Discussion forums and blogs

Green Deal Bulletin 15 May 2012

Derry — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:45:00 GMT

The Green Deal Bulletin gives a summary of the latest news stories about the coalition government's scheme to encourage home efficiency improvements such as double glazing, insulation and energy efficient boilers with no upfront payment and financed by savings on energy bills. PM under pressure to boost green deal incentives Further incentives urged to increase take up of the Green Deal Mortgage lenders and the Green Deal: raw deal or no big deal? Discussion of who will pay for the Green Deal if...(read more)

Residential Bulletin key items you may have missed 14 May 2012

Annette — Mon, 14 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Welcome to the latest issue of Residential Bulletin, a selection of freely available online items relating to residential issues. UK Housing Market Residential market trends An update on current trends based on data published by Land Registry, Nationwide and Rightmove CBRE UK Residential Viewpoint May 2012 [Type market trends in the keyword box and click on search] Europe Residential markets in Germany (Executive Summary) Current developments, prospects and opportunities in the residential sector....(read more)

Commercial Property Market Information Update - recent key property online items you may have missed - 11 May 2012

Peter — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:29:00 GMT

Welcome to this week's Commercial Property Market Information Update, a selection of the 10 top free online items on commercial property and related topics including the business and economic background and covering both UK and international markets. UK-business, economics, finance ICAEW / Grant Thornton UK Business Confidence Monitor (BCM) Quarter two 2012 Business confidence has improved in the last three months, suggesting the UK will return to growth in Q2 2012. Despite a strong rebound in the...(read more)

Coming Soon to RICS London Bookshop

pferreira — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:11:00 GMT

A Valuer's Guide to the Red Book 2012 - May 2012 Fully revised to reflect the Red Book 2012, this guide includes: a clear commentary on the latest changes to the RICS Valuation - Professional Standards; a handy Red Book route map summarising key stages for every valuation; sample questions and answers; common problems and how to avoid them. Price: £30.00 CESMM4 - Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement - May 2012 Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement (CESMM) has proved to be extremely...(read more)

Residential Bulletin key items you may have missed 8 May 2012

Annette — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Welcome to the latest issue of Residential Bulletin, a selection of freely available online items relating to residential issues. UK Housing Market Mainstream A round up of recent house price results records continuing decreases in prices as illustrated by 0.6% decrease in March ( Land Registry ) 0.4% decrease in April ( Halifax ) 0.2% decrease in April ( Nationwide ) UK Rents London rents predicted to rise by 3.25% over next 12 months ( Young Index Private Rented Sector Sentiment Report ) Flooding...(read more)

Recommended by RICS Staff - May 2012

pferreira — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:56:00 GMT

Construction Specifications: Practice Guide This publication is from The Construction Specifications Institute, http://www.csinet.org, an organisation in the United States. The book comes with a companion website and is a good preparation for the CCS (Certified Construction Specifier) exam. It contains a good introduction with useful overviews and explanations, and a very detailed contents list and index. It would be a good source of information generally on project management, building information...(read more)

Commercial Property Market Information Update - recent key property online items you may have missed - 4 May 2012

Peter — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:53:00 GMT

Welcome to this week's Commercial Property Market Information Update , a selection of the 10 top free online items on commercial property and related topics, including the business and economic background and covering both UK and international markets. UK - commercial property BCSC: Shopping Centre Development Pipeline 2012 The primary aim of this study is to focus attention on what is actually happening with retail regeneration on developments over 50 000 sq ft. The research focuses on town centre...(read more)

Spring clean your facilities and contribute to standards for greater certainty and consistency in FM processes

Nathalie Bellanger — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:34:00 GMT

According to Jim Sinopoli, managing principal of Smart Buildings, facility management is undergoing a significant process of evolution and transformation. The days when the facilities management (FM) or engineering group was housed in a small office in the basement next to the elevator mechanical room are long gone. The profile and value of the facilities management team has become more visible and critical as organizational executives grapple with energy, building costs, finances and occupant expectations....(read more)

