Farming talk: Each day is different for a rural surveyor
Is there a typical day in the life of a rural practice surveyor?, writes David Lancaster, of Savills Telford.
I am confident that I speak on behalf of the large majority of land agents when I say "no, there is not!" and I would be inclined to add "and isn't that great?"
It is a diverse industry and becoming more so all the time. It's had to be versatile and landowners and farmers have had to consider where value can be extracted from their property outside agriculture.
There are few purely agricultural holdings left as many have adopted sideline enterprises, whether it be bed and breakfast, farm shops, paintball or converting buildings for offices.
Those acute to their costs have also considered their ever increasing expenditure on electricity and heat, leading them to explore renewable energy schemes.
The right renewable technology, in the right place, not only reduces reliance on the National Grid and saves money, but can also become an additional income stream by producing electricity and heat for sale, as well as meet the environmental and ethical requirements of organisations the businesses supply.
Rural practice surveyors have had to evolve with all these changes in order to be able to identify opportunities for clients and advise on maximising their assets.
This could be with anything from renewables to minerals to permitted development. Our role is to understand our clients' aims and to present options that fit their objectives, while remaining mindful of the pitfalls and problems, such as tax implications.
A few days ago I completed a report for a rooftop photovoltaics scheme, compiled and issued a compensation claim for a landowner following the installation of a water pipe affecting the property and began a valuation of a sizeable poultry unit. Today I am ironing out issues surrounding a potential agreement to permit carp-rearing on an estate lake and investigating the potential re-use of a retail unit for residential.
While diversity on estates increases, this is not to say that the core agricultural business necessarily diminishes in importance. It merely means that greater attention needs to be paid to how the business as a whole works, both practically and in terms of accounting and tax.
Keeping informed on policy changes, staying ahead of the curve and preparing clients is perhaps one of the biggest challenges for agents.
