Tricky Qs I keep Getting Wrong Flashcards
What are the 5 exemptions from the PS1?
- Agency (In anticipation of receiving instructions to dispose of a property)
- Litigation & negotiation eg. RR’s
- Internal purposes only
- Expert witness - duty to court
- Statutory basis- where carried out by statutory officer
What is Professional Standard 2 of the Redbook?
- COMPETENCY Relates to ethics and an individual’s competency to deliver.
- Relates to having the appropriate knowledge and experience of dealing with a particular property (asset class) and location.
- RULES OF CONDUCT Ethics (members must act in accordance with RICS Rules of Conduct)
- CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Includes detailed advice on conflicts of interest.
Can you tell me the minimum requirements under VPS1?
- Identification and status of valuer
- Identification of client
- Identification of any other intended users
- The asset to be valued
- Currency
- Purpose of valuation
- Basis of value
- Valuation date
- Extent of investigation
- Nature and source of information to be relied upon
- Assumptions and special assumptions to be made
- Format of report
- Restrictions of use, distribution and publication
- Confirmation of Redbook/IVS compliance
- Fee basis
- CHP
- Statement that the valuation may be subject to compliance by RICS
- Limitation on liability agreed
What Special Assumptions are you aware of?
- Vacant possession.
- Restricted Marketing period.
- Anticipation of a physical change.
- Anticipation of a new letting.
- Existence of a special purchaser.
What are the minimum requirements to be stated in a report under VPS3?
identification and status of valuer
* b) client and any other intended users
* c) purpose of valuation
* d) Identification of asset to be valued
* e) Basis of Valuation
* f) Valuation date
* g) Extent of investigation
* h) Nature of source of info relied upon
* i) Assumptions and special assumps
* j) restrictions on use, distribution& publication
* K) instruction undertaken in accordance with IVS standards
* l) Valuation approach & reasoning
* M) Valuation figure(s)
* n) Date of Valuation report
* o) Comment on market uncertainty
* p) Statement setting out any limitations on liability that have been agreed
What does VPS3 in the Redbook state about preliminary (draft) advice?
- It can be given but MUST:
- be marked as a draft
- for internal purposes only
- cannot be relied upon
- or no account can it be published or disclosed
- subject to the completion of final report
- can be discussed with the client but the valuer must not be influenced by the client in any way
- any changes to draft must be noted and reasoned
- any additional info supplied following discussion must be stated
What is Market Value?
- The estimated amount for which an asset or liability should exchange at the valuation date between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm’s length transaction, after proper marketing where both parties has acted knowledgably, prudently and without compulsion.
What does VPS stand for?
Valuation Technical and Performance Standards - Valuation Approaches and Methods
What does Part 5 of the red book cover?
- Valuation applications (Valuation Practice Guidance Application- VPGA’s) Advisory worldwide
- 10 VPGAs.
What is VPGA8?
- Valuation of real property interests – covers inspections and investigations, with particular emphasis on ESG and sustainability issues.
- Including the need to consider direct valuation factors (e.g flood risk), indirect valuation factors (carbon emissions), physical risks (through heat or wildfire).
What is a discounted cash flow?
- DCF is an investment method technique.
- DCF valuation involves projecting estimated cash flows over an assumed investment holding period, plus an exit value at the end of that period, usually arrived at on a All Risks Yield basis. The cash flow is then discounted back to the present day at a discount rate (the desired rate of return) that reflects the perceived level of risk.
- DCF works by examining a property’s projected future income or projected cash flow from the investment, and then discounting that cash flow to arrive at an estimated current value of the investment. This estimated current value is commonly referred to as net present value, or NPV.
- Simple methodology to establish MARKET VALUE;
1. Estimate the cash flow (income less expenditure)
2. Estimate the exit value at the end of the holding period
3. Select the discount rate
4. Discount cash flow at discount rate
5. Value is the sum of the completed discounted cash flow to provide the NPV.
What is Net Present Value?
- The sum of the discounted cash flows of the project.
- A NPV can be used to determine if an investment gives a positive return.
What is an Exit Value?
- The value of an investment asset at the end of the holding period. Holding period is the amount of time the investment is held by an investor.
What is the internal rate of return?
- The rate of return at which all future cash flows must be discounted to produce a NPV of zero.
- The IRR is used to assess the total return from an investment opportunity making assumptions regarding rental growth and re-letting.
- IRR is calculated using the same concept as net present value (NPV), except it sets the NPV equal to zero.
