Building Surveying Standards and Guidance

This professional standard contains a comprehensive overview of the legislation and industry guidance that govern the complex subject of asbestos.

View the standard here.

The ‘Black Book’ is a collection of technical practice documents which covers all processes throughout the construction project life cycle. The documents are essential development tools for junior professionals working through their APC and useful guides to best practice for more experienced professionals.

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This paper published 01 March 2021, provides useful commentary and descriptions on typical cladding system types.

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Provides professional practitioners with best practice guidance relevant to the tasks and processes of design and specification for small to medium-size construction projects.

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This professional standard seeks to advise members on the factors they should take into consideration when producing Schedules of Dilapidations, Quantified Demands, Responses, Scott Schedules and Diminution Valuations for reference to or use by the client, the other party to the lease, third parties and tribunals.

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This document provides practical guidance to RICS members on the skills and approach required when instructed in connection with dilapidations matters in Scotland.

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Our series of residential property reports that offer impartial assessments of properties, including:

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

View the practical guidance and download sample reports here.

RICS has collaborated with Historic England and the PCA to produce a Joint Position Statement - Investigation of moisture and its effects on traditional buildings: Principles and competencies.

View the report here.

This document has been written for property professionals involved in make-good works in Australia (known as dilapidations in the UK). It deals primarily with commercial and industrial premises and provides advice to lessors and lessees regarding their legal obligations to repair, decorate or reinstate leased premises.

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The standard provides guidance for RICS members who accept instructions for which the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (the Act) may be relevant. It also describes the circumstances in which the Act will apply, as well as the procedures to be followed where it does.

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This professional standard has global application to both commercial and residential property, and is an essential addition to the suite of documents produced by RICS in relation to building surveying and health and safety.

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This publication is intended as a guide for surveyors who carry out reinstatement cost assessments of buildings.

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Produced by a cross-professional group specialist panel of associate and chartered surveyors, this guidance deals with easements known as rights of light and outlines current best practice for surveyors in this field.

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The guide is primarily aimed for use by practicing property professionals and encourages settlement by mediation when reinstatement disputes arise. First published in 2007 by RICS New Zealand.

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New RICS Forms of Consultant’s Appointment have just been published across a number of construction and related disciplines. Three versions of template Appointment Forms, 14 Scope of Services schedules and explanatory notes are available in three separate jurisdictional versions: England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Download the standard and short froms here.

This professional standard contains good practice principles for the management of health and safety for RICS-regulated firms and RICS members.

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This guidance note provides a professional practitioner or individual commissioned to undertake a survey with outlined guidance on fulfilling elements of a client's brief, along with unique aspects arising from the myriad of asset type and their usages.

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This standard should be considered adaptable for all types of commercial and industrial property, including hotels, retail, healthcare, education, residential apartment blocks, etc. This professional standard became effective for all regulated members and firms globally on 1 April 2020.

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Provides guidance for surveyors and other professionals likely to encounter cases of mundic in the south west of England. It outlines a rationale for the classification of samples to help lenders distinguish between those properties accepted as mortgageable and those that are not.

View the guidance here.