The RICS Home Survey Standard and the coming 2nd edition

Last checked against RICS's own published updates in October 2026. Dates and details can change, so always check the RICS website for the latest position before relying on this page.

What the Home Survey Standard is

The RICS Home Survey Standard is a professional statement. It sets mandatory requirements for RICS members and RICS-regulated firms in the UK who carry out residential property surveys, along with guidance on good practice. It introduced the three levels of service (Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3) that replaced the older branded survey products, and it applies whichever level you provide.

The 1st edition was first published in 2019 and became effective in 2021. RICS also publishes supporting material alongside it, including report templates, terms of engagement guidance and checklists.

What the current edition asks of surveyors

This is a broad outline, not a substitute for reading the standard. In general terms, the 1st edition expects surveyors to:

• have the knowledge and skills for the type of property and the level of service
• agree clear terms of engagement with the client before the inspection
• explain the differences between the levels so the client can make an informed choice
• carry out the inspection and any desk-top research to the level agreed
• use condition ratings consistently and explain them
• produce a clear report in plain language, stating any limitations on the inspection
• keep proper records of the job

For more on the levels and ratings, see RICS Level 1, 2 and 3 explained and condition ratings explained.

Where the 2nd edition stands

RICS has been working on a 2nd edition for some time. The key points, as RICS has set them out publicly:

• Consultation. Two public consultations ran from 19 August to 14 October 2025: one on the proposed updates to the standard, and one on a proposed new regulatory scheme for home surveys.
• Drafting. In its September 2026 update, RICS said the expert group had finished drafting and the document was going through editorial review and RICS's standards governance approval.
• Publication. RICS intends to publish in the first quarter of 2027, alongside a "basis of conclusions" report explaining how consultation feedback shaped the final text. It has said this could be affected by reforms to the home buying and selling process.
• Effective date. Not yet announced. RICS has said it will share the principal changes, publication and effective dates, transitional arrangements and supporting guidance before the new edition comes in.

What the update is expected to cover

The final content won't be known until RICS publishes it, so treat the following as themes rather than confirmed changes. RICS and commentators have described the update as reflecting what has changed since the 1st edition was written, including:

• new technology in surveying, such as drones, camera poles and AI tools
• growing client interest in climate change, energy efficiency and retrofit
• lessons from how the 1st edition has worked in practice

The separate consultation on a home survey regulatory scheme suggests RICS is also looking at how home survey work is regulated, not just what the standard says. Again, the outcome isn't confirmed.

What to do now

RICS's message is clear: professional obligations stay the same for now, and members should keep working to the current edition until updates are officially announced. In practice that means:

• keep following the 1st edition for every job, including your terms of engagement and report format
• don't adopt draft or rumoured changes early, as the final text may differ
• watch for RICS announcements on the publication and effective dates
• when the 2nd edition is published, read the principal changes and the transitional arrangements carefully
• plan time to update your terms of engagement, templates, standard wording and any software you use

Preparing your practice

Even without the final text, a little preparation makes the switch easier when it comes:

• Know where your templates live. List every document that might need changing: terms of engagement, report templates, standard paragraphs, client letters and website copy.
• Review how you use technology. If you use drones, camera poles or AI tools, make sure you can explain what you use, how you check its output and how client data is handled. That's good practice today, whatever the new edition says.
• Think about energy and retrofit questions. Clients already ask about these. Consider how you currently answer them and where your competence ends.
• Talk to your insurer. Your professional indemnity insurer may have its own view on new working methods and on the changeover period.

This page summarises public information and is not legal or professional advice. The RICS Home Survey Standard and RICS's own announcements are the authority on what you need to do.