Document downloads - Professional conduct
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Surveyors acting as expert witnesses
Published April 2014
Effective from 2 July 2014
Reissued February 2023
Surveyors acting as expert witnesses, 4th edition, applies to surveyors when providing expert evidence, whether oral or written, before a range of courts and tribunals in the UK,
The practice statement sets out the mandatory duties of a surveyor in providing evidence, while the guidance note provides further information on good practice, including: the need for clear instructions and terms of engagement; fees; guidance on what to do in situations of conflict of interest; an outline of the written report format; clarification of the differences between the roles of expert witness and advocate; and the immunity of the expert witness.
A stand-alone electronic version of this practice statement (without the guidance note) is also available for potential use with clients in connection with the particular requirement of PS 3.3.
This document was amended in February 2023 to remove wording from PS10 and GN19 which could be read as prohibiting expert witnesses from taking instructions from solicitors who are engaged on a conditional fee, even if the expert is instructed on an unconditional fee basis. This was not the intention of RICS and has therefore been amended for clarity. -
Expert witness terms of engagement template
This template is adapted from the practice statement and guidance note, Surveyors acting as expert witnesses. Its sample terms are not intended to be mandatory or prescriptive, and may be adapted as required. It is recognised that a variety of circumstances will prevail in the range of assignments surveyors may undertake and that clauses may not be appropriate in every circumstance. For example, where a client appoints a surveyor directly, without using an appointer, the terms would need to be amended accordingly. Other or additional terms of engagement may also be indicated, for example, by a protocol established under the CPR or in guides that supplement the CPR in certain courts.
Disclaimer: Users of this document are responsible for forming their own view as to whether this document and its contents are suitable for use in any particular circumstances. The supply of this document does not constitute legal or other professional advice, nor does it constitute any opinion or recommendation as to how any person should conduct its business or whether any person should or should not enter into any form of contract. Users should, if appropriate, consult their professional advisers as to any such matter. No warranty, express or implied, is given in respect of this document and neither RICS nor the authors shall be liable for any loss or damage of any kind arising directly or indirectly from the use or misuse of this document or from any reliance on it by any person, except to the extent that exclusion of such liability is prohibited by law. -
RICS Rules of Conduct
Published October 2021
Effective from 2 February 2022
Reissued June 2023
The new Rules of Conduct came into effect on 2 February 2022.
The RICS Rules of Conduct provide a framework within which members and regulated firms offer and deliver their services. They are designed to represent a transparent system of conduct and regulation.
The RICS Rules of Conduct are short and principles based. The rules are mandatory for all RICS members, students and trainees, and all RICS regulated firms.
Archived editions are available on isurv for information purposes only.
For further regulatory guidance, see the RICS website. -
TUPE: information for property managers (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
TUPE stands for The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006. New regulations to update TUPE 2006 came into force on 31 January 2014 under The Collective Redundancies and Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.
The purpose of TUPE is to provide employment protection on the transfer of a business from one individual to another or a change in responsibility for a contracted out service. In applying it, employment tribunals generally adopt what they call a ‘purposive’ approach, which effectively means they interpret TUPE to protect employees in line with the social objectives of the European ARD. -
BIM for beginners
The built environment sector is full of debate about BIM. In these times it is crucial to be clear on the current and future state of BIM.
This document is based on key points from the RICS guidance note 'International BIM implementation guide'. It gives a brief introduction to BIM for those who have yet to work with it. It looks at:
- what BIM is
- the technology behind BIM
- how BIM is used in project delivery and
- the implications of BIM on organisations. -
Conflicts of interest – global
Published March 2017
Effective from 1 January 2018
Reissued July 2023
The global professional standard on conflicts of interest provides clear rules for RICS members and regulated firms to identify and manage potential conflicts of interest.
Effective identification and management of conflicts of interest is an essential component of professionalism. The professional standard provides confidence to clients and consumers that RICS members and regulated firms are operating to the highest ethical standards.
