings and IPMS: Residential) and will be updated over time to comply with other IPMS standards, including industrial, retail and mixed use, as they are published.
For all building classes except offices and residential buildings, the bases of measurement contained within the Code of measuring practice, 6th edition (COMP) may still apply though the application of this professional statement applies to all building classes. The COMP was effective globally from 18 May 2015, though early adoption of IPMS is recommended on publication of the new standards.
Software developers and those requiring the use of structured data are advised to follow the schemas as defined, and those wishing to pursue RICS software certification must demonstrate compliance with this data standard. This data standard is an XML schema and is available to download.
A user guide to the standard, intended for implementers, is available for download. For more information please email datastandards@rics.org. -
Planning tools for strategic management of peri-urban food production (RICS)
Published September 2016
Using Sydney as a case study, this report aims to develop an understanding of what best practice looks for land-use planning on the urban fringe. -
Terms of engagement: rural estate management services
Published January 2017
Effective from January 2017
Reissued August 2024
This professional standard explains matters that the agent and the client should consider in order to complete the Model Agreement for the provision of rural estate management services.
This document was reissued in August 2024 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in January 2017 as a guidance note. No material changes have been made to the document. -
Conacre Licence Agreement
Conacre is a system of letting agricultural land that is unique to Ireland. The current use of 'conacre' originated with the Land Acts of the mid-nineteenth century.
Today the term is used to reflect the system where landowners who wish to retain their land but not farm it can licence the land to another farmer, usually for a period of eleven months.
Under the latest reform to the EU Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) entitlements to be issued under the new support regime must be allocated to the person ‘enjoying the decision making power, the benefits and the financial risks in relation to agricultural activity being carried out on the land for which an allocation is requested’. This will have a significant impact on land let in conacre.
This fifth edition of the RICS Model Conacre Licence Agreement has been updated in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (DARD) to reflect changes to entitlements and eligible land in 2015 under CAP reform. The agreement can be used to support the introduction of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Areas of Natural Constraint payments. It is intended that it can be used freely as a framework for a practitioner’s own agreement or used as it is. -
Conflicts of interest – global
Published March 2017
Effective from 1 January 2018
Reissued July 2023
The global professional standard on conflicts of interest provides clear rules for RICS members and regulated firms to identify and manage potential conflicts of interest.
Effective identification and management of conflicts of interest is an essential component of professionalism. The professional standard provides confidence to clients and consumers that RICS members and regulated firms are operating to the highest ethical standards.
Following extensive industry consultation and feedback, RICS developed this professional standard to provide clarification on:
- competing bidders
- effective date/transition
- conflicts arising during professional assignments
- passing confidential information to insurers and legal advisers.
The conflicts of interest professional standard, which supports the RICS Rules of Conduct, places an overarching mandatory requirement on all RICS members and regulated firms and specifies RICS’ expectations of how compliance with the Rules of Conduct should be achieved.
This document was reissued in July 2023 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in March 2017 as a guidance note. No material changes have been made to the document. -
Surveyors advising in respect of compulsory purchase and statutory compensation, UK
Published September 2024
Effective from 23 December 2024
The second edition of this professional standard applies:
• when you provide advice regarding property interests and rights in the UK that relates to the seeking or use of compulsory purchase for the acquisition or use of land or rights by or against your client, or where the seeking or use of such powers is contemplated
• when you are advising a body that is relying on or seeking to rely on another body to seek or use compulsory purchase powers to acquire or use land or rights to assist with a project and
• where compensation for injurious affection arises where no land is taken.
While the geographic scope of this standard is the UK, many of the principles are globally applicable and may support RICS members outside these jurisdictions. -
Conflicts of interest: UK commercial property market investment agency
Published May 2017
Effective from 1 January 2018
Reissued June 2024
This professional standard provides RICS members and RICS regulated firms with mandatory requirements when acting on the open market sale or acquisition of a commercial investment real estate opportunity in the UK in order to avoid conflicts of interest prejudicial to their clients’ best interests.
It covers:
- dual agency, including related firms
- multiple introductions and
- incremental advice.
This document was reissued in June 2024 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in May 2017 as a professional statement. No material changes have been made to the document.
See also RICS' global professional standard 'Conflicts of interest' at: www.isurv.com/downloads/download/2140/conflicts_of_interest_–_global -
Rural arbitration
Published May 2017
Effective from 1 December 2017
Reissued April 2024
This professional standard is designed to assist rural chartered surveyors who are appointed to act in arbitrations dealing with rural assets and property, whether as advocates, experts or the arbitrator.
This document was reissued in April 2024 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in May 2017 as a guidance note. No material changes have been made to the document. -
Regenerative landscapes (RICS)
Published March 2018
Ecosystem damage over the last 50 years of the 20th century was greater than in any comparable period of human history, with estimates that the demands of contemporary global society effectively consume 1.5 ‘Planet Earths’. There is a pressing need to use landscapes and other ecosystems in more sustainable and integrated ways.
