“I initially joined Land & Property Services in May 2015 as an Assistant Valuer working in the Domestic Rating Team covering the Ards & North Down area.

I hold a BSc Hons in Architecture, from Queens University Belfast. Before joining LPS, I worked in an architecture practice, developing tender pricing and building control and planning applications, schedules of works, pricing guides, and delivering internal and external property surveys.

When I started in LPS I was trained in the measurement of property in line with LPS and RICS Codes of Measuring Practice so I could perform my role effectively.  I also had a period shadowing a more experienced Valuer and on-the job training in dealing with customers / ratepayers.  On a daily basis I use electronic sketching devices and I was trained in capturing the accurate dimensions of properties with tuition provided.

During my time with LPS, I worked for 1 year in the non-domestic rating team and 6 years on the domestic team carrying out domestic valuations for new and existing properties in the Ards and North Down area. This has involved carrying out new capital valuation assessments (from survey stage to valuation), discussing challenge cases with applicants / ratepayers and assessing properties for removal from the valuation list.

The job of an Assistant Valuer is extremely interesting and relates to my degree in Architecture in many ways. It is a varied role and no day is the same, yet you build up confidence and learn something new every day.

LPS operate a hybrid working model which has been fantastic in many ways as I get so much more work done within a day as I am saving time on the former three hour commute. The hybrid working arrangements have been extremely positive for my family as we have had a child during the pandemic and have got to see several milestones which I may have missed had we not had that hybrid approach.”

“I initially joined Land & Property Services in 2012 as a Temporary Assistant Valuer before becoming a permanent member of staff in 2017.  I am a qualified Architect who has worked on a range of domestic and international projects prior to joining LPS.

I am an Assistant Valuer in the Assets Team, based in Belfast.  I have responsibility for undertaking inspections across the Assets portfolio for public sector clients.  This includes properties ranging from schools, hospitals to recreational parks, offices, leisure centres and historic/tourism properties.  I was given full training in respect of preparing for a day ‘in the field’ regarding inspection notes, route planning and return to office to upload information on to Assessment Office.

I would say the most interesting part of my role is the variance in the type of work and the responsibility of managing my own inspections / caseload.

The benefits of working for LPS as an Assistant Valuer include the ability to work from home, the office and outdoors across Northern Ireland.  This hybrid approach combined with the ability to plan my own work around inspection days, office days and homeworking days means that I have good amount of autonomy, but also can rely on others within the assets team when in the office to work through any issues encountered.”

“I have been employed with LPS since 2018, joining as an Assistant Valuer.  During this time, I have been working as part of the Domestic team assisting with valuation of rates for domestic properties throughout Northern Ireland.

My duties range from carrying out field work to enable me to visit and measure properties, communicating with ratepayers to explain how domestic rates are calculated.  With our new hybrid working model, I have been able to do this through a mix of fieldwork, office-based working and homeworking enabling the surveys to be drawn up on domestic properties to be entered into the Valuation List.

I was given role specific training on dealing with applications from the general public who have requested a review of their  rateable value from new builds to alterations and agricultural relief.  This included courtesy calls to the ratepayer on conclusion of their case and customer relationship management of the process from start to finish.

A particular aspect of my job I enjoy the is dealing with complex applications from ratepayers and referencing relevant rating case law which supports our role within Valuation. I have also been given the opportunity to attend Construction Skills Register training courses and internally-led valuation seminars helping me develop my skills in the role.

After years of working in the private sector, I really enjoy my job and the work / life balance offered by LPS, working as part of a team ultimately assisting in the delivery of public services across Northern Ireland.”