Introduction to Property

Chair’s Welcome and Opening Remarks

Hear from the Chair, Derek Bruce, Academic and Chartered Surveyor at London, City University who will introduce key themes and learning points for the day.

Session 1: The Property Wheel

• The Property Wheel and the Circular Economy
• Property in the economy
• Property as a wealth and use asset
• How property is classified in English Law
• The ownership, occupation and investment in real estate
• The range of property assets
• How property markets work and evolve
• Money into Property
• The impact of professional bodies in construction and property
• Current challenges: finance, affordability

Presenter:
Derek Bruce, Academic and Chartered Surveyor, City St George's, University of London

Session 2: English Land Law

• How English Land Law developed
• The range of titles and other minor interests in land
• An analysis of legal estates: Freehold, Leasehold and Commonhold
• Rights over land: Covenants, Easements and Mortgages
• Land Registration: what is recorded and available on the public register
• Leases: long leaseholds and occupational leases/tenancies
• Licences
• Green Leases and Memoranda of Understanding
• Current challenges: run-down rented property, covenants and green leases

Presenters:
Joe Edwards, Senior Associate, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP
David Gregory, Associate, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP

Session 3: Designing and Building Property Assets

• Property types through the ages
• Identifying key property attributes and construction terms
• Modern specifications across a range of asset classes  
• Spotting common building defects
• Managing building delivery: RIBA 2020 Plan of Work
• The Building Regulations, Fire Safety Act 2021 and Building Safety Act 2022
• Delivering real estate assets: common building contracts
• The professional team and their terms of employment
• Statutory Adjudication – how to manage building disputes
• Striving for decent homes
• Current challenges: cladding on high rise buildings, asbestos

Presenter:
Danielle Brooke, Director, Brooke and Associates Limited

Session 4: Valuing Property Assets and Liabilities

• Money into Property – equity and debt explained
• Regulation of the Valuation Profession
• International and RICS Valuation Standards
• Tools of valuation: the purposes, bases of value and methods of valuation
• Appraising property both as an asset and a liability
• Appraising property both as an owner occupier commodity and an investment opportunity
• Exploration of the methods of valuation – where and when are they are used
• The need for evidence to value
• Demonstrating valuation approaches in action
• Current challenges: the moving agenda towards the Discounted Cash Flow technique

Presenter:
Derek Bruce, Academic and Chartered Surveyor, City St George's, University of London

Session 5: Spatial Planning and Development Management

• What controls development – the statutory arena and Public Sector Policy
• The Plan-led System – national, regional, local and neighbourhood plans
• How the Local Plan may evolve and is adopted
• Key policies of the Local Plan
• Protecting the countryside and heritage assets
• What ‘development’ is
• When and where consent to develop is required
• Permitted Development and Use Classes
• The art of gaining planning permission
• Planning conditions and obligations
• Handling breaches of planning
• Major current challenges – affordable homes, protecting at-risk ‘assets’

Presenter: 
Amy Paterson, Senior Associate Director, DLBP

Session 6: Property Agency

• The law and practice of Estate Agency
• The basis of agency – understanding the contract with your agent
• Property disposal methods: private treaty, tender and auction
• Undertaking market appraisals
• Selling development property
• Marketing campaigns and marketing particulars: key points and legal requirements
• Money Laundering: what happens if you breach the regulations
• Heads of Terms – for disposals and leases
• The conveyancing process – what happens when, and who does what
• Accounting for tax in property transactions
• Significant current challenges: green premium, unregistered titles, finance 1

Presenters: 
Anna Gammon, Surveyor, Gerald Eve (Newmark)
Jessica Nutt, Partner, Gerald Eve (Newmark)

Session 7: Property, the Built & Natural Environment, and Sustainability

• Sustainability: why and what’s the problem and it’s not just environmental
• Climate change, the loss of biodiversity and human impacts
• Hard choices: eg Carbon Capture Tech or Trees, New build or Retrofit and Brownfield or Greenfield
• UN Sustainable Development Goals (USGs), Government Laws, Regulations and Policies, Economic, Social & Governance (ESG) Policies.,
• Insulation, Green Tech and  Grey and Green Infrastructure
• Assessing sustainability: Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), EPC ratings and Building for a Healthy Life assessments.
• The costs, value and marketability of sustainability and property and the built environment.
• Future buildings, towns and the countryside: smart cities, 15 minutes cities and working from home: green or groan?

Presenter: 
Paul Collins, Lecturer, Nottingham Trent University

Session 8: Asset and Property Management

• The big statutory arena: the major laws that apply
• The importance of lease terms and covenants
• Setting up and running property management activities
• Handling lease end events – renewals and regaining possession
• Handling lease end events – yielding up, reinstatement and dilapidations
• Handling lease events – alterations, parting with possession and breaches
• Handling lease events – rent reviews
• Understanding service charge regimes
• Tenant rights
• Asset management – how to drive value
• Regearing activities – how they can add value?
• Intelligent buildings and big data
• Current challenges: business tenancy consultation, maintaining and enhancing income

Presenter: 
Tessa Passey, Real Estate Manager, John Lewis Partnership