Nicholas Sercombe (FRICS IRRV) - Director of Surveying Services

 

Nick heads up the team as Director of Surveying Services in a role he has had since 1998. Nick, with over 30-years experience, commenced his surveying career with the Valuation Office in Kettering in 1968. After moving up the ranks in the Bedford, Derby and Leicester regional offices he spent eight years at the head office in London. He was appointed District Valuer and Valuation Officer at Loughborough 1990-95. Having worked in the Valuation Office for 27 years, he is well acquainted with the procedures and practices of the VO allowing him to be able to speed up approaches and achieve results which can take others longer.

 

Specific experience:

• A qualified and chartered surveyor of the Royal Institute of Surveyors since 1973.
• An extensive knowledge of all rates-related matters.
• Has worked at a number of valuation offices.
• He has handled bulk classes such as industrial properties, offices and retail and more specialised areas such as hotels, clubs and pubs.

 

Sarah Davey - Head of Rating - London

 

Sarah specialises in property taxation skills together with valuation, compulsory purchase and compensation expertise. Sarah brings a wealth of public sector experience from both home and abroad following her practice at a senior level in the City of London and London Boroughs, leading with the defence of Revaluations from 1990 onwards. More recently Sarah was appointed by London firm LSM Partners and has also had spells with the Treasury and abroad in Southern Africa.

 

Specific experience:

• Wide experience of professional work within the public sector resulting from 17 years of working for the City of London Valuation Office.
• Has been a chartered surveyor for more than 30-years.
• Attuned to current law and practice and future developments likely to affect all aspects of business rates.

 

Tim Brown (MRICS IRRV) - Senior Surveyor

 

Tim specialises in all property sectors including the High Street, Out-of-town retail, industrial & warehouse, sports & leisure. Tim has over 20-years hands on experience in providing rating advice to landlords and occupiers. He is a member of the Rating Surveyor's Association and serves on its committee. Tim's particular strength lies in sporting stadia after securing large rates reductions for premiership football and county cricket grounds.

 

Specific experience:

• Has dealt with a broad spectrum of property sectors including Premiership football clubs, hotels and licensed premises.
• Has catered for high profile sporting names such as Manchester United and Norwich City FC.

 

Owen Garfield - Senior Surveyor Utilities

 

Owen specialises in power stations, minerals, landfill and related industries where he provides specialist advice to operators. Owen joined Ruddle Merz in 2009 following ten years of working for the Valuation Office Agency throughout England and Scotland. Prior to that, he worked as a graduate estates officer for Tarmac and as lead surveyor for a mineral valuation company based in Taunton. He has been a Chartered Mineral Surveyor since 1998.

 

Specific experience:

• Has undertaken numerous valuation instructions on behalf of major international companies.
• Been the Lead Valuation Officer whilst presenting successful cases at valuation tribunals.
• Was made Head of Generation within the Valuation Office Agency, responsible for £180m of rateable value.
• Was lead surveyor at mineral valuation company: South - dealing with concrete batching plants, coating plants, marine dredged aggregates and various types of quarries.

 

Pat Brennan (FRICS) Specialist Rating Surveyor & Valuer

 

Pat Brennan was appointed to lead the Utilities Rating Team of the Valuation Office agency when it was set up in 1996, advising the Governments on values to be prescribed from 1 April 2000. Leading a team of five chartered surveyors, he was responsible for valuing the utility company properties in England and Wales, and wrote the Government “white paper” on valuing utility properties.

 

Dharms Daudia - Regional Surveying Technician

 

Dharms joined the company in 2000 as a Surveying Technician. He has enjoyed a very high success rate in settling cases, particularly those relating to Day Nurseries and childcare premises. With a wealth of experience in Rating, having previously worked for the Valuation Office himself, Dharms is a vital member of the team.

 

Describe yourself in six words: conscientious; confident; dedicated; logical; decisive; charismatic

 

Ian Forrester - Regional Surveying Technician

 

After 17 years of working in the Valuation Office, Ian is “proud to be part of such a professional and committed referencing team.” Spending the majority of his time on-site with clients, Ian’s main objective is to ensure that the full benefit of the team’s combined knowledge and experience in the field of rating is always provided to our clients.

 

Adam Barnfield - Regional Surveying Technician

 

Adam joined the referencing team in 2007 and is already spearheading technological advancements within the department, including the rollout of the state-of-the-art software and equipment. He previously worked in the Coventry Valuation Office for 8 years, mainly dealing with Business rates but also has experience in the Council Tax field.

 

Brian Miklasz – Regional Surveying Technician

 

Brian joined Ruddle Merz in 2009 as a Surveying Technician after spending a number of years in the Valuation Office dealing with all manner of commercial and industrial properties. Along with Ian, Forrester, Adam Barnfield and Dharms Daudia, Brian works with the Senior Surveyors to thoroughly survey client properties before appeals are submitted to the Valuation Office Agency.

 

Hugo Rawstorne – London Surveying Technician

Describe yourself in six words: Smart; proactive; team-focused; industrious; organized; friendly.