Dear colleagues,

I wish you all a Very Happy and Successful 2012!

RICS has again been very active at global, pan-European and local level in the past year, launching new guidance, organising different types of activities, influencing key decision-makers, setting up recognition initiatives and raising the profile of the chartered surveyor in the media.

The coming quarter will be a busy one with many activities planned in the different countries and many of you attending MIPIM in March, where RICS will have a stand and organise a conference.

Also, in several countries such as Czech Republic, Hungary, Baltics, Finland, and Russia & CIS, new Boards are being set up and/or new Chairs sought. This is also the case for the RICS Europe Board – my current term is coming to an end and soon the process to select the next Chair of RICS Europe will be opened (note that as per the RICS governance I am allowed to apply one last time as well).

Please do not forget to renew your membership if you have not yet done so – the deadline was 1 January 2012 – to avoid losing your membership or incurring late payment penalty fees.

Wishing you all the very best.

Luciano Capaldo FRICS Chairman RICS Europe

Make yourself visible to your potential clients

The RICS online directory MemberSearch@RICSEurope has grown into a valuable connectivity tool, allowing investors and clients to source chartered surveyors in any continental European city or country, and in any area of specialisation. Since its launch in February 2011, 1,760 RICS members across continental Europe have signed up and now benefit from free exposure to the global community. Get connected now and make yourself visible to investors and potential clients free of charge.
Simply go to www.ricseurope.eu/membersearch and follow the registration procedure.

How to become a Fellow of RICS (FRICS)

Perhaps you are not aware that we have an online tool for members who want to upgrade to FRICS? MyFellowship is an online easy-to-use tool for MRICS to prepare their application to become a Fellow of RICS. As Luciano Capaldo FRICS says on this web section ‘RICS Fellowship is an honoured position – an acknowledgement of a property professional’s dedication, experience and achievements. MRICS upgrading their status to FRICS will join a distinguished list of Fellows who stand out among their peers, and in the eyes of business and the public, as some of the world’s leading professionals. ’
Go to www.joinmyfellowship.eu to have a look.

Your 2012 learning programme

The RICS Online Academy portal allows you to select a series of courses relevant to your business in a convenient and flexible online format that makes learning easier.
Interested in professional development, valuation methods or risk project management? View the complete portfolio of e-learning courses with detailed summaries and get ready for your 2012 learning programme.
Also, find out the number of CPD hours available as well as how to register for a course at www.rics.org/onlineacademy. And check the series of web classes planned for early 2012 and book your seat at www.rics.org/webclass

Make your mark

Did you know that as a fully qualified RICS member you can personalise your valuations, reports and correspondence with your RICS stamp? It is exclusively customised with your name, designation and membership number. Special offer: Order your stamp before 31 January and get a 10% discount – you pay just 90 EUR (incl. packaging and postal delivery, excl. VAT).
Order now at www.ricseurope.eu/stamp

Do you earn the going rate?

RICS and Macdonald & Company invite you to participate in the European Property Market Remuneration survey – probably one of the most comprehensive surveys for the profession. The survey is designed to give property professionals an overview of the salaries, benefits and packages on offer in the industry. Last year 1,500 respondents took part in the survey, providing useful data on market conditions and future projections. All completed surveys will be entered into a draw for two tickets to MIPIM 2012.
The survey only takes 10 minutes to complete and is available in 5 languages. Click here to participate

Global user guide for valuers

RICS recently published a Global User Guide ‘Reflecting uncertainty in valuations for investment purposes’. This is a brief guide prepared for the benefit of valuers and other users of valuations. The aim is to provide a general understanding of the concept of uncertainty and the methods by which uncertainty, in valuations for investment purposes, may be identified and communicated with clarity.
For online access to the publication simply click here

Europe - Renew your membership today

In November 2011, you were invited to renew your membership by post and email. The deadline to renew was 1 January 2012. We would like to remind you that it is now urgent that you settle your subscription fees to avoid having to pay a late payment fee or losing your membership. The quickest and simplest way to pay is online at www.rics.org/renew. If you have any questions, please email renewalsineurope@rics.org

Europe - New local guidance for valuers

Two new guidance notes for valuers were published on Friday 9 December. The 'Executiewaarde', a guidance note on foreclosure values and forced sales in the Netherlands aims to assist Dutch valuers who provide valuations in circumstances similar to market restraints or forced sales. Further information is available here. In France a new guidance note, ‘Valuations for OPCIs’ was published, offering guidance for valuers carrying out valuations for OPCIs (Organisme de Placement Collectif Immobilier). Read more about it here

Baltics - New Chair sought

Patrick Simon FRICS, Chairman of RICS Baltics has decided to step down as Chairman, as he believes that the time has come to hand over the baton to a local member. We would like to thank Patrick for setting up RICS Baltics and for all the work he has done to develop the membership.
As a result, we are now launching the application process for a new Chair of RICS Baltics. For more details, go to www.ricseeurope.eu/news

