ABOUT RICS

Question 1

What is the Black BOOK

Answer 1

Contain Best Practice Guidance for Quantity Surveying and Construction Professionals

Question 2

Where is RICS located ? When was RICS Founded ?What date was the Royal charter ?

Answer 2

Founded on 15th June 1868

Became a royal charter 26th August 1881

RICS 12 Great George St Parliament Square Westminster London SW1P 3AD

Question 3

What is the Structure of RICS Governing Council and what is the governing council responsibilities ?

Answer 3

RICS Governing Council:

Responsible for approving strategy, standards, regulations and vision.

The governing council also oversee the effective delivery of the strategy.

Ensures RICS fulfils its Royal Charter obligations.

All Governing council members, with the exception of the senior independent governor the Independent Member and two Appointed Members, are RICS professionals

The current structure consist of:

• RICS President who is currently - Nicholas Maclean (acting president)
  Justine Sullivan
• RICS President Elect.
• RICS Senior Vice President.
• 6 Professional Group seats (Building Surveying, Building Control, Commercial Property, Construction, Valuation, Land and Natural Resources, Residential Property)
• 13 Geographic seats (Americas, Asia Pacific x 2, Europe, Middle East & Africa, UK & Ireland x 8 - 1 seat is currently vacant)
• US Market seat*
• NextGen seat
• Senior Independent Governor
• Independent Member
• Appointed seats x 2 (vacant)

The next Governing Council elections will be taking place in the second half of 2025.

Question 4

What is the Structure of the Board and what is the boards responsibilities ?

Answer 4

The Board:

The main purpose of The Board is to direct RICS affairs under delegated authority from Governing Council.

Has delegated responsibility for delivering business plan and direct rics affairs under delegated authority.

The board is made up of expert governance bodies, comprise of non-members and members. The board is made up of a chairs and committees.

The structure is as follows:
* chair - Martin Samworth

• chief executive officer - Justin Young

Chairs of;

• Diversity, Equity and inclusion - Louise Brooke-Smith
• Audit, Risk Assurance and Finance - Mike Driver
• Sustainability - Frank Hovorka
• Nomination and Renumeration - Harriet Kemp
• Knowledge and practice -
  Simon Rawlinson
• Independent governor - Liz Peace CBE
• Global member committee - Douglas McCormick
• Digital and Technology - Kelly Olsen

Question 5

What is the role of RICS (TO BE UPDATED)

Answer 5

Extract FROM PAGE 10 TOP AND USE AI TO geneerate a solid understanding RICS APC Revision guide.

Question 6

Whats is RICS Motto

Answer 6

Est Modus in Rebus - There is Measure in all things

Question 7

What is Lionheart (TO BE UPDATED)

Answer 7

Page 10 again use AI to simplify understanding

Question 8

Why do i want to be a chartered surveyor (TO BE UPDATED)

Question 9

What is RICS matrics ( TO BE UPDATED)

Question 10

Provide an overview of your understanding of professional Guidance

Answer 10

Professional Guidance sets requirements or expectations for RICS Members and Regulated Firms about how they provide services or the outcomes of their actions.

Where requirements are mandatory, guidance will use ‘must’, whereas best practice will use ‘should’. Surveyors must have a robust understanding of relevant guidance. This is because, in regulatory or disciplinary proceedings, RICS will take account of relevant Professional Standards in deciding whether a Member acted appropriately and with reasonable competence.

Question 11

Can you provide an overview of RICS corporate governance structure ?

Answer 11

Under the Royal Charter RICS governing body is the Governing Council as its Highest body, which sets global strategy, vision and oversees the RICS board and the Standard and Regulation Board.

Governing council; The supreme governing body responsible for setting the global strategy, approving constitutional changes, and overseeing the RICS Board and SR

The RICS board manages operations and business delivery. Responsible for the delivery of RICS’s business plan, overseeing operational performance, and implementing the global strategy under delegated authority.

The SRB has exclusive responsibility for regulatory functions and setting professional standards for the public advantage.

Question 12

How is RICS governed ?

Answer 12

RICS has Constitutional documents, these are

1. The Royal Charter
2. Bye Laws
3. Regulations
4. RICS regulatory framework
5. Standing orders

Membership Vote and approval by Privy council can only change these documents.

Question 13

What is the mission statement of RICS

Answer 13

To Qualify and Equip their members to offer the highest standards of professional service. To promote and enforce standards. To lead solutions to the major challenges facing the built environment through professional expertise.

Question 14

What are the RICS policy documents?

Answer 14

The RICS operates a clear framework of policy and guidance documents which together set out the professional, ethical, and technical standards all members must follow.

The main documents are:

1️⃣ Rules of Conduct (2024) –
The overarching ethical framework setting out the five fundamental Rules: Honesty & Integrity, Competence, Service, Respect, and Responsibility.

