What is RICS?
RICS is the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, an independent, representative professional body, regulating specialists of the property industry. RICS is the leading organisation of property professionals in the world.
They are responsible for establishing, maintaining, and regulating standards in the property industry; all of the RICS members are trusted professionals.
RICS chartered membership
There are three RICS designations: Associate, Member and Fellow.
Associate membership (AssocRICS) is the entry level qualification. Although they are not yet chartered, they are able to offer RICS products and can carry out similar tasks.
Members of RICS (MRICS) must pass the APC (Assessment of Professional Competence) and are closely regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Each surveyor has to follow stringent codes of conduct to ensure high standards are maintained in public interest.
To gain qualifications from RICS, rigorous requirements for both experience and education must be met, meaning all members of RICS are qualified to help in all aspects of property affairs.
The highest level of RICS is a
RICS Fellow (FRICS). FRICS are members that complete special or noteable projects and achievements. Receiving this award is a mark of excellence and are strict regulations to allow Chartered Members to qualify.
RICS provide training to ensure the expertise, skill and knowledge of all their members is kept up to date and relevant during their career as a RICS member.
The RICS members on our panel specialise in residential property surveys –
HomeBuyer Reports (Level 2 Survey) and
Building Surveys (Level 3 Survey). Your
RICS surveyor will offer expertise and independent advice at all stages of your property purchase.
Using a RICS surveyor for your house survey
As your home is likely to be the biggest single investment you ever make, we strongly recommend that you employ an RICS surveyor to check out your potential property before you exchange contracts.
The report your Surveyor provides you with may save you thousands of pounds in expensive repair bills from a fault you were unaware of from your own viewings.
Using the services of a RICS surveyor provides peace of mind
Using a RICS surveyor for your property survey means, as you pay the surveyor direct, they are working for you and therefore acting with your best interests at heart, offering transparent, impartial expertise about the building you are buying.
How to check if a surveyor is RICS registered?
When
selecting your surveyor, look out for the term ‘Regulated by RICS’ to ensure you are receiving an expert, independent Level 2 or level 3 Survey. Alternatively, you can search for the surveyor in the RICS member database.
You will also find that
many surveyors are 'Chartered'. This is a level of qualification within RICS; just remember that not all RICS regulated surveyors are Chartered Surveyors, but those that are not will still operate within the same RICS regulations.
Benefits of choosing a RICS surveyor FAQs
Are RICS surveyors’ asbestos awareness trained?
Yes, one of the RICS regulations requires all surveyors to have
asbestos awareness training.
How reliable is a RICS valuation?
As RICS surveyors are highly trained and regulated, a RICS valuation will be an accurate and reliable assessment of how much a property is worth. The surveyor will take into account all aspects of the property that may impact it’s value.
How much does a RICS survey cost?
The cost of a RICS survey will depend on a few factors:
- The level of survey
- Your location
- The size, value, and age of the property
- The surveyor you choose
The average cost for a Level 2 RICS Survey is between £400-£550 and a Level 3 RICS Survey is around £500-£750.*
* ​Based on reallymoving data collected 2024