Professor David Tretton FRICS FIRRV

Valuation Professional Standards and Public Sector Property Consultant to RICS and World Bank


I retired from the Valuation Office Agency (England and Wales) in March 2010 as Head of Profession, Director, Professional Services and Central Valuation Officer for England and Wales. I have substantial operational delivery and management expertise - with over 36 years’ experience in the public sector - specialising in the valuation and provision of policy and estate management advice in respect of all classes of property for local and capital taxation purposes. I have extensive experience not only in the field of rating valuation and property taxation but also in government property policy formulation and implementation, major change management initiatives and training and development.

Since retiring from the Valuation Office Agency in March 2010, I have continued as a Visiting Professor at the School of the Built Environment, University of Ulster, Belfast and lecture at the University, mainly on the subjects of rating, property tax and valuation standards.

I have also focussed on providing advice/ solutions in respect of the taxation of land and property, both as a source of local government revenue and in terms of its effects on efficient land use.

I have experience in the process of initiating, developing and sustaining a land and property tax systems as a source of local revenue and what needs to be considered in their implementation.

On 8th January 2012, I was appointed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to the role of Valuation Professional/Ethical Standards and Public Sector Property Consultant and Technical Editor for the RICS Valuation – Professional Standards (“The Red Book”). The Red Book editorial role includes membership of the RICS Global Valuation Standards Board and I am also chairman of the RICS UK Public Sector Valuation Group. I also provide strategic, policy and legislative advice in respect of local and capital property taxation

In November 2013, I was appointed Valuation Professional Standards and Property Valuation Consultant at the World Bank, working with the Bank team and the FYR Macedonia Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy (MAFWE). My particular work area is designing a system that will make agricultural land markets more transparent, create a framework to enable valuation methodologies to be based on actual land market transactions and introduce internationally recognised valuation standards.

I also provide general independent advice to the World Bank’s international team on best-practice valuation methodology, international valuation standards and open market property transfer models - reviewing law and valuation practices relating to real property valuation and allied matters.

Since January 2014, I have provided detailed valuation and taxation policy advice and support to the World Bank in respect of their development project to assist Nairobi City County, Kenya, reform its entire property database and local property taxation system.

I have supported the RICS Middle East and North Africa training team, delivering in 2015/2016, comprehensive training modules for the government of Saudi Arabia in respect of valuation methodology, processes and international valuation standards where land is compulsorily acquired for local/government projects/purposes.

I am currently advising valuation organisations in the United Arab Emirates, Ghana and China on the introduction of professional valuation and ethical standards to comply with the International Valuation Standards and the RICS Professional – Valuation Standards (“the Red Book”).