2️⃣ RICS Global Professional and Ethical Standards –
These expand on the Rules of Conduct by explaining expected behaviours, professional values, and examples of good ethical decision-making.

3️⃣ RICS CPD Policy –
The mandatory continuing professional development requirements (minimum 20 hours per year, at least 10 formal, including 1 hour on ethics).

4️⃣ RICS Complaints Handling Procedure (CHP) Requirements –
Guidance on how firms must operate fair and transparent systems for managing and resolving client complaints.

5️⃣ RICS Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) Requirements –
Sets the minimum cover levels, approved insurers, and policy conditions members and regulated firms must hold.

6️⃣ RICS Firm and Member Regulation & Registration Policies –
Explain how firms and individuals are registered, monitored, and, if necessary, disciplined to protect the public interest.

7️⃣ RICS Guidance Notes, Practice Statements, and Professional Standards –
Technical and procedural documents giving best-practice guidance across surveying disciplines (for example: Cost Reporting, Contract Administration, Valuation, Sustainability, etc.).

Question 15

What are RICS Guidance Notes, Practice Statements, and Professional Standards?

Answer 15

“RICS publishes a hierarchy of documents that set the standards and expectations for professional practice across all surveying disciplines.

These documents fall into three main categories:

1️⃣ Professional Standards (also known as RICS Standards):

These are the overarching requirements that define what RICS members must do.

They include the Rules of Conduct, Global Professional and Ethical Standards, CPD Policy, and PII Requirements.

Compliance is mandatory — members and regulated firms must follow them at all times.

2️⃣ Practice Statements:

These set out specific mandatory requirements for carrying out certain professional activities.

They often use the word “must” to indicate an obligation.

For example, the RICS Valuation – Global Standards (the Red Book) and Conflict Avoidance and Dispute Resolution Practice Statement contain mandatory elements.

Breaching a practice statement could lead to disciplinary action.

3️⃣ Guidance Notes:

These provide recommended good practice on how to meet professional or technical standards.

They are advisory rather than mandatory, using words such as “should” or “may”.

Following them demonstrates competence and helps you evidence compliance during your APC or professional audit.

For example, RICS guidance notes on Cost Reporting, Contract Administration, and Project Monitoring for QSs outline best practice approaches that I follow in my consultancy work.

Question 16

Can you you provide current professional statement and practice information document for you area of practice

Answer 16

Here are the current document types and status for RICS “Practice Statements / Guidance Notes” (now moving towards the simplified categories of Professional Standards and Practice Information):

✅ Current Status & Definitions

RICS has moved to simplify its document hierarchy: going forward, all new and updated guidance will be published as either Professional Standards or Practice Information.
RICS

Professional Standards = documents which set out requirements or baseline expectations for competent & ethical practice.
RICS
+1

Practice Information = advice, guidance or good practice material to help members and firms.
RICS
+1

📄 Examples of Current Documents

The “Black Book” for QS & construction: a collection of guidance notes for quantity surveying & construction professionals.
RICS
+1

A Professional Statement such as RICS Client Money Handling Professional Statement (effective 1 Jan 2020) for client money handling.
RICS

A guidance note such as RICS Surveying Safely – Health and Safety Principles for Property Professionals (2nd edition, Nov 2018) — still valid as a reference.
RICS

🧾 What this means for you (Consultant QS / APC Candidate)

When asked about “guidance notes / practice statements” — you can refer to Professional Standards / Practice Information as the modern equivalents.

You should be aware of key documents in your area (QS/contract administration) such as the Black Book guidance for quantity surveying & construction.

Use specific titles in your answers (for credibility) and reference that they are current or being updated.

If asked for “practice statements” you could mention older titles still valid, but note the shift in departmental terminology.

Question 17

what is RICS ethical framework

Answer 17

“The RICS Ethical Framework is the structure that sets out how RICS members and regulated firms must act to maintain trust, integrity, and professionalism within the surveying profession.

It is made up of a series of interlinked policies, rules and standards that collectively guide our professional behaviour.

The main components of the framework are:

1️⃣ RICS Rules of Conduct (2024):
The five overarching rules — Honesty & Integrity, Competence, Service, Respect, and Responsibility — form the foundation of ethical practice.

2️⃣ RICS Global Professional and Ethical Standards:
These expand on the Rules and describe the expected professional values and ethical decision-making principles.

3️⃣ Supporting Policies:
Documents such as the CPD Policy, Complaints Handling Procedure (CHP) Requirements, and Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) Requirements ensure competence, accountability, and public protection.

4️⃣ Guidance & Practice Information:
Non-mandatory best-practice documents (for example the “Black Book” guidance for QSs) help members apply ethical principles in day-to-day work.

Together, these elements create a consistent global framework that promotes ethical behaviour, protects clients and the public, and upholds confidence in the surveying profession.