What is Hope value?
- The value arising from an expectation that future circumstances affecting the property may change. Such as:
o The future prospect of securing planning permission for the development of land, where no planning permission exists at the present time. Or the realisation of marriage value arising from a merger of two interests of land.
What is Marriage value?
- The merging of two interests.
- An additional element of value created by the combination of two or more interests where the combined value is more than the sum of the separate values.
- Undertake a before and after valuation and calculate the level of marriage value created.
- Typical negotiation outcome is to split the marriage value created 50:50.
What are purchaser’s costs for a SALE?
- Agents Fees- 1%
- Legal Fees - 0.50%
- Stamp Duty - see below
- VAT - 20%
What are the Stamp Duty Land Tax brackets?
- Commercial property:
o £0 -£150,000 – Nil
o £150,000-£250,000 – 2%
o Over £250,000 – 5% - The brackets are different in England, Wales and Scotland depending on government.
What is the investment purchasers costs?
- Circa 6.8% (depends on stamp duty brackets)
What is a Building Cost Reinstatement Valuation?
- Used for building insurance purposes.
- It is the cost to reinstate the building without profit.
- Calculated using the RICS Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) adopting a GEA for commercial properties.
How do you calculate a WAULT?
- Multiply the current rent by the remaining lease term for each of the tenants.
- Sum the total of results from step 1.
- Divide the result from step 2 by the sum of current rent for each of the tenants.
What is a ransom strip?
Piece of land or property that controls access to a less developable piece of land.
What is zoning?
- A valuation TECHNIQUE not a method.
- Used for the comparison of retail property
- The first 6.1m is most valuable then halved ERV technique.
- Sometimes 9.14 m in Central London
- Basements/first floors are usually treated as A/10.
What are the aims of the RICS VRS?
- Improve the quality of valuation and ensure the highest possible professional standards
- To meet the RICS requirement to self-regulate effectively
- To protect and raise the status of the valuation profession as the leading expertise in valuation
What sort of statutory due diligence would you carry out prior to undertaking your valuation?
- EPC certificate
- Asbestos register
- Flood risk
- Planning history and policy
- Rateable value
- Title
What would you do if a CreditSafe report was not available?
- Use the Profits Test-
- net profit” test where the net profits of the tenant are shown to equal or exceed a multiple (usually 3 times) of the rents reserved by the lease for up to 3 years and the “net assets” test where the net assets of the tenant are equal to a multiple (often 5 times) of the rents reserved by the lease.
- This is a measure used to indicate that no deposit is required.
How did you assess the covenant strength?
- Obtained a CreditSafe report, which summarised the past 3 years’ worth of audited accounts. This generates a ‘Risk Score’ based on the combination of the key financials including a company’s turnover, pre-tax profit, shareholders’ funds and credit limit.
What document uses the categories A, B and C for the comparable method?
- RICS Guidance Note: Comparable Evidence in Real Estate Valuation, October 2019.
What is a yield?
- A yield is a return on an investment and a measure of risk.
How do you calculate a yield?
- Yield= annual income/ capital value x 100
What is an all risks yield?
Takes growth into account within the yield and is used for calculating growth implicit valuations. Also takes into account differences in comps, return on capital, security on income, selling costs etc.
What is an equated yield?
A yield which builds in assumptions about future rental growth drawn from general market knowledge. Used in growth explicit valuation models such as a DCF.
What is the difference between a growth implicit valuation and a growth explicit valuation?
- A growth implicit valuation assumes rental growth and this is reflected in the yield (IE Term and reversion). Growth explicit does not assume this and values the income which is certain (such as a DCF).
How would you establish the years purchase?
- 100/yield
- Years purchase is the number of years required for its income to repay its purchase price.
What is the methodology of the profits method?
- Methodology:
1) Annual turnover (income received) LESS costs = Gross Profit of business
2) LESS working expenses = unadjusted net profit
3) Less operators remuneration = adjusted net profit known as Fair Maintainable Operating Profit or EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation.
4) Half it for rent to landlord
5) Capitalise the 1/2 EBITDA
What is the methodology for residual?
GDV - the market value based on the special assumption that the development is complete as at the date of valuation.
Deduct costs such as:
Planning costs
Professional fees (10%)
Contingency/construction costs (5-10%)
Marketing costs (1%)
Developers Profit (15-20%)
Sensitive to its inputs therefore specialist software is used to realistically manage inflow and outputs.
