Property advice for charities and trustees
Property decisions made by charities carry an additional responsibility. Trustees must act in the charity’s best interests, follow the relevant statutory process and be able to demonstrate that important decisions have been properly informed.
Geering Chartered Surveyors advises charities, trustees and professional advisers on the valuation, disposal and strategic management of property across Devon and Cornwall. We have particular experience with churches, chapels, community buildings, residential property and assets where development or alternative-use potential needs careful consideration.
Charity property disposals
Where Part 7 of the Charities Act 2011 (as amended by the Charities Act 2022) applies to a disposal, trustees may need advice from a designated adviser before proceeding. The required advice can extend beyond a headline valuation to matters such as the proposed method of disposal, marketing and the terms on which the transaction should proceed.
We provide property advice designed to help trustees make and record a properly informed decision, while working with the charity’s solicitor and other advisers on the wider transaction.
Valuation and strategic advice
- Market valuation of charity property and land.
- Advice supporting disposals and proposed terms.
- Marketing and method-of-sale advice.
- Assessment of development, conversion or alternative-use potential.
- Advice on lotting where a property or portfolio may achieve a better outcome if offered in more than one part.
- Valuation and strategy for residential, commercial, rural and ecclesiastical assets.
- Pre-acquisition advice where trustees want independent property input before committing.
Ecclesiastical and community property
Churches and community buildings often require a different approach from conventional residential or commercial property. Their existing use may be highly specialised, while their market value may depend on planning, access, covenants, heritage constraints, adjoining land or the potential for another community or residential use.
We have undertaken a significant number of instructions involving churches and church buildings and understand the need to balance valuation evidence with the practical realities of marketing a specialist property.
From valuation to sale strategy
A charity may know that an asset is surplus but still face difficult questions: should it be sold as a whole or in lots; is planning work worthwhile before sale; should a community proposal be explored; what marketing process is appropriate; and how should trustees assess competing bids?
Our role can extend from the initial valuation through to disposal strategy and, where agreed,