The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
(Last Updated: 13/06/2024)
23/10/2018
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3 min read
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is the regulator for surveyors and can trace its history back to 1792 when the Surveyors Club was formed.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, or more popularly known as RICS, was created in 1868 in England and received a royal charter in 1881.
With this charter, members are more commonly known as chartered building surveyors. Members are recognised by the designation after their name - FRICS (for Fellow of RICS) , MRICS (for Member of RICS) or AssocRICS (Associate of RICS)
What RICS means
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors are a global property professional body which aims to:
- Regulate and promote the profession
- Maintain the highest educational and professional standards
- Protect clients and consumers through a strict code of ethics
- Provide impartial advice, analysis and guidance
What is key is that RICS want to promote a professional and affordable service. You aren't just offered one solution, they offer various solutions to property matters with the condition report, HomeBuyer Report and the Building Survey.
But which service best suits you? Call SAM Conveyancing on 0333 344 3234 to find out which survey is best for you. We'll provide a quote for free.
We have a panel of RICS regulated surveyors who provide Property Valuations, HomeBuyer Reports & Building Surveys.
16% of homeowners discover defects
In our recent survey, 16% of homeowners found defects; including 2% who were able to pull out of a bad purchase, 7% who were able to negotiate a better price, and sadly, 7% of homeowners who did not get a survey and discovered defects after the purchase.
12 of the 39 who remembered how much these defects cost to remedy spent over £5,000
Don't burn your money, book a survey.
RICS Surveyors | Fixed Fees | Same week availability | Access arranged
RICS History
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors can trace its history right back to 1792 when the Surveyors Club was formed.
However, the foundations of the current modern organisation started to properly take shape when 20 surveyors met at the Westminster Palace Hotel.
Under the chairmanship of John Clutton, they appointed a sub-committee to draw up resolutions, bye-laws and regulations.;
This was done in order to establish a professional association to represent surveyors and the growing property profession.
This group, which had expanded to 49 members by 1868, met again at the Westminster Palace Hotel on 15 June 1868 to approve the resolutions and elect the first Council.
John Clutton was elected the first president of the Institution of Surveyors Offices were then leased at 12 Great George Street, which we are still used as their headquarters today.
What is the role of the RICS?
The requirement for such an organisation was driven by the rapid development and expansion of the industrialised world; as infrastructure, housing and transport links grew, so did the need for more stringent checks and balances.
For more than 140 years, members have worked to ensure that, whilst unlocking the inherent value held within the world's physical assets and developing its potential, we don't spoil the planet for future generations.
Even in parts of the world where the term 'chartered surveyor' means very little, the high standards of our members speak volumes.
They are viewed by major financial institutions and world governments as the 'gold standard' when it comes to professional regulation in the property sector.
All of SAM Conveyancing's surveyors are regulated by The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Frequently Asked Questions
To become an associate you must have one of the following before you can take your associate qualification:
- 1 year of relevant experience and a relevant bachelor’s degree
- 2 years of relevant experience and a relevant higher/advanced/foundation qualification
- 4 years of relevant experience (no qualifications required).
The associate qualification assesses your knowledge against one of 13 different sector pathways.
To become a chartered member you must have one of the following before you can take your chartered qualification.
- Relevant experience and an accredited degree
- 5 years of relevant experience and any bachelor’s degree
- 10 years of relevant experience operating at an advanced level by seniority, specialisation, or in academia.
The chartered qualification is usually done through the APC (Assessment of professional competence) and includes 12-24 months of structured training. Alternatively, there are other routes to qualify for Senior professionals, specialists and academics.
Find out more about how you can become a member
All of SAM Conveyancing's surveyors and valuers are qualified members. Contact us to arrange the right type of survey(s) for your property, from a qualified member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Written by:
Andrew Boast
Andrew started his career in 2000 working within conveyancing solicitor firms and grew hands-on knowledge of a wide variety of conveyancing challenges and solutions. After helping in excess of 50,000 clients in his career, he uses all this experience within his article writing for SAM, mainstream media and his self published book How to Buy a House Without Killing Anyone.
Reviewed by:
Caragh Bailey
Caragh is an excellent writer and copy editor of books, news articles and editorials. She has written extensively for SAM for a variety of conveyancing, survey, property law and mortgage-related articles.