What is the difference between a development appraisal and a residual valuation?
- A development appraisal will typically give you the profitability of a proposed development and a residual valuation will give you the value of the land.
What is the methodology for DRC?
Value of land in its existing use (assume planning permission exists)
Add current cost of replacing the building plus fees less a discount for depreciation and deterioration.
Is DRC Redbook?
- Yes, but it is not suitable for secured lending valuations.
Why are valuations undertaken?
Statutory reasons e.g
a) Rating
b) Council tax
c) Compulsory Purchase
Non Statutory e.g
a) Rental value
b) Purchase or Disposal
c) Secured Lending
d) Accounting
What due diligence did you carry out in your multi-let office in Windsor?
1) EPC Certificate
2) Abestos Register
3) Flood Risk
4) Planning History and Policy
5) Rateable Value
6) Title
7) Leases, rent review memorandum and additional documentation
If you already factored in a rent free and void period into your term and reversion, why did you still account for risk in a higher yield?
The WAULT was 5.7 years. I still incorporated a higher yield because there is still a degree of risk associated with the second tranche of the income due to market factors such as the war in Ukraine, interest rates uncertainty etc.
Talk me through your valuation of the multi-let office building in Windsor.
1) Received instruction
2) Checked a) competency b) Independence via COI check c) Put together TOE in line with VPS 1
3)Obtained lease documentation and undertook DD
4) Arranged to inspect
5) Inspected and Measured
6) Took photos and records
7) Obtained and verified comparable data
8) Input dates into KEL (RR and LR)
9) 7% to Term
10) 7.5% to Reversion
11) added together, took off agency, legal costs and stamp duty
12) YP into perp at 7.5% deferred for 6 months for Special Assumption of Vacant Possession minus buyers costs.
12) Put together report, signed off by RV, Issued to client
What Stamp Duty did you assume?
4.45%
What is the structure of the RICS?
- The Royal Charter and Bye-Laws - Governed under the terms of the Royal Charter, it was amended in 2020. (amendments enabled a more globally diverse Governing Council, a new role of “Chair of Governing Council” and Established a new “Standards and Regulation” Board.
- Governing Council - Over 20 members and provides direction, strategy and management.
- The Standards and Regulation Board - Regulatory Functions eg. tribunal, Dispute Resolution Appointments, Assessments, CPD etc. They all resigned in June 2023 and there is currently an interim board.
- (both at same level) - The Management Board - Audit, Finance, Knowledge
- 17 Specialist Professional Groups.
What recommendations did the Bichard Review make?
1.New management board
2. new strategy and regulatory board0
3. elections to be held for RICS committees
4. amendment to royal charter
5. MATRICS reinvigorated
6. diversity and inclusion panel
7. Public Interest Panel to be made
8. review into public interest piece every 5 years
9. Fund set up for public interest activity to undertake pro-bono work and scholarships for students in communities that are not well represented in surveying.
What has the RICS done so far to adopt the changes recommended in the Bichard Review?
- April 2023 - new governing council elections
- April 2023 - Support package for members, including CPD events
- New diversity equality and inclusion panel chair
- new sustainability panel chair
When did the new rules of conduct come into force?
2nd Feb 2022
What are members obligations under the Rules of Conduct 2022?
- Record and do CPD
- Cooperate with the RICS
- Provide information to RICS promptly
What are firms obligations under the Rules of Conduct 2022
1 Have Complaints Handling Procedure with ADR and complaints log
2. Have PI cover
3. have professional arrangements in place if a sole trader
4. cooperate with the RICS
5. Share info with RICS promptly
6. Display regulated by RICS on material
7. Report to RICS what is required to be reported each year (i.e PI cover, annual return etc).
What are some example behaviours in the Rules of Conduct for Rule 2?
- Only undertake work they have knowledge skills and resources to carry out competently
- reflect on work they have undertaken and consider how they might apply learnings to future work
- Supervise employees undertaking work for them and ensure they have the correct knowledge skills and resources
- keep up to date and comply with relevant legislation etc.
What are some example behaviours in the Rules of Conduct for Rule 1?
- Do not mislead by action or omission
- Do not be improperly influenced
- Open and transparent about fees
What are some example behaviours in the Rules of Conduct for Rule 3?
- Understand clients objectives
- Undertake work in a timely manner
- Keep proper records
- Encourage sustainable solutions
- understand risk and benefits of using technology
What are some example behaviours in the Rules of Conduct for Rule 4?
