Document downloads - APC (counsellors and supervisors)
Available downloads
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Surveyors acting as advocates
Published February 2017
Effective from 1 June 2017
The professional statement sets out the core duties expected of the surveyor-advocate. It applies where you agree (whether in writing or orally) to act as a surveyor-advocate before any tribunal in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
The guidance note offers guidance on fundamental aspects of advocacy practice. It outlines general duties and roles and offers best practice advice on, among other things, case preparation and preliminaries, evidence and documents, and hearings.
A client guide (a stand-alone electronic version of the professional statement) is also available. -
Contamination, the environment and sustainability: Implications for chartered surveyors and their clients (ARCHIVE)
Published April 2010
Effective from 1 April 2010
Archived 30 June 2018
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
The challenges presented by contaminated land and environmental issues, such as the flood risk caused by climate change, and the need to live in a more sustainable way mean that the demand for best advice has never been more important. Surveyors are uniquely placed to provide this advice to clients in all property sectors.
This guidance note aims to support and guide the professional activities both of those who are already highly proficient in this area and also those who are less experienced.
This publication was reviewed and a new standard was published in 2018: 'Environmental risk and global real estate'. -
Surveyors acting as arbitrators and as independent experts in commercial property rent reviews (ARCHIVE)
Published January 2002
Effective from January 2002
Archived 24 March 2013
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
See the latest editions:
- Surveyors acting as arbitrators in commercial property rent reviews, 9th edition (2013).
- Surveyors acting as independent experts in commercial property rent reviews, 9th edition (2014). -
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. -
Surveyors acting as adjudicators in the construction industry
Published January 2017
Effective from January 2017
Reissued April 2023
This professional standard applies to RICS members who are either nominated by RICS or another adjudicator nominating body (ANB), or appointed directly by the parties, to adjudicate disputes relating to works carried out under a construction contract and works carried out under a contract to which the Construction Act does not apply, but under which the parties have agreed a contractual mechanism to enable them to adjudicate disputes.
It is also intended to assist the parties and those acting for them by making them aware of the procedures likely to be followed in an adjudication.
This document was reissued in April 2023 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in January 2017 as a guidance note. No material changes have been made to the document.
Surveyors acting as adjudicators in the construction industry when Scots Law applies:
Published April 2018
Effective from April 2018
Reissued June 2024
This document was reissued in June 2024 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in April 2028 as a guidance note. No material changes have been made to the document. -
APC candidate guide
This guide will help you prepare for the commitment and responsibility required for the APC.
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APC guides for assessors and counsellors
The APC assessor guides are for all APC assessors who have completed RICS assessor training.
The archived documents are for reference only. -
APC pathway guides: Land
The Land pathway guides are a valuable addition to APC candidate support. These documents have been produced by our professional groups to help you understand more about qualifying as an RICS member through your pathway by putting individual competencies into the context of your surveying area and providing sector-specific guidance on each. This includes:
- Environmental surveying
- Geomatics
- Land and resources
- Minerals and waste management
- Planning and development
- Rural -
APC pathway guides: Construction
The Construction pathway guides are a valuable addition to APC candidate support. These documents have been produced by our professional groups to help you understand more about qualifying as an RICS member through your pathway by putting individual competencies into the context of your surveying area and providing sector-specific guidance on each. This includes:
- Building control
- Building surveying
- Infrastructure
- Project management
- Quantity surveying and construction
- Taxation allowances -
APC pathway guides: Property
The Property pathway guides are a valuable addition to APC candidate support. These documents have been produced by our professional groups to help you understand more about qualifying as an RICS member through your pathway by putting individual competencies into the context of your surveying area and providing sector-specific guidance on each. This includes:
- Commercial real estate
- Corporate real estate
- Facilities management
- Management consultancy
- Personal property/Arts and antiques
- Property finance and investment
- Residential property
- Valuation
- Valuation of businesses and intangible assets -
Renewable energy (ARCHIVED)
Published April 2009
Effective from April 2009
Archived 9 December 2016
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
Commissioned by the rural professional group and published by RICS in April 2009, this information paper was an update and upgrade of the Renewables briefing paper originally published in 2007. It was designed to meet the immediate needs of non-specialist surveyors in the UK who do not have detailed knowledge of renewable energy issues and to act as a resource guide for those seeking to make a basic assessment of the options for farmers and householders, and not as a comprehensive guide to renewable energy. -
Sustainability and the RICS property lifecycle (ARCHIVED)
Published July 2009
Effective from 1 August 2009
Archived 21 November 2017
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
The chartered surveying profession has long had a role and reputation as being the custodian of the built and natural environment. With a body of knowledge and expertise built up over many years, RICS members are at the core of decision-making on the built and natural environment.
RICS recognises that sustainability should be considered throughout the property lifecycle. The interrelationships of the five phases in the property lifecycle - greenfield and estate management, planning and procurement, new construction, occupation and use (including refurbishment and alterations), demolition and remediation - are critical to achieving sustainability for the property profession.
This document details how sustainability can be embedded into the RICS property lifecycle and provides a resource for engaging our members in sustainability in promoting a positive contribution to our pursuit of sustainable land, property and construction.
This guidance note primarily examines the sustainability interventions and opportunities property professionals can put forward during the design and construction of a building project.
It also forms a starting point for further guidance aimed at the RICS property lifecycle stages. -
AssocRICS pathway guides: Land
The official RICS Associate pathway guides contain details on the Associate assessment, the mandatory competencies and the technical competencies specific to the pathway. Land pathways include:
- Hydrographic
- Land
- Geospatial surveying -
AssocRICS pathway guides: Construction
The official RICS Associate pathway guides contain details on the Associate assessment, the mandatory competencies and the technical competencies specific to the pathway. Construction pathways include:
- Building control
- Building surveying
- Project management
- Quantity surveying and construction -
Assoc pathway guides: Property
The official RICS Associate pathway guides contain details on the Associate assessment, the mandatory competencies and the technical competencies specific to the pathway. Property pathways include:
- Commercial property management
- Facilities Management
- Residential survey and valuation
- Real estate agency
- Residential property management
- Valuation -
Senior Professional Assessment applicant guide
To encourage greater diversity and recognise career achievement, RICS offers membership specifically designed for senior professionals.
Full details are available on the RICS website. -
Surveyors acting as arbitrators in commercial property rent reviews in Scotland
Published August 2014
Effective from August 2014
Reissued February 2024
This professional standard is designed primarily to assist those who are appointed to act as arbitrator, either by the Chairman of RICS Scotland, or directly by the parties to a dispute. It is also intended to assist the parties themselves and those acting for them by making them aware of the procedures likely to be followed.
This professional standard is based on the law and practice relating to arbitrations in Scotland, which are governed by the Arbitration (Scotland) Act 2010.
See also: Surveyors acting as independent experts in commercial property rent reviews in Scotland.
This document was reissued in February 2024 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in August 2014 as a guidance note. No material changes have been made to the document.