Freehold land and property held and used in the company's own activities or for administrative purposes are stated at their revalued amounts. The revalued amounts equate to the fair value at the date of revaluation, less any depreciation or impairment losses subsequently accumulated. Revaluations are carried out regularly so that the carrying amounts do not materially differ from using the fair value at the date of the balance sheet.
Any revaluation increase or decrease on freehold land and property is credited to the revaluation reserve in ‘other reserves’ net of deferred tax.
Depreciation on revalued property is charged to profit or loss so as to write off their value, less residual value, over their estimated useful life of 50 years, using the straight-line method.
Once a revalued property is sold or retired any attributable revaluation surplus that is remaining in the property revaluation reserve is transferred to retained earnings. No transfer is made from the revaluation reserve to retained earnings unless an asset is derecognised.