- Treat others with courtesy
- Do not bully
- Work cooperatively
- Develop inclusive culture in workplace and identify and address unconscious bias
What are some example behaviours in the Rules of Conduct for Rule 5?
- respond to complaints promptly, openly and professionally
- manage professional fiannces responsibly
- Do not dissuade complainants from approaching ADR
- Public statements made by the firm do not undermine public confidence
- Question practices which are not right
Can you give me two examples of the case study scenarios outlined in the Rules of Conduct?
You have seen worrying social media content from a member
1. Rule 1 applies - must be honest
2. Rule 4 applies - you must not bully
3. Rule 5 applies - must not make statements which undermine the profession
Your client is breaking the law and dumping hazardous waste
1. Rule 1 - protect confidential information and only disclose what is necessary or permitted by law
2. Question practices which are not right
What was the old document hierarchy?
International standards - mandatory
Professional Statements - mandatory
Practice statements - mandatory
Guidance Notes - not mandatory and best practice
What must you avoid in terms of setting your fee structure?
fee fixing
aggressive fee cutting
colluding with competition
What must a data controller do?
Decide how and why personal data is processed
What are the fines for not complying with the data protection act?
4% global turnover or £17.5 million whichever is the higher
What are your rights under the Data Protection Act?
- Right to be informed
- Right to access
- Right to rectification
- Right to erasure
- Right to restrict processing
- Right to data portability
- Right to object
- Right to not be subject to automated decision making
What is the RICS guidance on Client money handling and what document status does it have?
professional standard, Client Money Handling 2019
What is the RICS guidance on complaints handling and what is its status?
RICS professional standard - Complaints Handling 2016
What is the Avison Young complaints handling timescale?
- Respond to complaint within 7 days of formal complaint explaining understanding of complaint and that you will be investigating
- Within 28 days you must write with outcome of investigations
- If they are unhappy, they can refer the matter to ADR
What RICS guidance is there on conflicts of interest?
RICS professional standard Conflicts of Interest Global
What is the RICS guidance on Social Media use?
Use of social media, Guidance for RICS members 2021 it is a regulation
Which part of the RICS deals with disciplinary procedures?
Standards and Regulation Board
What are some of the requirements of the RICS for PI insurance?
Ensure adequate protection for each instruction
Consider potential liabilities
Ensure it is underwritten by an RICS approved insurer
Have a minimum level of cover if your turnover is…. £100,000 or less = £250,000 £100,001-£200,000 = £500,000 and £200,001 + = £1,000,000
Maximum levels of uninsured excess to be insurance up to £500,000 = the greater of 2.5% of the sum insured, or £10,000 whichever is the greater, or is over £500,000 = 2.5% of the sum insured
Fully retroactive policy
What act relates to when someone can bring a case for negligence against you?
The Limitation Act 1980
Under the limitation act 1980, what is the period in which someone can come forward to make a claim under both tort and contract?
Contract = 6 years from date of negligent act, or 3 years from date of knowledge of the damage, subject to 15 years from the negligent act
Tort = within 6 years when the claimant suffered the loss
What does the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) act 2022 do?
Strengthens investigative powers regarding unexplained wealth orders (they are an investigatory order placed on a respondent whose assets appear disproportionate to their income to explain the origins of their wealth).
Set up an beneficial owners register of overseas entities owning properties in the UK
Allows easier prosecution of those involved in sanctions
What does the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 do?
Provides power for UK authorities to recover money and assets deemed to be proceeds of crime
Creates criminal offences to combat money laundering
What are the main principles of the Bribery Act 2010?
Proportionality
Top level commitment
Risk Assessments
Due Diligence
Communication
Monitoring and Review
What is the RICS guidance on bribery?
Countering Bribery and Corruption, Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing 2019 (RICS professional standard)
Who policies the bribery act 2010?
The Serious Fraud Office
What is the law relating to money laundering?
Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017
Who does the MLRO report to?
National Crime Agency
What happens if you break the Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017?
Maximum of 14 years in prison or unlimited fine for assisting
Max 5 years and unlimited fine for a tip off or a failure to report.
If you acted for a sanctioned individual, can you accept payment from them?
No, it needs to be dealt with by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation and you cannot receive a payment without first obtaining an OSFI license. OFSI can authorise a payments.
guidance on this called UK Financial Sanctions: General Guidance August 2022 issued by the Office of Financial sanctions Implementation who is part of HM Treasury.