The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has released a FAQs page providing guidance for the public and members on potential structural safety issues affecting reinforced concrete buildings with ‘transfer slabs’. The FAQs explain why concerns have arisen, outline actions for building owners and RICS members, and clarify when specialist structural engineering advice is required. Further research is ongoing, and RICS intends to update the page as more information becomes available.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched a consultation on the Agricultural Landlord & Tenant Code of Practice for England. The proposed Code sets out standards of expected behaviour for landlords, occupiers and agents, encouraging socially responsible behaviour and more collaborative tenant-landlord relationships. RICS are seeking the views of rural chartered surveyors and all sector stakeholders. This consultation closes at 23.59 on 29 February 2024.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched a consultation on the second edition of its Service Charges in Commercial Property professional standard, scheduled to be released in Summer 2025. The updated standard is designed to address key challenges in the management of service charges, including the issue of budgets and year-end certificates, and aims to minimise the causes of disputes between landlords and tenants and provide clearer guidance on the resolution of disputes. It will also provide guidance for solicitors, their clients, and property managers and assist in the negotiation, drafting, interpretation, and operation of leases, ensuring adherence to industry best practices. The consultation closes on 29 October 2024.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched a consultation on a new global construction professional standard, which incorporates principles of quantity surveying and project management. The standard will consolidate 32 separate Black Book guidance notes covering different aspects of quantity surveying, published between 2009–21, into a single professional standard, along with six accompanying practice information pieces covering construction project lifecycles. It aims to provide a consistent framework for standards and help professionals update and improve their practice more swiftly. The consultation closes on 24 October 2025, with RICS planning to release the final version of the professional standard in Q1 2026.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) launched a consultation on 14 July 2025 on the second edition of its secured lending valuation standard for multi-storey, multi-occupancy residential buildings with cladding. The updated standard, intended for RICS members conducting valuations for secured lending purposes on residential blocks of flats, will reflect changes in fire safety regulations, government guidance, and leaseholder protections introduced since the first edition in 2021. It aims to provide proportionate criteria to assist valuers in determining when external wall system remediation works could materially affect a property’s value during a standard inspection. RICS is seeking views on the clarity of the updated criteria, the structure and usability of the guidance, and any technical areas requiring improvement. The consultation closes on 31 August 2025, with the final version scheduled for publication later in 2025.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched a consultation on the fifth edition of its ‘Surveyors acting as expert witnesses’ professional standard, representing the first significant update since 2014.  The updated standard reinforces the principle that the primary duty of an expert witness is to the tribunal, not the client. Consequently, expert witnesses are expected to provide reports and evidence that are independent, impartial and within their professional expertise. RICS has not yet confirmed a deadline for the consultation.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has announced a pilot programme for a new data, analytics and intelligence pathway to chartered surveyor status. This initiative is designed to meet the growing demand for advanced digital expertise amid a rapid technological transformation in the sector. The programme launches an expressions of interest process to assess market demand and gather feedback, addressing the integration of artificial intelligence, machine learning, advanced data analytics, and digital modelling that are reshaping surveying as well as the broader property and construction sectors. From digital surveying techniques and automated valuation models to advanced BIM and GIS systems, professionals are increasingly leveraging technology to enhance decision-making and expand service offerings.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has announced the launch of the Coalition for Life Cycle Emissions Alignment and Reporting (CLEAR), a global initiative intended to harmonise the measurement and reporting of whole-life carbon emissions across the built environment in different markets and jurisdictions, while helping to accelerate progress towards decarbonisation targets. CLEAR has been established with co-founders, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the Global Building Data Initiative, with Autodesk as sponsor, and will collaborate with industry partners, including AECOM, Arcadis, Avison Young and Heidelberg Materials, among others. CLEAR will also support the sector through practical tools and an online platform designed to build capability and encourage uptake. In its first year, CLEAR will focus on analysing existing whole-life carbon assessment methodologies and identifying key differences, as well as developing resources for industry and policy stakeholders. Its longer-term ambition is to support a harmonised global framework that enables more effective reporting and more confident carbon-related decision-making across the built environment.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has implemented a mandatory Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) methodology, effective from 1 July 2024, as part of a new integrated carbon assessment framework. The framework combines four initiatives: the WLCA methodology, Part Z Building Regulations proposal, Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (NZCBS), and Built Environment Carbon Database (BECD). The NZCBS is currently in pilot phase until the end of 2025, while Part Z proposes mandatory embodied carbon reporting for UK construction projects. The framework aims to standardise carbon measurement and reporting across the UK construction sector.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched a new consumer guide on the buying and selling of property at auction. The guide was updated in response to the recent growth in the property auction sector and highlights what buyers and sellers should be aware of and what they should expect from their professional auctioneer.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has published an update on the backlog and delays in the approval of building control applications.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) recently held a webinar where experts addressed environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks, resilience, and adaptation in real estate, highlighting the importance of adapting business models and leveraging technology to mitigate these risks.