Cyprus - Firms endorsing REABS

The Real Estate Agency & Brokerage Standards (REABS) were officially launched in Cyprus in October and readily adopted by the local RICS professionals. Members who practise real estate and brokerage were asked to officially endorse the standards. A list of these members was published on the RICS Cyprus website, available to international and local investors. The aim is to build confidence in the services of our members and strengthen transparency in a sector which has suffered many losses over the last two years. Read more at www.ricseurope.eu/cy
Similarly RICS Europe is now putting together a list of the firms who are formally adopting REABS across continental Europe and by 15 February an overview of these will appear on the 'Why join?' section of www.ricseurope.eu

Denmark - PWC & RICS Conference

RICS Danmark and PriceWaterhouseCoopers Denmark are organising a conference in Copenhagen on 9 February 2012 where a new PwC research on emerging trends will be presented and the new banking regulations will be discussed. Speakers include Karsten Knudsen MRICS, Chairman of Nykredit. The event is free of charge for members, trainees and other invited professionals. For further information please contact the RICS Nordic National Group

France - Building global opportunities at MIPIM

The MIPIM property forum serves as a barometer of not just the global real estate sector but the general economic climate as well. Find the most promising projects, gain critical industry insight and meet the world’s most influential real estate players at MIPIM 2012 on 6-9 March in Cannes. RICS will host a stand in the Riviera Hall (R29.32) from Tuesday to Friday and hold a conference focusing on ‘Corporate Real Estate’ on Tuesday 6 March in the afternoon.
Read more at www.ricseurope.eu/events as from 20 January.

Germany - RICS Focus

The 8th edition of RICS-Focus will take place on 19 April 2012 at the Deutsche Bank in the heart of Berlin. The conference is one of RICS Deutschland’s yearly highlights. It offers the opportunity to get first hand information about trends and developments in the real estate sector and to meet chartered surveyors from all over Germany. The programme includes lectures and panel discussions on timing strategies in an uncertain economic market. For the first time a networking event will be organised on the eve of the conference with guests of honour RICS President See Lian Ong FRICS and Vice-President Martin J. Brühl FRICS. Further details on this event are available on the RICS Germany events section

Netherlands - Update on real estate legal matters

On 24 January the first Dutch conference for 2012, organised by Mr. David van Dijk MRICS, will update members on relevant legal matters. The conference will take place at the NautaDutilh office in Amsterdam and will feature David van Dijk MRE MRICS and Gaike Dalenoord as the main speakers. Topics to be discussed include the validity of bank and corporate guarantees in case of bankruptcy of tenants, the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) and disclosure of incentives and break options.
More information on this event is available on the RICS Nederland events section

Rossia & CIS - New faces

RICS Rossia & CIS recently welcomed three new members of staff. Elena Vago is the Business Development Manager, Capital Markets, Tatiana Zhelyabkina the Administrator, and Alexey Babichenko the Business Development Manager, Built Environment. The new Moscow-based team look forward to continuing to promote the RICS standards in Russia & CIS and further developing the membership.
Also, the appointment of a new Chair of the RICS Rossia & CIS Board is on the agenda as well as the addition of Board members in the Built Environment and Commercial Real Estate. Read more on our RICS Rossia section

Romania - 1st Annual Valuation Conference November 2011

RICS Romania successfully held its first Valuation Conference at the Bucharest Hilton on 23 November 2011, on the theme of “Adapting to uncertainty in times when perception becomes reality”. Many of the country’s leading real estate valuation experts attended to take part in a spirited debate on the topics of “Valuation for lending purposes – a tool for financial stability, or crystal ball gazing?”, and “Valuation for financial statements – the perspectives of Auditors, Valuers, Client and their Bankers”. More about RICS Romania activities at www.ricseurope.eu/ro

Spain - Consultores meeting

In Collaboration with Cesine (a Santander based University), RICS España organised the 2nd RICS España Consultores meeting of 2011 on 24 November. Over 170 professionals gathered to debate, analyse and evaluate the condition of the Spanish real estate market. Topics discussed included energy efficiency ratings, regional variations as obstacles to investment and the levels of investment in residential property.
In the opinion of the speakers the negative situation was going to continue until 2013, however there were positive signs including the attractive position of both Madrid and Barcelona amongst the top ten European cities in which to open a business. For further details on this conference and a copy of the presentations please visit our Spanish event section

Sweden - Looking at new bank regulations

On 26 January 2012 RICS Sverige is organising a conference together with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Stockholm on the new banking regulations, with a focus on Solvency 2. Speakers include Agneta Jacobsson FRICS, RICS Sverige Chair and Johan Ericsson FRICS, CEO Catella, and Henrik Steinbrecher FRICS, Territory Senior Partner at PwC will moderate the session. The event is free for members and trainees. Look at the programme and visit www.ricseurope.eu/nordic

Switzerland - Mayor and Chief Executive of Geneva at New Year reception

RICS Switzerland are extremely pleased to welcome some significant local figures to our New Year reception for members in January. The Mayor of Geneva, Pierre Maudet, will give a short presentation about Geneva – a city which has seen considerable inward investment and substantial development pressures. RICS Europe Chairman Luciano Capaldo FRICS will also join us and present diplomas to new members as part of the evening. All members are welcome. For further information please contact Mary Ann Reynolds FRICS at mareynolds@rics.org