Trial of an enhanced ejournals service

Cathy — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:48:00 GMT

RICS Library has been offering our members access to Ebsco Business Source, a full text database of an extensive collection of ejournals for a few years now. Ebsco have recently introduced an addtional part of the service called Ebsco Business Source Plus which we are trialling for 30 days. As well as the current content it has three key additional services. 1. An additional 1400+ full text journals 2. Interactive company reports and intelligence 3. Associated Press News and links to 850,000 web...(read more)

New BIM ebook

Rosemary — Thu, 03 May 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Just added to the Library ebooks collection, The Impact of Building Information Modelling by Ray Crotty, published in 2011. Find other BIM items in our online library catalogue...(read more)

April New Arrivals at RICS London Bookshop

pferreira — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:08:00 GMT

Dilapidations - RICS Guidance Note 6th edition This is particularly relevant to practitioners in view of the recent adoption of a formal pre-action protocol under the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR). Price: £40.00 RICS Valuation - Professional Standards 2012 (the Red Book) Effective from 30/Mar/12, the RICS Valuation - Professional Standards replaces all previous issues of the Red Book and is completely compliant with IVS (International Valuation Standards, published by the International Valuation Standards...(read more)

Branded RICS Giftware

pferreira — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:30:00 GMT

RICS London Bookshop has received an all new range of branded RICS gifts: Lapel Pin The real mark of belonging to one of the UK's foremost professional organisations. The RICS lapel pin is a quiet statement of authority, in silver with an official purple rics logo in hard enamel on a silver backing. Price: £4.40 + VAT Mechanical Card Case Present your business cards in style. This pocket-sized case features a silver snap closure engraved with the RICS logo and has a handy mechanism that advances...(read more)

Books on Facilities Management available to buy at RICS London Bookshop

pferreira — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:28:00 GMT

RICS London Bookshop stocks a number of titles dealing with Facilities Management, including: Hazards and the Built Environment This book sets out to explore the challenges facing the built environment and examines the strategies that must be taken if built-in resilience is to be realised in the future and built assets safeguarded. Price: £41.99 Facilities Management: Innovation and Performance This book follows on directly form Keith Alexander's textbook Facilities Management: Theory and Practice...(read more)

'RICS UK Commercial Real Estate Agency Standards' - available to purchase at RICS London Bookshop

pferreira — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:12:00 GMT

RICS UK Commercial Real Estate Agency Standards 1st Edition The RICS UK Commercial Estate Agency Standards is aimed at commercial real estate agents, but it also offers a useful source of reference for clients, and other stakeholders. It refers only to direct property ownership for both occupation and investment, not to forms of indirect investment. What is covered - Ethics: dealing with conflicts of interest - Securing instructions - Disposals: marketing the property - Acting for the seller: implementing...(read more)

Books on Delays in Construction available to buy at RICS London Bookshop

pferreira — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 13:58:00 GMT

RICS London Bookshop stocks a number of titles dealing with Delays in Construction, including: Construction Delays, Extensions of Time and Prolongation Claims This book provides guidance on delay analysis, particularly in relation to extensions of time submissions. It gives readers information and practical details to be considered in formulating and resolving extension of time submissions and time-related prolongation claims. Price: £80.00 Delay and Disruption Claims in Construction This practical...(read more)

Adjudication Books and Contracts available to buy at RICS London Bookshop

pferreira — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Construction Adjudication This book established itself as the key authority on adjudication when it was first published. It has now been revised to reflect the authors' experience of adjudication in practice and to cover the large number of court decisions. It features useful appendices on adjudication materials. Price: £71.99 Case in Point - Construction Adjudication This book is written for surveyors who are acting on behalf of their client in a dispute or as an adjudicator. With key case summaries...(read more)

Books on Construction Disputes available to purchase at RICS London Bookshop

pferreira — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:59:00 GMT

Leasehold Disputes - A Guide to Leasehold Valuation This book contains full coverage of the relevant case-law and legislation relating to the main areas of dispute such as service and administration charges, repairs, right to information, duty to consult, insurance, variation of leases and forfeiture. Price: £30.00 Commercial Conflict Manangement and Dispute Resolution This book serves to give a neat and brief overview for professionals. Those studying or working in commerce generally, construction...(read more)

