What we do
Education & Charities
Comprehensive services for the third sector across the UK
Education & Charities
Education Services:
The Rapleys Education team combines specialist expertise with a depth of understanding across the sector to provide a unique array of services for your institution. From agency and valuation to design, project management, planning and surveying, we have a full service offering that will cater for all of your property needs.
For academy schools and maintained schools we provide funding support from initial consultation to submission, ensuring your Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) bid or sustainability grant application runs to programme. We act faster and go further to help our clients to achieve their goals.
If you are a school that owns or leases a property it is best to be prepared all eventualities. This may be the winter storms, summer heat, open days where you want your property looking its best or financial pressures. Our teams will guide you through the necessary steps to get you ready for whatever might be around the corner.
Through our years of experience in providing funding support, we have the knowledge and expertise to provide innovative and technical solutions. With eight offices across the UK in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Huntingdon, Manchester and Edinburgh, we offer best in class advice that is focused on customer service, with handpicked teams that collaborate to add value.
Charities Services
The Rapleys Charities team combines specialist expertise with a depth of understanding of this alternatives market which impacts all communities across the country. With many years of experience working with charities, we can help you to make long term plans across your estate, ensuring that it is protected for the future.
We act faster and go further to help our clients to achieve their goals. Whether you are an ecclesiastical organisation, faith group, educational institution, local, national and/or a voluntary organisation, we have the knowledge and expertise to support you and your property portfolio.
With eight offices across the UK in; London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Huntingdon, Manchester and Edinburgh, we offer best in class advice that is focused on customer service, with handpicked teams that collaborate to add value.
- Development Consultancy: Options Appraisals, Financial Viability Assessments, Agency, Estate Rationalisation, S106 Agency Services and Regeneration Projects.
- Agency Services: Marketing Disposals, Acquisitions, Land Agency, Negotiating Complex Deal Structures and Site Searches/Identification.
- Valuation Consultancy: Designated Advisors Report under The Charities Act 2022, Desktop Valuations, Red Book Valuations and Affordable Housing Valuations.
- Planning: Applications, Appeals, EIAs and Policy.
- Building Consultancy: Building Surveys, Housing Consultancy, Project and Cost Management, Neighbourly Matters and Utilities Consultancy.
- Leasehold Reform: Residential Lease Extensions, Residential Enfranchisement and Enfranchisement Under the Places of Worship (Enfranchisement Act) 1920.
- Strategic Consultancy: Property Portfolio Consultancy and Investment Management, Property and Land Strategic Advice, Estate Rationalisation and Sustainability.
- Designated Advisors Reports: Independent strategic advice that helps charities demonstrate compliance with legal requirements and confirms that decisions have been made in the charity’s best interests.
- Lease Consultancy: Lease Renewals, Rent Reviews, Lease Restructuring, Break Clause Advice, Dilapidations Advice, Service Charge and Lease Covenant Reviews, Dispute Resolution and Negotiations.
Our multi-disciplinary approach ensures that our clients receive the right advice at the right time across the whole of a property’s lifecycle. We provide support across transactional and advisory services, helping charities make informed decisions about their property assets.
Our Experience and Commitment
At Rapleys, we believe in empowering charities to thrive. By leveraging our deep understanding of the sector and comprehensive property expertise, we provide actionable insights and practical solutions to help you make the most of your resources.
In the past 12 months alone, we completed more than 250 valuations, over 100 building surveys, more than 20 development and viability assessments, 18 acquisitions and disposals, and over 15 planning applications.
Why choose Rapleys?
- Sector experience: trusted advisers to a wide range of charities, from small parish churches to national organisations and dioceses.
- Tailored approach: bespoke solutions that align with your mission and objectives.
- Regulatory assurance: in-depth knowledge of Charity Commission guidelines that ensures compliance at every stage.
- Holistic perspective: comprehensive services under one roof, enabling seamless coordination and efficiency.
If you would like to discuss how we can support your organisation, please contact a member of our specialist Education & Charities team: Adam Harvey, Graham Smith or Sam Van de Velde. Let us help you turn property challenges into opportunities for growth and sustainability.
FAQs
If you are a charity you will need a Designated Advisers Report in order to comply with the Charities Act 2022. We can provide a fully compliant report and ensure that you receive the best advice in order to achieve the best outcome for your school.
We can assess the value of your school property by undertaking a valuation. We can also explore whether elements of you property that are surplus to your needs hold potential development value.
Preparing for a rainy day is not a fun activity but it can help you to preserve the value of your property. We recommend reviewing the property title to ensure that in the event that you need to sell the property you are able to maximise the proceeds from the sale. Keeping the fabric of your buildings and safety systems up to date should form part of a regular maintenance plan. If you do not have a plan in place we can help you set one up. Regular maintenance can help to avoid unforeseen and unwanted expenses and give you more control over your maintenance budget.
The reports are required whenever a registered charity looks to dispose of a property asset. That could a freehold interest, a lease of more than 7-years or the disposal of another interest in property, such as an easement or restrictive covenant. Although charities are not legally required to obtain a DAR for a lease of no more than 7-years the Charity Commission still expects charities to seek appropriate advice. This could still be in the form of a DAR so a charity can clearly demonstrate they have obtained appropriate advice. Although DARs are not required for acquisitions the Charity Commission advises professional advice is sought.
If trustees do not obtain a DAR and it is subsequently found that the terms of disposal were not in the best interests of the charity the trustees can be found personally liable for any losses. By obtaining a DAR from a chartered surveyor the trustees’ position is protected. Even if the advice obtained is subsequently questioned if there is any loss to the charity the trustees will be able to seek cover from the surveyors professional indemnity insurance.
Claire Willetts
Executive Director of Property & Environment, University of West London
Working with Victoria Bennion over the past two years has been a pleasure. Her advice is always measured and reasonable and her relationships with the planning authorities undoubtedly contribute to their successes. Victoria is responsive and professional and a welcome part of our project team.
Richard Fiddes
Lead Consultant, Newmark on behalf of Fairley House School
I thought your approach to the project, including the involvement of specialist subcontractors, the detail of the specification and the insight and analysis of the tender report, was first rate and enabled us to reconcile the works proposed against our own overall budget. Thank you for your efforts.
Jen Goode
Headteacher, Longford Park School
We just wanted to say a huge thank you for all the support, hard work and time that you have put into creating our new room at Longford. It hasn’t always been a smooth path but you have been relentless in your perseverance and dedication to get the job completed. We appreciate all your efforts.
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