RICS Standards Compliance Checklist

About RICS Standards: The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) sets professional standards for home surveys through the RICS Home Survey Standard (3rd edition, effective March 2022). This checklist helps you verify that your survey complies with these standards.

Why This Matters: RICS-compliant surveys provide legal protection, professional accountability, and comprehensive property assessment. Non-compliant surveys may be invalid and leave you unprotected.

How to Use: Review your survey report against this checklist. If multiple items are missing or non-compliant, raise concerns with your surveyor or RICS.

1. Surveyor Qualifications & Professional Requirements

Verifying your surveyor meets RICS professional standards

REQUIRED RICS Membership Verification

Your surveyor must be a qualified RICS member (MRICS or FRICS).

✓ Surveyor's RICS membership number displayed on report letterhead
✓ RICS logo present on report
✓ Verify membership at: rics.org/find-a-member
✓ Check for any disciplinary actions or sanctions

REQUIRED Professional Indemnity Insurance

RICS surveyors must maintain adequate professional indemnity insurance.

✓ Minimum coverage: £2 million (typically £5-£10 million for most firms)
✓ Insurance details stated in report or terms of engagement
✓ Policy covers residential survey work
✓ Insurance provider name and policy number available on request

REQUIRED Complaints Handling Procedure

Your surveyor must have a formal complaints procedure.

✓ Complaints procedure detailed in terms of engagement or report
✓ Contact information for complaints clearly stated
✓ Reference to RICS dispute resolution services if internal process fails
✓ Timeframe for complaint responses specified (usually 28 days)

2. Pre-Inspection Requirements

What should happen before the survey inspection

REQUIRED Terms of Engagement

You must receive and agree to written terms before the survey.

✓ Formal terms of engagement document provided
✓ Scope of inspection clearly defined (what's included/excluded)
✓ Survey level (1, 2, or 3) specified
✓ Fees and payment terms transparent
✓ Liability limitations clearly stated
✓ Your acceptance obtained before inspection

REQUIRED Conflict of Interest Declaration

Surveyor must declare any conflicts of interest.

✓ Declaration that surveyor has no personal interest in the property
✓ Confirmation of independence from seller, agent, or lender (where applicable)
✓ Any relationships with parties disclosed

BEST PRACTICE Pre-Inspection Information Gathering

Good surveyors request information before inspection.

✓ Property age, construction type requested
✓ Known defects or concerns discussed
✓ Access arrangements confirmed
✓ Previous survey reports reviewed (if available)

3. Inspection Standards

What the physical inspection must include

REQUIRED Inspection Duration & Thoroughness

Adequate time must be spent inspecting the property.

✓ Minimum 2-4 hours for typical 3-bed property (Level 2/3)
✓ All accessible areas inspected (unless access limitations noted)
✓ External and internal areas covered
✓ Loft space and roof structure accessed (where safely possible)
✓ Outbuildings and boundaries inspected

REQUIRED Equipment Usage

Level 2 and 3 surveys require proper diagnostic equipment.

✓ Damp meter used for moisture detection
✓ Binoculars or equipment for roof inspection from ground level
✓ Spirit level for checking floor/wall alignment
✓ Torch for inspecting dark areas (lofts, basements)
✓ Camera for photographic evidence (where included)

REQUIRED Limitations Documented

Any areas not inspected must be clearly stated.

✓ Access restrictions noted (e.g., sealed loft, fitted carpets)
✓ Weather conditions recorded if affecting inspection
✓ Unfurnished/occupied status affecting inspection noted
✓ Areas obscured by furniture, storage, or finishes documented

4. Report Content Requirements

Essential sections that must be in your survey report

REQUIRED Property Details & Description

✓ Full property address
✓ Property type (detached, semi-detached, terraced, flat)
✓ Approximate age and construction period
✓ Construction materials (brick, stone, timber frame, etc.)
✓ Number of rooms and property layout description
✓ Accommodation details (bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.)

