
The 2011 Charities Act Valuation
Guide to the Charities Act with RICS Surveyors
The Charities Act 2011 is a critical piece of legislation that sets out the framework for the functioning of registered charities in the UK. A key part of its provisions is the requirement that charities must obtain appropriate and qualified professional advice before involving themselves in property transactions of any kind—be these purchases, leases, or disposals.
This guide looks into the essential elements of a Charities Act valuation. It discusses the part played by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in this process. And it outlines the manner in which our panel of surveyors can either directly or indirectly supply the required expertise to ensure that a charity’s actions are compliant with the Act’s provisions.
What is a Charities Act Valuation?
According to the Charities Act 2011, charity trustees must obtain a written report whenever land or property is let or sold; this report must be prepared by a qualified surveyor who is a member of RICS and must follow the prescribed format outlined in the RICS Red Book. RICS is the main global professional body for qualifications and standards in land, property, and construction; being a chartered surveyor gives individuals the necessary conditions to value property and perform the kind of work detailed in the Charities Act.
Surveyors representing RICS have a vital part to play in the valuation process for charities – because RICS is the premier institution in the valuation world, compliance with RICS standards gives a guarantee that the work done on behalf of charities—an extremely important part of the valuation assignment—is of the highest quality. Moreover, RICS members carry out their valuations to a standard that is quite a bit above the minimum required by law.
Manchester Valuer Expertise in Charities Act
Our team is committed to providing a top-notch valuation service to charities – when our surveyors produce a valuation for a charity, they will ensure that it is compliant with the Charities Act 2011, which means our valuations are sound and secure; valuations performed are vital to property transactions involving charities and to ensuring that those charities comply with the law.
Section 119
The Charities Act 2011, section 119, requires that any land disposal by a registered charity must be preceded by a written report from a qualified surveyor. Indeed, this provision serves to safeguard the charity and its beneficiaries; however, it is important to clarify what the report is and what the basis for its “qualification” is. The following details need to be included:
- the market price of the property, considering any prerequisites or prohibitions affecting the transfer;
- any upgrading of the property which might increase value;
- the charity must find the best value for the organisation by selecting an appropriate means of disposal (for example, selling or leasing);
- come up with offers about how to promote the property to attract interested buyers or renters and get the best price possible.
Section 119 stipulates that trustees of a charity must take reasonable steps (including taking legal advice) in order to dispose of any land or property, these cases allow charity trustees to decide what needs to be done to fulfil the charity’s purposes for the benefit of the communities they serve, and permit trustees to use the charity’s assets to further its purposes.
What is CC33?
CC33 is provided by the Charity Commission for England and Wales and is called ‘CC33 – Acquisitions, disposals and mortgages of charity land and buildings.
Its goal is to help those for whom it is intended – that is, charity trustees – to understand their legal duties and also best practice relating to the acquisition, disposal and mortgaging of charitable land and property in order to ‘further the aims of the Code, namely that charities are helped to comply with the relevant provisions of the Charities Act 2011, in particular sections 117 to 122 on the acquisition, disposal or mortgaging of charity land and property’.
Such aspects the CC33 guidance covers are as follows:
- If he/she wished to dispose of his property, he would have to have it surveyed by a qualified surveyor and make a written report available for inspection.
- Where an issue relates to whether or not to enter into a transaction of charity property the duties are to act in the best interests of their charity.
- Acquiring consent from the Charity Commission, if required, constitutes a procedure.
CC33 is an unofficial (i.e. it has no legal force) publication which exists nevertheless to notify and advise charity trustees how to comply with the Charities Act 2011 and how to responsibly govern their charity’s land and property.
Role of Charity Commission in RICS Valuations
The Charity Commission serves as the regulator for charities in England and Wales. Although it does not directly obtain valuations from RICS,it nonetheless plays a vital role in ensuring that registered charities comply with certain laws and regulations when they deal with property.
The Charity Commission refers charities to RICS when they require professional advice in connection with property transactions -it is vital for registered charities to comply with the rules and regulations of the Charities Act 2011 when acquiring, disposing of, or leasing land or property.The first step is for charity trustees to engage a qualified surveyor before undertaking any property transaction.
In this context, the role of the Charity Commission is to provide the following:
- Prescription: giving direction by issuing directives, such as CC33, which describes best practice when dealing with transactions involving charitable property.
- Due diligence: the Charity Commission monitors whether charities are conforming to the rules and regulations of the Charities Act 2011.That includes making sure charities take appropriate advice from qualified surveyors who are professionally trained in their field when engaged in property transactions.
- Consent: sometimes, charities have to get consent from the Charity Commission before they can transact land or buildings – the commission may often ask the charity to include the RICS valuation report as part of its application for consent.
Charities Act Manchester Valuation Qualified Surveyor
When it comes to ensuring compliance with the Charities Act 2011, appointing a qualified surveyor is of paramount importance for charities. Here are some things to take into account:
- Regulation: The surveyor should belong to a regulated professional body, such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS),to provide assurance that they comply with recognized standards.
- Expertise: The surveyor should have substantial experience valuing charity assets and should understand the particularities and sometimes special requirements of that task.
- Independence: The surveyor must work only for the charity and must have no conflicts of interest that could compromise the valuation.
Ensuring compliance with the Charities Act 2011 is a matter of law, and the right kind of valuation, done for the right reasons, is a charity’s best protection against a governance review.

Surveys of Commercial Property
If you’re thinking of acquiring, leasing, subletting, disposing of, or altering commercial premises in Manchester, you would be well advised to locate a surveyor skilled in the nuances of commercial building surveying – should you spot a defect in a commercial building you can use that information to negotiate an asking price for the property that’s considerably lower than what the seller originally wanted, or you can talk your way out of a bad deal altogether.
Our Manchester-based team of RICS-compliant commercial building surveyors is equipped to handle matters throughout Manchester.
Contact
Our team prioritizes client care above all else. We look forward to being in touch with you so you can instruct a surveyor in Manchester, London, Bristol, Birmingham or Cardiff. You can reach out to us easily. Just fill out our form, and we’ll get back to you with a free quote for your survey. All our surveyors are qualified as members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and we are one of the UK’s leading providers of building survey and valuation services:
- Accredited Professionals: Certified by organizations like RICS, CIOB, and RPSA.
- Customized Survey Reports: inspections to meet your specific requirements.
- Local Expertise: Deep understanding and specialized knowledge.
- Expert Guidance: Professional recommendations and support.
The property survey you commission will be carried out by an accredited professional. Your chartered surveyor will be a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), or will belong to some other industry-standard professional body. Rest assured; you will receive highest quality of professional service for your survey.