The Rating Diploma Holders' Conference 2026
The Rationale of Rating
The 32nd annual conference examining current issues facing the modern rating practitioner. The 2026 Conference of the Rating Diploma Holders' Section of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, is open to both members and non-members alike.
Please note this event is IN PERSON ONLY.
| Start Date | Venue | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 September 2026 | Loughborough University, Loughborough | £230 | BOOK |
Note: All prices are to be paid in GBP and are subject to VAT at the prevailing rate
This event is being managed by CPT Events for the Rating Diploma Holders Section.
Booking Note for Dip Rating Holders: Discount codes need to be added during the booking process, followed by selecting your method of payment to complete your booking.
The Diploma Conference is well known for its in-depth analysis of current practical rating problems. This years' conference will focus on topics of special interest to rating practitioners at the present time.
All sessions will be introduced and led by the Current Chair of the RICS Rating Diploma Holders' Section, Neil Atherton.
Speakers
- Neil Atherton MRICS Dip Rating, National Valuation Lead, HMRC Valuation Office; Chairman of the Rating Diploma Holders' Section of the RICS
- Alan Colston BSc (Hons) MRICS Dip Rating, Chief Valuer, HMRC Valuation Office
- Josh Myerson FRICS Dip Rating IRRV (Hons), Head of Advisory, Montagu Evans LLP; Immediate Past Chair of the Rating Diploma Holders' Section of the RICS
- Lee Anderson BSc (Hons) IRRV (Hons), Director of Operations and Development, Valuation Tribunal Service
- Mark Hepworth MRICS Dip Rating, Chartered Surveyor, HMRC Valuation Office
- Duncan McLaren MBE MRICS Dip Rating,
- Simon Reay-Jones MRICS Dip Rating, Director - Business Rates, WSP GL Hearn
- Heather King MRICS Dip Rating, Technical Advisor, HMRC Valuation Office; Vice Chair of the Rating Diploma Holders' Section of the RICS
- Chris Morrow MA BSc MRICS Dip Rating, Partner, Montagu Evans LLP
- Patrick Bond BSc (EM) FRICS Dip Rating IRRV (Hons), Author of "Principles and Practice of Rating Valuation"
- David Alford MRICS Dip Rating, Lead Specialist for Utilities, Transport & Telecoms, National Valuation Unit - Chief Valuer Group, HMRC Valuation Office
- Wayne Cox FRICS Dip Rating, Head of Leisure and Licensed Property, HMRC Valuation Office
Programme
Welcome & Introduction From The Rating Diploma Holders' Section Chair - Neil Atherton
The Rating Landscape Today - Alan Colston, Josh Myerson & Lee Anderson
Bite Sized Chunks:
The Valuation of Well-Known Properties - Mark Hepworth
Puffin Potatoes and Fridays - Duncan McLaren MBE
Use of Non-Rating Cases in Rating - Simon Reay-Jones
Technical Update - Heather King
- Recent changes in legislation including self catering
- Recent updates re RICS guidance including Expert Witness, Using AI
- End of 2023 list provisions – pitfalls to watch for
When is Tone Settled? Is It Ever, Now? - Chris Morrow
- Shortened intervals between lists
- VT decisions saying it is and Robert Dyas saying it isn’t!
- How should we deal with a VO’s tone and ‘settled’ tone?
- Weight of Evidence – Lotus etc
The Brontosaurus in the Room: The Natural History Museum Case - Patrick Bond
- The ‘Museum’ cases
- The object of Rating Valuation
- The VTE case
- Implications and problems
More on MCCs - David Alford
- Stena Line Ferries
- Merlin and Wigan
- 2023 Act changes
- Wales
Recent Rating Cases - From a Surveyor’s Perspective - Wayne Cox
The traditional conference examination of recent Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), Valuation Tribunal, Scottish and Irish cases from a valuer’s perspective. Including:
- Expresso Rooms UK Limited v Johnson (VO) [2026] UKUT 70 (LC)
- Compare the Market Ltd v Giles (VO) [2026] UKUT 77 (LC)
- Re: Appeals of Dyer (VO) and Johnson (VO) [2026] UKUT 00158 (LC)
- Lotus Group Limited v Johnson (VO) [2026] UKUT 185 (LC)
- Bay Farm Power Ltd & Oak Grove Renewable Energy Ltd v Prescott (VO) [2026] UKUT 238 (LC)
- Caffe Converto Limited v Johnson (VO) UKUT 148 (LC)