Helping a charity to sell some of its property portfolio

We act for a charity that helps veterans, which made the decision to dispose of some of its property portfolio. The changes brought in to force by the 2022 Charities Act meant there was greater flexibility for the charity to obtain a Chairty Act valuation. It no longer needs to be a chartered surveyor providing the valuation but can be produced by fellows of both the National Association of Estate Agents and the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers. This meant that the agent who marketed the property was able to provide a valuation which helped to reduce costs for the charity. This has also helped to speed up the formal process they have to go through under the Charity Act before the sale can take place.

In addition to this, we, as their solicitors, now need to include extra wording in the contracts for the sale of land by charities. This new statement confirms that the disposition has been sanctioned by the court or the Commission or that there is power under the trusts of the charity to effect the disposition and that relevant laws have been complied with.