Following extensive industry consultation and feedback, RICS developed this professional standard to provide clarification on:
- competing bidders
- effective date/transition
- conflicts arising during professional assignments
- passing confidential information to insurers and legal advisers.
The conflicts of interest professional standard, which supports the RICS Rules of Conduct, places an overarching mandatory requirement on all RICS members and regulated firms and specifies RICS’ expectations of how compliance with the Rules of Conduct should be achieved.
This document was reissued in July 2023 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in March 2017 as a guidance note. No material changes have been made to the document. -
Surveyors advising in respect of compulsory purchase and statutory compensation, UK
Published April 2017
Effective from April 2017
Reissued April 2024
This professional standard applies when you provide advice regarding property interests in the UK that relates to the seeking or use of compulsory purchase or other statutory powers by or against your client, or where the seeking or use of such powers is contemplated.
It also applies when you are advising a body that is relying on or seeking to rely on another body to seek or use compulsory purchase or other statutory powers to assist with a project.
This document derives from the 2012 guidance note The calculation of surveyors’ fees relating to the exercise of statutory powers in connection with land and property (1st edition), for Scotland. Both this professional standard and the Appendix supersede the 2014 guidance note The calculation of surveyors’ fees relating to the exercise of statutory powers in connection with land and property (1st edition), for Scotland. -
Risk, liability and insurance
Published April 2021
Effective from 1 April 2021
Reissued October 2022
This document is intended to assist both members and their clients in understanding the main risks and liabilities associated with surveying. It guides members in the negotiation of equitable contracts with clients and the avoidance of major risks and pitfalls.
In October 2023, a new Appendix F was added to the publication, this appendix addresses the particular risk profiles that arise when construction projects are involved. In many cases, the provisions of the construction project are ‘tied’ contractually to the appointment of and obligations that exist for the surveyor, in particular with the requirement to enter collateral warranties and the like.
This document was reissued in October 2022 as practice information. It had previously been published in April 2021 as a guidance note. The regulatory requirements remain the same and no material changes have been made to the document. -
Countering bribery and corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing
Published February 2019
Effective from 1 September 2019
Reissued October 2022
This global professional standard sets out mandatory requirements for RICS members and RICS-regulated firms in relation to bribery, corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing.
It is divided into three parts:
1. Mandatory requirements for anti-bribery and corruption and for anti-money laundering and terrorist financing.
2. Guidance setting out supporting good practice regarding each of these areas.
3. Supplementary guidance on some key concepts described in parts 1 and 2.
If this document contradicts local legislation then the legislation takes precedence. -
Client money handling
Published October 2019
Effective from 1 January 2020
Reissued October 2022
This professional standard provides clear rules for RICS members and regulated firms to have the appropriate controls and procedures to keep client money safe. It provides confidence to clients and consumers that RICS-regulated firms are operating to high standards. The document applies to all RICS members and regulated firms operating in the UK.
The professional standard provides clear requirements and advice to firms about:
• client account requirements
• appropriate accounting controls
• the information that firms must provide to clients
• how to handle client money including rules for managing any unidentified funds.
RICS members and regulated firms should also refer to the Client Money Protection Scheme Rules (the Scheme Rules) for full details of the coverage of the general scheme for surveying services and the separate scheme for property agents.
Any claims will be assessed under the terms of the relevant scheme and for the avoidance of doubt in the event of any conflict between this professional statement and the Scheme Rules, the Scheme Rules will take precedence.
This document was reissued in October 2022 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in October 2019 as a professional statement. The regulatory requirements remain the same and no material changes have been made to the document. -
Surveyors advising in respect of the Electronic Communications Code
Published November 2019
Effective from 14 November 2019
The electronic communications sector has witnessed dramatic evolution both in terms of the development of new technologies and the demand for services. This has resulted in a profound shift in the way digital electronic communications are deployed, accessed and used. The government acknowledged this by enacting the Electronic Communications Code at the end of 2017, as part of the Digital Economy Act 2017, to facilitate the delivery and maintenance of high quality digital electronic communications infrastructure and to accommodate future technological development. The Code regulates the relationship between electronic communications network operators, infrastructure providers and site providers throughout the UK and provides a statutory framework for establishing agreements to place, operate and maintain electronic communications apparatus on land and property.