REQUIRED Inspection Details

✓ Date of inspection clearly stated
✓ Weather conditions at time of inspection
✓ Property occupied or vacant status
✓ Extent of furniture/floor coverings affecting inspection
✓ Name of person who conducted inspection (if different from report author)

REQUIRED Condition Rating System (Levels 2 & 3)

RICS mandates a standardized 3-point rating system.

✓ Rating 1: No repair currently needed
✓ Rating 2: Defects that need repair/replacement but not urgent
✓ Rating 3: Urgent defects requiring immediate attention
✓ All property elements assigned a rating (1, 2, or 3)
✓ Summary of all Rating 2 and 3 items in executive summary

REQUIRED Mandatory Report Sections (Level 2 & 3)

✓ Section A: Summary of condition ratings
✓ Section B: Inside the property (roof structure, ceilings, walls, floors, fireplaces, built-in fittings, woodwork, dampness)
✓ Section C: Outside the property (roof coverings, chimneys, gutters, main walls, windows, doors, conservatories)
✓ Section D: Services (electricity, gas, water, heating, drainage)
✓ Section E: Grounds (garages, outbuildings, boundaries, grounds)
✓ Section F: Issues for your legal advisers (guarantees, planning, regulations, environmental)
✓ Section G: Risks (safety hazards, health concerns)
✓ Section H: Valuation (if requested as add-on)

REQUIRED Defects & Recommendations

✓ All visible defects clearly described
✓ Urgency of repairs indicated
✓ Recommendations for further specialist investigations (where necessary)
✓ Estimated repair costs or cost ranges (best practice, not always mandatory)
✓ Consequences of not addressing defects explained

REQUIRED Risks & Legal Issues

✓ Safety hazards identified (e.g., asbestos, electrical dangers)
✓ Health risks noted (e.g., damp, mold, ventilation issues)
✓ Unauthorized alterations flagged
✓ Environmental concerns raised (flooding, contamination, Japanese knotweed)
✓ Building Control certificates required listed

5. Report Quality Standards

Professional standards your report must meet

REQUIRED Clear & Understandable Language

✓ Technical terms explained or defined
✓ Plain English used where possible
✓ Avoid ambiguous language like "appears to be" without context
✓ Recommendations clearly stated, not buried in technical detail

BEST PRACTICE Photographic Evidence

✓ Photographs of key defects included (highly recommended)
✓ Images clearly labeled with location and description
✓ Sufficient photo quality to illustrate concerns
✓ External and internal property views provided

REQUIRED Report Delivery Timeframe

✓ Report delivered within agreed timeframe (typically 5-10 working days)
✓ If delayed, client notified with explanation
✓ Report finalized and signed by qualified surveyor

6. Post-Report Support & Follow-Up

What you're entitled to after receiving your report

BEST PRACTICE Surveyor Availability for Clarification

✓ Surveyor available for follow-up questions (usually one free consultation call)
✓ Response to queries within reasonable timeframe (2-5 working days)
✓ Willingness to explain findings in plain English

REQUIRED Amendment Process

✓ Process for requesting corrections to factual errors
✓ Amended reports issued promptly if errors found
✓ Clear distinction between errors and differences of professional opinion

⚠️ Red Flags: Non-Compliant Surveys

Contact RICS immediately if your survey:

Was conducted by someone not RICS-qualified
Lacks proper condition ratings or uses non-standard rating systems
Is missing mandatory sections (A-G)
Contains no professional indemnity insurance details
Has no complaints procedure information
Was completed in unreasonably short time (e.g., 1 hour for large property)
Fails to identify obvious, visible defects
Contains generic "template" text with minimal property-specific detail

Report Concerns To: RICS Regulation Team - Tel: 020 7334 3806 | Email: regulation@rics.org

✓ What To Do If Your Survey Is Non-Compliant

Step 1: Document specific non-compliance issues using this checklist
Step 2: Raise concerns with surveyor in writing (email) within 28 days
Step 3: If unresolved, escalate to surveyor's firm complaints procedure
Step 4: Contact RICS Regulation if firm response unsatisfactory
Step 5: Consider RICS Dispute Resolution Service for financial compensation claims

✓ RICS Standards Compliance Checklist