New Home Survey Standard FAQs

Yes, RICS have developed new home survey reports. These are:

• Level 1
  
• Level 2 (survey only)
  
• Level 2 (survey and valuation)
  
• Level 3.
  

The reports have been revamped to reflect consumer feedback on the format, how the information is presented and the names of the reports to improve clarity and detail. This follows extensive consultation with members, software providers and technical working groups, to ensure that the new reports meet current market demands. The new reports are called:

• RICS Home Survey Level 1
  
• RICS Home Survey Level 2 (survey only)
  
• RICS Home Survey Level 2 (survey and valuation)
  
• RICS Home Survey Level 3.
  

You can view more details on the reports here.

The new reports are available here.

There is a transition period for the new RICS home survey reports. This runs from 1 March until 31 August 2021. Between these dates, both the old and new formats of the reports will be acceptable. However, from 1 September the new home survey reports must be used.

There is a new software solution: RICS ProForms. This is free of charge to use for members of the home survey licence scheme. This replaces Worksmart and the previous version of ProForms. It is available to use here.

From 1 March 2021, credits sales will be withdrawn, but Worksmart will remain available for completion of any reports in progress.

From 31 March 2021, Worksmart will only remain available for completion of any existing reports and for users to access historical reports until 31 August 2021.

From 1 September 2021, Worksmart will be closed.

We have been working closely with our affiliated software providers who provide RICS branded home survey reports and they will also be rolling these out to their clients. Please contact your provider directly for further information.

Our affiliated software providers are:

• Andrew Dyke
  
• Corelogic
• GoReport
• Infuma
• Landmark
• Minute Surveyors
• Sue Foy
• ValuationsUK

There are alternative providers which are not affiliated with RICS. RICS members and regulated firms must ensure that any software solution used to produce and deliver reports is developed in accordance with the RICS Home Survey Standard to ensure quality assurance, consistency and transparency.

RICS has allowed more flexibility for software providers delivering the RICS home surveys. The below software providers have had their surveys approved by RICS allowing them to use the RICS brand.

• Andrew Dyke
  
• Corelogic
• GoReport
• Infuma
• Landmark
• Minute Surveyors
• Sue Foy
• ValuationsUK

 

For licence scheme members, Ancillary documents to compliment the new RICS Home survey reports are available here.

They comprise of:

• Description of the RICS Home Survey Level 1
  
• Description of the RICS Home Survey (survey only) Level 2
• Description of the RICS Home Survey (survey and valuation) Level 2
• Description of the RICS Home Survey Level 3
• Maintenance tips
• Leasehold properties advice
• What to do now
• Helping you choose the right survey

 

The new Terms of Engagement guidance has been published and is available here free of charge. This useful material is available to anyone who is delivering home surveys in compliance with the Home Survey Standard.

The new Home Survey Standard will:

• establish a clear framework that sets minimum expectations to protect and maintain consistent, high-quality standards in residential property survey services that RICS members and regulated firms provide
  
• provide mandatory requirements for RICS members and regulated firms in the UK who deliver residential property surveys
  
• replaces and harmonise previous RICS publications relating to residential surveys.
  

The new Home Survey Standard was published in November 2019, following extensive consultation with members, RICS regulated firms, software providers, industry-wide professionals and consumers.

RICS postponed the implementation date of the new Home Survey Standard to 1 March 2021 as a result of COVID-19 pandemic

The new Home Survey Standard applies to all RICS members and regulated firms who deliver or are involved with residential property survey services.

The RICS Home Survey Standard does not mandate the use of RICS’ own Home Survey reports.  While it is still vital that any template which is used fully complies with all aspects of the new Standard, non RICS branded reports may vary in look and feel to the samples provided on rics.org.

The Home Survey Standard and supporting materials can be found here.

These documents will not be mandatory and are there to support professionals in delivering the highest level of service to consumers. They will be regularly reviewed to reflect changes in the marketplace.