About Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is a professional body for surveyors and their associates. It accredits 118,000 professionals and any firm or individual registered with RICS undergoes a range of quality procedures. Members have different designations after their name; MRICS (Member) and FRICS (Fellow). These members are chartered surveyors. Members with AssocRICS after their names are associates.RICS aims to regulate and promote the surveying profession and observe high standards. It also wishes to protect customers with its strict code of ethics and provides impartial advice. It can provide up to 30 minutes of free advice on property related topics such as boundary issues and party walls. All advisors are chartered surveyors that specialise in the topic they provide consultations for.
It is becoming more important for surveyors to reach professional standards. By becoming a RICS member they show that they have passed a rigorous assessment and promote high standards. RICS members promote the value of having these standards, ensuring that they are well known for professionalism, increasing customer confidence. RICS provides CPD (Continuing Professional Development) to members to help them maintain the standards it expects. This reassures customers that RICS members are always up to date with their knowledge and can offer them the best service.
RICS provides consumers with guides about a range of topics, including buying a home, flooding and home extensions. It also offers a property glossary on its website, which explains terms that surveyors use, from asbestos to flying freeholds. RICS also keeps its database of chartered surveyors online so that consumers can find a surveyor in their area that they can trust.