This regenerative landscapes report highlights the need and the means for rebuilding carrying capacity across rural, urban and other cultural landscapes, with a significant emphasis on water. -
Environmental risks and global real estate
Published November 2018
Effective from December 2018
Reissued April 2024
Both in real terms and in the growth of legislation, environmental considerations affect real estate in all sectors. Increasingly, there are implications for how we buy, sell, use and value real estate.
This first edition professional standard is aimed principally at the land and property acquisition, disposal and asset management stages of the property life cycle. It aims to provide guidance to chartered surveyors who are not specialists in environmental considerations and management or in the preparation of environmental reports including Land Quality Statements and Environmental Screening Reports. -
Beyond COVID-19: Reopening of commercial buildings
This document has global applicability and is designed to give support and advice on the preparations and considerations for the reopening of commercial buildings once pandemic lockdown restrictions are lifted.
-
Beyond COVID-19: Inspections and visits for non-domestic properties
Recommendations on inspections and visits for non-domestic properties during COVID-19 in England.
-
ARCHIVED: Farm Business Tenancy Agreements 2020
Since the introduction of the original Farm Business Tenancy Agreement (FBTA) suite, there have been a number of updates with the most recent in 2012, 2014, 2016 and February 2020.
The 2014 and 2016 updates were primarily to take account of the introduction of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in place of the Single Payment Scheme (SPS), the associated changes to related environmental schemes and the abolition of milk quotas, as well as other changes such as the availability of the new model clauses as an alternative set of provisions concerning repairs and insurance.
The February 2020 updates were to take account of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. A further review of the agreements will be undertaken once the terms of the Agriculture Bill 2020 have been settled and enacted.
See also the supplemental user notes: http://isurv.com/site/scripts/documents_info.aspx?documentID=8884&categoryID=104
The February 2020 Agreements are the current versions. -
Farm Business Tenancy Agreements 2021
Since the introduction of the original suite of Farm Business Tenancy Agreements (FBTA), there have been a number of updates with the most recent in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2020 and 2021.
The 2014 and 2016 updates primarily accounted for the introduction of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in place of the Single Payment Scheme (SPS), the associated changes to related environmental schemes and the abolition of milk quotas, as well as other changes such as the availability of the new model clauses as an alternative set of provisions concerning repairs and insurance. The February 2020 updates were primarily to take account of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union.
The 2021 review was primarily to incorporate some specific Welsh legislative/regulatory references where relevant.
See also the supplemental user notes: http://isurv.com/site/scripts/documents_info.aspx?documentID=8884&categoryID=104
The June 2021 Agreements are the current versions. -
Letting waste sites: an insight into Network Rail policy
Published March 2022
Reissued October 2022
In 2016, Network Rail developed a strategic framework for its sites near railway lines being used for activities such as waste management, storage, processing, recycling and car breaking, as scrapyards, or for moving or storing materials such as scrap metal or chemicals. Network Rail now uses this framework to improve management of its waste-related sites and help minimise risks for itself and tenants alike, as well as supporting continued enhancement of infrastructure for recycling and reusing waste. The company defines waste sites as land that is leased for any waste-related use, or any use that involves bringing waste on or off site.
This practice information from RICS provides an overview of this Network Rail framework, its key component parts, and illustrates best practice for both the leasing and management of such sites. Given the growing demand for sites suitable for waste-related activity, by publishing this paper, RICS provides some key learnings for professionals engaged in advising landlords and tenants of such sites and provides an insight into how best to minimise risk for all concerned.
This document was reissued in October 2022 as practice information. It had previously been published in February 2022 as an insight paper entitled Network Rail policy for letting waste sites: Sharing knowledge to support professionals. No material changes have been made to the document. -
Benchmarking in the rural sector
Published April 2022
Reissued September 2024
Benchmarking is the process of comparing an organisation and its operations/processes against other organisations in the industry or sector in which it operates, or in the broader marketplace. Challenging the performance of any business using benchmarking should be imperative in any economic climate. However, with so much change in the rural sector currently taking place, the need for rural businesses to benchmark is even more critical. RICS have published this paper on rural benchmarking with the aim of equipping RICS rural professionals with benchmarking skills, which will ensure their reputation as the most trusted advisers and those best placed to add value to rural property, and to ensure that land-based businesses are maintained and enhanced.
This practice information provides a holistic overview of benchmarking, its applicability to the rural sector and provides an insight into available tools and what some in the sector are currently measuring and benchmarking with some real-life case study examples. Preliminary research for this paper indicates that the current use of benchmarking tools is inconsistent across the rural sector. One of the key findings highlights the clear need for some consistency in benchmarking performance of rural estates and rural land-based businesses, which often have a diverse range of assets and income streams, coupled with diverse ownership motives, which RICS will be further exploring. -
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) Impact on UK property management and valuation
Published March 2018
MEES are a key part of the strategic approach of the UK government to significantly reduce carbon emissions. This insight paper is designed to inform property owners, managers and valuers of the implications of MEES, which came into force on 1 April 2018.
The scope and various exemptions of MEES for non-domestic and domestic properties is also discussed as well as advice for landlords.