Valuation of Unregistered Land and Properties Expert Group Meeting

Bangkok, Thailand, 13 - 14 October 2014

Valuation of unregistered lands & Properties is a collaborative activity between Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) facilitated by UN-Habitat, FIG and other key partners including RICS. GLTN has embarked on a process to develop a tool for the valuation of unregistered lands and properties.

The experts group meeting held on 13 and 14 October 2014 at the Holiday Inn Bangkok Silom Hotel, Thailand brought together 20 experts from 13 countries, both academics and practising professionals of diverse background with varied experiences on all continents. In the meeting were a number of non-valuers and all participants represent both stakeholders and partners of GLTN. These experts were brought together to facilitate the development of a framework document on current thinking and methodologies for the valuation of unregistered lands and properties, based on current valuation standards, practices and research.

There is general consensus that about seventy percent (70%) of land ownership units in developing countries are not formally registered and the initiatives for land registration are not achieving the desired results. This adversely affects owners of unregistered land and properties, who in most cases are the disadvantaged groups that could not access valuation services. The key objective of this initiative is the development of a land tool to support the valuation of unregistered land and properties that can benefit the vulnerable and marginalised groups. This will be another collaborative effort involving partners of GLTN and stakeholders.

Through this collaboration, GLTN and FIG brought together experts to facilitate the development of a framework on current thinking and methodologies for the valuation of unregistered land and properties, based on valuation practices and practices research. The Expert Group Meeting:

• discussed on the coverage of current thinking and methodologies for the valuation of unregistered land based on current standards, practices and research
• reviewed the background discussion paper, debated and commented, all to ensure that the background discussion paper addresses the intended purpose; and
• provided the forum for the experts gathered to understand and creatively contribute towards the development of a concept and conceptualize a framework for the valuation of unregistered land and properties.

The EGM was as much a brainstorming workshop with participants actively providing ideas and inputs, not merely content with constructive and critical review of the background discussion paper. The EGM discussed, debated and concluded that the valuation of unregistered land and properties is doable within the current practice scenario albeit with flexible, creative and innovative approaches and alternatives, the approach should underpinned by the concept of the “Fit-For-Purpose” (FIG/World Bank, 2014). GLTN in the coming months will conclude this phase of the initiative and will be strategizing how to take this tool development process forward.

CheeHai Teo
October 2014

The participants at the valuation of unregistered lands and properties meeting.
The participants contributed to the brainstorming workshop.	FIG President CheeHai Teo chaired the expert group meeting

10 November 2014