Tell us your views on how to protect Europe's waters

Nathalie Bellanger — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:44:00 GMT

RICS is calling for members' views on the EU consultation 'Policy Options for the Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Waters' The European Commission will present its 'Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources' this year. This document will assess the implementation and achievements of EU water policy as well as identify gaps and shortcomings. On the basis of this analysis, the blueprint will identify actions to strengthen water policy and to address ongoing vulnerability of the water environment....(read more)

Buy Books on Dilapidations at RICS London Bookshop

pferreira — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:30:00 GMT

RICS London Bookshop carries a number of titles on Dilapidations, including: BCIS Dilapidations Price Book 2011 This is an essential title for anyone providing cost advice to landlords or tenants on costs of complying with Schedules of Dilapidations also other built environment professionals undertaking dilapidations work. Price: £199.00 Dilapidations and Service Charge Disputes: A Practical Guide This title offers practical guidance on the related topics of dilapidations and service charge disputes,...(read more)

Conflicts of interest and social networking

Martin Burns — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:36:00 GMT

A building contractor once complained to me about an RICS appointed arbitrator, who he said had a conflict of interest. It seems the arbitrator called a meeting and one party came represented by a solicitor, while the other party, (the building contractor) came without any professional representation. As he walked into the meeting room the arbitrator, who shall remain nameless, recognised the solicitor as someone who represented another party in a completely unrelated arbitration about 6 months before....(read more)

Dispute Board launch event

Martin Burns — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:18:00 GMT

On Tuesday 01 May, RICS will launch its International Dispute Board Training and Accreditation Programme. This is a new scheme which will provide chartered surveyors and other professionals with an opportunity to qualify as a member of the RICS Dispute Board Register. This evening event is free to attend and will be at RICS HQ in Parlaiment Square London (17:30 start). Introductions from Bob Davis, Chair of RICS Dispute Board Working Party, will be followed by our Key note speaker Mr Justice Ramsey...(read more)

Residential Bulletin - key items you may have missed 23 April 2012

Annette — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:40:00 GMT

Welcome to the latest issue of Residential Bulletin, a selection of freely available online items relating to residential issues. House prices UK Mainstream A round up of recent house price results. 0.2% increase February 2012 ONS . NB (CLG House price index has been replaced by ONS House Price Index) Prime London markets increased by 2.8% 1 Qr 2012 Savills Regional markets increased by an average 0.6% 1 Qr Savills UK Private sector rents Rents fall by 0.3% in March ( LSL Buy to Let Index )...(read more)

Commercial Property Market Information Update - recent key property online items you may have missed - 20 April 2012

Peter — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:40:00 GMT

Welcome to this week's Commercial Property Market Information Update , a selection of the 10 top free online items on commercial property and related topics including the business and economic background and covering both UK and international markets. UK - commercial property Acuitus: cPad Market Flash – Commercial Property Auction Data April 2012 Sales volumes and sale rates are both up while buyers have increasingly looked beyond the confines of London and the south east for investments. CBRE:...(read more)

New Rules of Measurement (NRM) - Bundle Offer

pferreira — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 09:02:00 GMT

The New Rules of Measurement (NRM) Volumes 1 and 2 are being launched at RICS Parliament Square on Tuesday 24/Apr/2012 . Buy both publications together at the RICS London Bookshop and get a £10 discount! NRM 1 - Order of Cost Estimating and Cost Planning for Capital Building Works NRM 1: Order of cost estimating and cost planning for capital building works, provides fundamental guidance on the quantification of building works for the purpose of preparing cost estimates and cost plans. Price: £45.00...(read more)

Who should drive the sustainability agenda?

Nathalie Bellanger — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:12:00 GMT

Yesterday I attended a debate organised by the ENDS report around "How long can business continue to lead the sustainability agenda?". It was stated from the start that the underlying question was "how sustainability can improve business commercial performance?". A very inspiring discussion was led by a panel of experts: Mike Barry, Head of Sustainable Business at Mars & Spencer; John Elkington, Executive Chairman of Volans; Alan Knight, Director of Environmental Sustainability at Business in...(read more)