RICS to give charities free property advice

20 May 2009

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched Charity Property Help, a service through which Chartered Surveyors provide free advice to voluntary organisations on all property related issues.

So far 37 property firms have registered to join the RICS Charity Property Help including Savills and Alder-King. Launched in partnership with the National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)and Charity Finance Directors Group (CFDG); Charity Property Help will provide registered charities and voluntary organisations a one hour consultation with a member firm or an RICS member free of charge.

Many charities and voluntary organisations from village halls to multinationals need advice on property matters. The current economic downturn is dramatically affecting charitable donations; therefore the launch of Charity Property Help is timely in assisting those charities that are feeling the pinch.

RICS spokesman, Geoffrey Barber said: “A great deal of time and effort is used in raising money for charities and the correct advice is needed if good business decisions are to be made. A dedicated facility has been formed by the RICS to ensure that charities make best use of their expenditure on property with the help of reliable advisors who can be contacted through the CharityPropertyHelp website. This will enable the property industry to make a valuable contribution to society, with surveyors offering at least one hour’s free advice, and property owners being able to gain access to the charity world should they wish to provide subsidised accommodation. We envisage that this facility will save the charities and voluntary organisations millions of pounds.”

Charity Property Help was set up with the support of The Return Foundation; a philanthropic foundation established by Geoffrey Barber an RICS member.
Register on the RICS website www.rics.org/charitypropertyhelp or RICS Contact Centre on 0870 333 1600