Research and Insights

We recognise the huge importance of property, land, construction and the built environment. Through our market surveys and research, we aim to advance the thinking of our profession and raise the profile of our industry.

Decarbonising the built environment: policy reform reports for key market governments

RICS has identified opportunities for policy reform in several global markets ahead of COP 28

Building a better and sustainable future: Benchmarking in the construction industry

Benchmarking helps facilitate better decision-making and provides a higher degree of predictability in terms of cost, scope, quality and timelines, enabling organisations to achieve better value in construction projects.

Decarbonising UK real estate report

With buildings producing around 25% of all UK emissions, RICS is calling for urgent action from Government to address gaps and meet ambitious targets

What do our industry leaders say about the construction markets in Asia-Pacific?

RICS Asia-Pacific construction sector insights Q2 2022 (October 2022)

Digital twins from design to handover of constructed assets

Digital twins are used in sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, healthcare, aerospace, defence, natural resources, energy, utilities, and the...

Macroeconomic crises and housing

Despite two periods of economic downturn over the last two decades - the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic - housing prices in Euro..

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Sustainability Report 2021

In any given year, the construction, operation and decommissioning of buildings will be responsible for roughly 40% of total global greenhouse gas emi

Sustainability rises up the agenda in the UK Facilities Management Sector

This insight examines how the trends shown in the 2021 RICS World Built Environment Forum Sustainability Report are impacting the UK FM sector.

Governance of participatory planning for resilient communities

This research aims explore the governance of participatory planning as it relates to building community resilience in residential and mixed-use dev...

RICS Research Trust

The RICS Research Trust became fully independent of RICS from the end of January 2021 and has been re-branded as the Property Research Trust.

Developing a global standard for fire reporting

It is clear that fire is one of the most pressing global hazards we face. Less clear, however, is the data behind the danger

Almshouses: a model of community housing for an ageing population

Almshouses have existed in England for over a thousand years, and new almshouses are still being built. Almshouse charities provide social housing...

The Future of BIM: Digital transformation in the UK in construction

The insight paper provides answers about the evolving 'what' and 'why' of BIM and its potential for surveyors

Bridging the Gap: Private investment in future infrastructure provision

This research enhances understanding of the infrastructure investment landscape in six countries: Canada, China, India, Singapore, the UK and the US.

Prefabricated building integrated photovoltaics: cost and deployment

This research evaluates the mechanisms driving the cost reductions and deployment of prefabricated Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)

Performance metrics, required and achieved returns for UK real estate

The aim of this research is to improve the understanding of the form, extent and variability of the financial returns achieved by real estate dev...

Integration of geospatial data for retaining wall management

This research examines the use of the lower accuracy UAV data where high accuracy data from the terrestrial laser scanner is available but has...

International Evidence Review on Housing Taxation

This report examines three different aspects of housing taxation, in terms of their neutrality, fairness, transparency, efficiency and practicality.

Big data: a new revolution in the UK facilities management sector

This report examines the drivers, challenges, opportunities and benefits of using big data analytics (BDA) for FM and how to develop...

New money in rural areas

New money in rural areas examines the economic, social and environmental impacts on rural localities and communities of new investment, and seeks to..

Valuing Unregistered Land

This report investigates the widely-discussed claim that title registration is prerequisite for valuing unregistered land

The exercise of permitted development rights in England since 2010

In recent years, there has been a significant expansion in permitted development (PD) rights. The report presents an analysis of the exercise of PD...

Impact of extending development rights to office-to-residential change

This research assesses the impacts of extending permitted development rights for office to residential conversions in England.

The Impact of Emerging Technologies on the Surveying Profession

This paper identifies the most recent and important advances in technology and shows how they are relevant to the surveying profession.

BIM for Project Managers

This insight paper outlines the pertinence of Building Information Modelling (BIM) to project management as a discipline and, inversely, the importanc

Raising the Bar: strategic FM

The third instalment in RICS ground-breaking 'Raising the Bar' research series makes a powerful case for how, as an industry, FM makes significant...

Flood risk mitigation and commercial property advice

Commentators have increasingly raised concern over the impact of flood risk on property value.

Bridging Global and Local: The Growing Influence of RICS Qualifications in Japan’s Real Estate

This article explores the impact and relevance of RICS qualifications in the Japanese real estate market, comparing it with local credentials and highlighting its role in addressing emerging market trends.

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Attracting investment into net zero neighbourhoods: local approaches for global decarbonisation

What specific investment challenges are neighbourhood decarbonisation initiatives in parts of Africa, India and Southeast Asia encountering, and how are these being overcome? A recent webinar welcomed experts to discuss these issues.

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Commercial property: positivity post-election, now on hold for the budget?

The commercial property market in the UK is still seeing an underwhelming market backdrop, as, anecdotally, respondents to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) UK Commercial Property Monitor Q3 2024 are seeing an element of waiting for the budget.

Government commits to improve property regulation

RICS welcomes the recent statement in Parliament by Matthew Pennycook, Minister for Housing and Planning, on strengthening property regulation for letting, sales and managing agents.

RICS responds to 2024 Autumn Budget

This 2024 Autumn Budget is the first of the new Labour Government in the UK and – notably – the first ever to have been delivered by a female chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP. The budget announced £40bn in tax rises to fund a range of priorities for the Government.

Mortgage Lending and the Transition to a Low Carbon Economy

In this discussion, Andrew Knight interviews Joe Webb from Kamma about the impact of technology and data on the mortgage lending sector, particularly related to climate sustainability and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Commercial real estate decarbonisation in China 2024

RICS, Cushman & Wakefield Vanke Service (CWVS) and Tongji University have collaborated to produce the White Paper: Commercial Real Estate Decarbonisation in China.

The Planet of Cities: the rise of a global urban population

Over almost nine centuries, we have embraced population growth, new technologies and the spread of trade and civilisation. We did this first by building, and then, regenerating, cities.

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Cladding External Wall System (EWS) FAQs

Frequently asked questions relating to Cladding External Wall Systems (EWS) in relation to fire safety.

Building Safety Act Frequently Asked Questions

On 5th July 2021, the Building Safety Bill was introduced to Parliament. Here we answer Frequently Asked Questions.

Adequate Housing, Fair Rents and Affordability in Wales

The Welsh Government has launched its highly anticipated white paper on ‘Securing a path towards Adequate Housing, including Fair Rents and Affordability’.

RICS releases new global standard on property agency and management principles

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has published a new global standard titled 'Property Agency and Management Principles'.

Housing markets in 2024 and beyond: overcoming the sector’s ‘wicked’ problems

The delivery of adequate housing across all tenures is a challenge familiar to many markets around the world. In a recent webinar, a panel of experts from across Europe discussed the drivers and barriers to creating a more sustainable supply of housing.

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