What standards and regulations does RICS publish?

Updated

RICS publishes professional standards and rules that apply across land, property, infrastructure, and construction. The main ones referenced on rics.org are the RICS valuation global standards (known as the Red Book), quantity surveying and construction standards, and the rules of conduct. These are aimed at members and industry practitioners, but they also affect consumers because they underpin how surveyors and valuers are expected to work.

The main RICS standards and regulations

RICS valuation global standards (the Red Book)

The Red Book is RICS's global valuation standard. According to rics.org, RICS marked 50 years of the Red Book, describing it as its Global Valuation Standard. It is listed among the site's useful links under "RICS valuation global standards (Red Book)."

This is the standard to look for when you need to understand how a valuation should be carried out to RICS expectations. It matters to members who produce valuations and to anyone relying on a valuation report.

Quantity surveying and construction standards

RICS also publishes quantity surveying and construction standards, listed on rics.org as a useful link. These cover the professional standards used in construction and quantity surveying work.

Rules of conduct

The rules of conduct are RICS's behavioural and regulatory requirements for its members. They are listed on rics.org alongside the other standards, and they set out what is expected of RICS professionals. If you want to understand how a member is supposed to behave, or you have a concern about a member's conduct, this is the relevant framework — rics.org also provides a "Reporting concerns" link.

Who these standards are for

Audience How the standards apply
RICS members and practitioners Expected to follow the rules of conduct and the relevant professional standards, including the Red Book for valuations
Industry and firms Use RICS standards as the benchmark for valuation, quantity surveying, and construction work
Consumers RICS publishes free consumer guides to help with property decisions, and the standards sit behind the advice and reports consumers receive

How to find the standards on rics.org

  1. Go to rics.org and look at the "Useful Links" section on the homepage.
  2. Select the standard you need — for example, "RICS valuation global standards (Red Book)" or "Quantity surveying and construction standards."
  3. For conduct-related matters, use "Rules of conduct" or "Reporting concerns."
  4. If you need a professional rather than a document, use "Find a surveyor," which connects you with 40,000+ surveying firms.

The exact contents of each standard are not reproduced on the homepage; the links above are the entry points to the relevant material.