CPD Questions Flashcards
Provide examples of sustainable retrofitting.
Rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling to reduce water consumption.
Solar PV installations to generate renewable energy.
Air source or ground source heat pumps.
What assets have been outperforming in REITs and why?
Industrial & logistics REITs have outperformed due to strong e-commerce demand, resilient rental growth, and supply constraints.
Student housing and PRS (Private Rented Sector) REITs have performed well due to high occupancy rates and rental inflation.
Retail and office REITs continue to face structural challenges, particularly in secondary locations, with high vacancy rates and weaker investor sentiment.
Healthcare REITs remain stable due to long-term leases and government-backed funding.
What are the current hot topics regarding ethics?
Transparency in property transactions, ensuring clear and fair dealings.
Conflicts of interest, particularly in dual agency and valuation work.
AI and data ethics, particularly around privacy and decision-making in real estate technology.
What do you know about the government’s housing targets?
The UK Government has a target to deliver 300,000 new homes per year, but delivery has consistently fallen short. Key challenges include:
Planning system delays, with local councils struggling to process applications.
Developer hesitancy, due to economic uncertainty and material/labour shortages.
Infrastructure constraints, such as transport and utilities.
Housing affordability pressures, requiring more support for first-time buyers.
What should surveyors do when they identify damp in a building?
Diagnose the cause – rising damp, penetrating damp, or condensation.
Check ventilation, drainage, and structural integrity – poor airflow and defective gutters often contribute.
Use moisture meters and hygrometers to assess the extent of the issue.
Recommend remedial action, such as improving drainage, applying tanking solutions, or installing ventilation.
Refer to a specialist, if necessary, especially if timber decay or structural risks are present.
Provide examples of how AI will impact the real estate industry in the future.
Automated valuations (AVMs) – AI-driven models improving accuracy and efficiency.
Smart building management – predictive maintenance, energy efficiency, and IoT integration.
AI-powered market analysis – real-time insights on investment trends and risks.
Tenant experience platforms – chatbots and AI-driven leasing processes.
Automated lease abstraction – extracting key lease.
What causes structural movement to external walls?
Subsidence – due to poor soil conditions, tree roots, or water leaks undermining foundations.
Settlement – natural compression of soil under a new building.
Thermal expansion/contraction – particularly in brick and concrete buildings.
Defective materials – weakened mortar, corroding wall ties, or poor-quality foundations.
Structural overloading – caused by alterations, additional storeys, or inadequate design.
Talk me through current MEES regulations.
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) set the minimum EPC rating required for lettable properties:
Since April 2023, all commercial and residential properties must have at least an EPC rating of ‘E’ to be legally let.
By 2027, the minimum requirement is expected to rise to EPC ‘C’.
By 2030, the aim is EPC ‘B’ for commercial property.
What is a green lease?
A Green Lease includes clauses requiring landlords and tenants to improve sustainability, such as:
Energy efficiency improvements (e.g., LED lighting, heat pumps).
Sustainable waste management (recycling, reduced landfill waste).
Water conservation measures.
Tenant cooperation in reducing carbon footprints.
These agreements align incentives between landlords and tenants to meet net-zero carbon commitments.
Tell me more about The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill.
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill aims to:
Ban leasehold houses for new-build properties.
Simplify leasehold enfranchisement, reducing costs for leaseholders to buy their freehold.
Extend standard lease lengths from 90 to 990 years.
Improve service charge transparency and strengthen leaseholder rights.
Introduce a cap on ground rents to prevent excessive costs.
