Charity property valuations
Charities Act valuations & designated adviser reports
When a charity sells property, trustees must obtain written advice before they commit — a report that values the property and shows the terms are the best that can reasonably be obtained. Our reports are RICS Red Book compliant and meet the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, as amended by the Charities Act 2022, so you can act with confidence.
"Trustees give their time voluntarily and take their duties seriously. Our job is to make the compliance part simple — a clear, independent report you can rely on and that protects you."
As RICS Registered Valuers we qualify as designated advisers under the Act, and we work with charities and their trustees across London and the South East.
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What does the Charities Act require?
If your charity is selling or transferring property, the Charities Act 2011 (as amended by the Charities Act 2022) requires the trustees to obtain and consider written advice before you commit, and to be satisfied the terms are the best that can reasonably be obtained for the charity.
Since 14 June 2023 that advice is called a designated adviser's report — it replaced the older "qualified surveyor's report". The report must come from a designated adviser, and as RICS Registered Valuers we qualify, with every report prepared to the RICS Red Book.
Buying or selling — which rules apply to you?
The legal duty depends on whether your charity is buying property or selling it. The two are treated very differently, and it's a common point of confusion.
Charities buying property
Before a charity buys property, it is good practice to obtain an independent valuation — and the Charity Commission recommends it. Trustees have a duty to act in the charity's best interests and not to pay more than a property is worth, and a Red Book valuation gives you a defensible record that you paid a fair price and met that duty, should a purchase ever be questioned by members, funders or the Commission.
While the Act's formal report duty applies to disposals rather than acquisitions, an independent valuation remains the sensible, protective step when buying.
From £600 + VAT
Charities selling property
This is where the Act applies directly. Before trustees agree to sell or transfer the charity's property to anyone who is not a connected person, they must obtain and consider a written designated adviser's report and be satisfied the terms are the best that can reasonably be obtained for the charity.
We prepare that report, value the property, and guide your trustees through the requirement so the sale can proceed with confidence.
From £800 + VAT
One further point on sales: a sale to a connected person — for example a trustee, or someone connected to one — needs the prior authority of the Charity Commission or the court. We'll flag if that applies to you.
What does our designated adviser's report cover?
The 2023 Regulations set out what the report must deal with. For a sale, ours covers:
- the value of the property;
- any steps that could be taken to enhance that value before you sell it;
- whether the property should be advertised or marketed and, if so, how;
- anything else that could be done to make sure the terms are the best that can reasonably be obtained for the charity; and
- any other matters we believe the trustees should be aware of.
As the Regulations require, we also confirm in the report that we have the ability and experience to value property of this kind, in this area, and that we have no interest that conflicts — or would appear to conflict — with that of the charity.
Reports your trustees — and the Commission — can rely on
We know compliance can feel daunting when you're giving your time voluntarily. Our job is to make it the easy part of the transaction.
Every report is prepared by an RICS Registered Valuer to the RICS Valuation – Global Standards (the "Red Book") and meets the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, as amended by the Charities Act 2022, and the 2023 Regulations. We set out clearly how we reached our opinion, so the basis for your decision is documented and defensible if it is ever questioned — protecting the charity and you as a trustee.
Charities matter to us
Supporting charities isn't just work for us — it's something we believe in. To date we've donated over £30,000 to charitable causes, and along the way we've got to know many charities and the day-to-day pressures their trustees face, from securing funding to keeping a service running.
That's part of why we keep this service straightforward and fairly priced: we want compliance to be one less thing for you to worry about. You can read more about the causes we support on our charities page.
How it works
Instruction
Tell us the property and whether you are buying or selling. We confirm scope and a fixed fee in writing.
Inspection
An RICS Registered Valuer inspects the property and gathers the evidence needed to support the opinion.
Report
You receive a clear, compliant report — usually within a week — ready for your trustees and your solicitor.
- RICS Registered Valuers
- Designated advisers under the Act
- Full RICS Red Book compliance
- Charities Act 2011 / 2022 compliant
- Plain-English, defensible reports
- Usually delivered within a week
Charity valuation FAQs
What is a designated adviser's report?
It is the independent written report the Charities Act 2011 (as amended) requires trustees to obtain and consider before disposing of charity land. Since 14 June 2023 it replaced the "qualified surveyor's report". It values the property and advises on how to secure the best terms reasonably obtainable for the charity.
When does my charity need one?
Before selling or transferring the charity's property to someone who is not a connected person, the trustees must obtain and consider a designated adviser's report. You do not need one simply to buy property, though an independent valuation is still strongly advisable when you do.
Do you qualify to prepare the report?
Yes. The report must come from a designated adviser, and as RICS Registered Valuers we qualify. Every report is prepared to the RICS Red Book and meets the requirements of the Charities Act.
Should we get a valuation before buying property?
Yes — it's good practice and the Charity Commission recommends it. Trustees have a duty not to overpay, and an independent Red Book valuation protects you and evidences that you paid a fair price. The Act's formal report duty applies to sales rather than purchases, but a valuation remains the sensible, protective step when buying.
What must the report cover?
The 2023 Regulations require it to deal with the value of the property, any steps to enhance that value, whether and how it should be marketed, anything else that could secure the best terms, and any other matters trustees should know. We also confirm we have the relevant experience and no conflict of interest.
Are your reports Red Book compliant?
Yes. Every report is prepared by an RICS Registered Valuer in accordance with the RICS Valuation – Global Standards (the "Red Book"), and meets the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 as amended by the Charities Act 2022 and the 2023 Regulations.
What if we're selling to a connected person?
A sale to a connected person — for example a trustee, or someone connected to one — needs the prior authority of the Charity Commission or the court before it can proceed. We'll flag if that applies to your sale.
How long does it take and how much does it cost?
We can usually provide our report within a week, and meet tighter deadlines where needed. Valuations for purchases start from £600 + VAT and reports for sales from £800 + VAT, with a fixed fee always confirmed in writing before you commit.