2012 European Housing Review breakfast

RICS is launching the 2012 edition of the European Housing Review. The review looks at the performance of residential property markets in key European economies and provides information on individual countries as well as comparative housing market analysis across Europe.
The findings of the 2012 edition of the review will be presented on 28 February 2012 at a breakfast launch, free of charge, at 8:30am at the Palais des Académies, Auditorium Rubens, 1 rue Ducale, 1000 Brussels. To book your seat, please contact Natasha Lanskaya at nlanskaya@rics.org

RICS input to the consultation on water efficiency standards

RICS has attended two expert group meetings held by the EU Commission with the aim to provide practical advice and feedback on the draft policy recommendations. RICS Europe members were consulted on their views regarding the most appropriate policy measures to improve the water efficiency of buildings. RICS is generally supportive of an EU wide legislation on the water performance of buildings as water scarcity is an increasing pan-European problem requiring a common framework approach. The full article is available at our online newsroom

Housing absorbs largest share of consumer spending in Europe

Housing related expenditure has increased considerably in Europe over the last decade and now represents the highest share of consumer spending at EU level, says the latest research published by RICS. This report was officially launched at the International Housing Summit in Rotterdam, the only global forum for the affordable housing sector, and looks at consumer spending in Europe at country level, with a focus on housing. You can read further details on this report at our press centre here

Asia - RICS Hong Kong Annual Dinner 2012

The inaugural RICS Hong Kong Annual Dinner for Hong Kong’s leading real estate professionals will be held at JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong on 9 March 2012. More than 300 RICS members and key players in the real estate industry will be joining at this prestigious black-tie event.
The evening will provide an ideal networking opportunity and the first RICS Hong Kong Property Award Presentation will also be held during the evening. For more details on the awards, please visit: www.ricsasia.org/awards

Americas - RICS sponsors Annual Sustainable Real Estate Conference

RICS is the key sponsor of the first annual Sustainable Real Estate Conference at the New York University Schack Institute of Real Estate’s Center for the Sustainable Built Environment (CSBE) taking place on 23 February. The conference will inform on strategies surfacing in the design, development, financing, and management of built environments. Dr. Constantine Kontokosta MRICS, PE, AICP, Clinical Assistant Professor, Director CSBE is the conference chair. For further reading on the conference take a look at www.ricsamericas.org/index.html

MENEA - Diploma in adjudication in the construction industry

The diploma in adjudication in the construction industry course starts on Tuesday 10 January. Aimed at people who have experience in dispute resolution procedures and wish to practice as an adjudicator, this distance learning course has four units: units 1 to 3 comprise the certificate in adjudication in the construction industry and unit 4 focuses on the production of an enforceable decision by an adjudicator in the construction industry. Find out more about this course.

INDIA - Real estate and construction professionals in India by 2020

On 17 November, RICS India released a research paper titled 'Real Estate & Construction Professionals in India by 2020'. The report highlights a potential supply and demand gap of 44 million core professionals by 2020, a scenario that would leave India facing a veritable skills crisis in the sector, which may impede India's growth aspirations.
The report was unveiled in collaboration with the Ministry of Urban Development at the India International Centre in New Delhi. For further details on this report please visit our press centre

Oceania - How do you value a building’s sustainability?

The term ‘sustainable building’ has come to mean one that delivers higher returns over the long term because of its environmental policies and through that its attractiveness to tenants, providing greater returns through higher rents. The question of how to put a value on a building’s sustainability is being asked by the valuation profession as owners and tenants become more acutely aware of sustainability in the built environment. RICS Oceania will present a one day master class in Sydney in March which will instruct valuers on recommended principles on valuing a building’s sustainability. Read more at www.rics.org/oceania

RICS Europe has been hitting the headlines over the past three months and has already generated more than 950 articles which have been featured in national newspapers or property publications throughout continental Europe.

Part of our press activities have included the promotion of RICS market surveys such as the Global Commercial Property Survey and the Global Distressed Property Monitor, which have generated numerous press mentions and helped us strengthen the RICS brand across Europe.

The press team has also focused on raising the organisation’s profile through key campaigns, such as the launch of the Valuer Registration Scheme in continental Europe, the promotion of Real Estate Agency and Brokerage Standards and RICS activities at Expo Real. Coverage has been secured in key publications such as Frankfurter Allgemeine (Germany), RWAY (Russia), Le Nouvel Observateur (France), Fastighets Varlden (Sweden), Dziennik Bałtycki (Poland), and Oje (Portugal), among others.

Over the coming months, the RICS Europe press team will continue its efforts to promote RICS in key subject areas including RICS standards, valuation and sustainability, as well as through other key publications such as the European Housing Review.

For more information about RICS Europe media activities, please go to www.ricseurope.eu/en/pressroom

For more details, please contact the relevant National Groups
(see Contact section on www.ricseurope.eu/contacts)