The government’s objective is to achieve the right balance of interests between site providers, electronic communications providers and, most importantly, the public interest in access to a choice of high-quality electronic communications services, and a competitive and sustainable digital communications infrastructure.
The aim of this guidance note is to highlight the main factors that may influence or impact the variety of roles a surveyor may be called on to perform within this environment. Given the dynamic nature of the industry, it is not intended to provide an exhaustive body of guidance but to identify the main issues likely to arise. This ground-breaking guidance note will also provide a framework that surveyors can refer to when advising their clients in relation to electronic communications networks and installations that fall under the scope of the Electronic Communications Code. -
Beyond COVID-19: Reopening of commercial buildings
This document has global applicability and is designed to give support and advice on the preparations and considerations for the reopening of commercial buildings once pandemic lockdown restrictions are lifted.
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Beyond COVID-19: Inspections and visits for non-domestic properties
Recommendations on inspections and visits for non-domestic properties during COVID-19 in England.
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Fraud response plan
RICS-regulated firms, like all organisations, should have a fraud response plan. Fraud can have
a significant impact on businesses and responding appropriately to any fraud may help
mitigate that impact.
The fraud response plan is not intended to set out how your firm will prevent fraud. Instead, it
provides guidance of the steps you will follow as an organisation once potential fraud has been
identified. You should ensure that your staff are aware of the fraud response plan. -
RICS Rules of Conduct 2022 – translations
The new Rules of Conduct came into effect on 2 February 2022.
The RICS Rules of Conduct provide a framework within which members and regulated firms offer and deliver their services. They are designed to represent a transparent system of conduct and regulation.
The RICS Rules of Conduct are short and principles based. The rules are mandatory for all RICS members, students and trainees, and all RICS regulated firms.
For further regulatory guidance, see the RICS website. -
Conflicts of interest – global – translations
RICS Rules of Conduct set an overarching obligation on both members and RICS regulated firms at all times to: ‘…act with integrity and avoid conflicts of interest and avoid any actions or situations that are inconsistent with its professional obligations.’
Effective identification and management of conflicts of interest is a challenging but essential component of professionalism.
In March 2017, RICS released this global professional statement giving RICS professionals a number of months to familiarise themselves with the new rules. Following industry feedback, the following additional commentary notes have been added to provide clarification:
*Competing bidders
*Effective date / transition
*Conflicts arising during professional assignments
*Passing confidential information to insurers and legal advisers
This professional statement, which supports the RICS Rules of Conduct, also places an overarching mandatory requirement on all RICS members and regulated firms and specifies RICS’ expectations of how compliance with the Rules of Conduct should be achieved.
This document takes effect from 1 January 2018 and is in 3 parts. Parts 2 and 3 contain guidance, and should be read in conjunction with the mandatory requirements in Part 1.
A professional statement was published in May 2017 to deal with UK-specific issues in the commercial property market, Conflicts of interest: UK commercial property market investment agency, 1st edition, available at http://isurv.com/site/scripts/download_info.aspx?downloadID=2158 -
Countering bribery and corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing - translations
Published February 2019
Effective from 1 September 2019
Reissued October 2022
This global professional standard sets out mandatory requirements for RICS members and RICS-regulated firms in relation to bribery, corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing.
It is divided into three parts:
1. Mandatory requirements for anti-bribery and corruption and for anti-money laundering and terrorist financing.
2. Guidance setting out supporting good practice regarding each of these areas.
3. Supplementary guidance on some key concepts described in parts 1 and 2.
If this document contradicts local legislation then the legislation takes precedence.