Helping to find an agent to trust

It's a jungle out there. Choosing the right agent to help you buy, sell or value a pub can be a headache. With stories of agents over-valuing pubs to gain business still doing the rounds in the industry, licensees must be on their guard.

There are no hard and fast rules that publicans should follow. However, aside from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, there is one other organisation which can prove useful in helping choose an agent - namely the Association of Valuers of Licensed Property (AVLP).

Founded 110 years ago by John Fleuret, the association was originally formed to bring together like-minded, experienced valuers to ensure that

tenants received or paid fair dues on changes. But with shifts in the industry, the number of tenancies appearing on the market has fallen and more leases are available.

The association has strict rules for anyone wishing to become a member. For example, anyone wanting to join must prove they have been working as a qualified auctioneer or valuer for at least five years or, for the two years preceding their application, they must have been an equity partner/director of a firm of auctioneers or valuers.

In addition, potential members must be proposed by a current member, then seconded. Bob Whittle, the AVLP's honorary secretary, believes that the association is as vital as ever to the industry, bearing in mind the current climate.

"There are a new breed of people in the industry who will value a pub at an inflated price in order to gain business," he says. With the AVLP, Bob explains, licensees are assured of "peace of mind".

He adds: "The thing people will be guaranteed with an AVLP member is somebody who has been in the business for a long time and who has a significant amount of experience."

Over recent years, Bob has seen the association become a nationwide organisation, with strong representation now in the West Country and the North of England.

He takes pride in the fact that AVLP members are able to give specialist advice. "There is nobody else like that, that licensees can trust," he says.

One mistake that Bob has noticed some licensees making is failing to seek professional guidance when buying a lease.

As he explains: "I strongly advise licensees to take advice when they are buying a lease. They don't always take out an independent valuation in order to save money.

"When you buy a freehold you have to have a valuation because the bank insists on it. I've seen a lot of people buy leaseholds, because they have been ruled by their hearts and not their heads."

However, Bob is keen to stress that there are reputable agents who are not members of the AVLP. But he adds: "When somebody goes through an AVLP member they know they are getting somebody who has experience in the industry and can be trusted."

For more information visit: http://www.avlp.com