In a complex and rapidly changing marketplace, your clients seek confidence and security. Obtaining 'Regulated by RICS' status allows your firm to meet this need. It shows the world that your firm practises to globally recognised ethical and professional standards.

By registering your firm for 'Regulated by RICS' status you are making a commitment to work to RICS standards in your business, and to allow us to verify this commitment. Through our proactive risk-based monitoring and assurance your firm will benefit from our support in embedding best practice.

'Regulated by RICS': Recognised and respected

As a regulated firm you will use the industry respected 'Regulated by RICS' designation, which conveys to the marketplace that your firm:

  • Practises to globally recognised standards.
  • Behaves ethically and acts with integrity and honesty.
  • Has the required skills and competencies to do the job.
  • Manages conflicts of interests transparently.
  • Safeguards the security of client money.
  • Manages its finances appropriately.
  • Provides adequate and appropriate indemnity for your work.
  • Handles complaints and disputes fairly.

This tells potential clients that you can be trusted to deliver high standards of service. 'Regulated by RICS' conveys a consistent message of confidence and quality to your clients whether they are local, national or international. Through our presence in the major financial centres of the world, we promote the value of 'Regulated by RICS' to the clients you work with. As part of this, we equip your firm to promote the value of the standards you work to and our assurance of your standards.

Responsible Principal

The Rules for the Registration of Firms outline the requirement for all RICS regulated firms to appoint a responsible principal.

A responsible principal will have primary responsibility for ensuring that RICS' professional, technical and ethical standards are applied, upheld and supported by an appropriate assurance framework within a regulated firm.

Adding value to your business

RICS provides regulated firms with guidance and support on embedding best practice through professional standards.

Through our programme of regulatory assurance and advice, regulation by RICS:

  • Helps identify business systems and process improvements
  • Supports the use of international standards in everyday practice
  • Ensure that professionals in your firm are working to RICS-approved standards
  • Fosters transparency
  • Identifies and helps to manage risks

Globally, we undertake 500 regulatory visits to firms each year. Visited firms receive specific guidance on how to protect both the firm and its clients from unnecessary risk.

Of those firms visited by RICS:

  • 96% agreed that the RICS reviewer tailored the visit to suit their business.
  • 88% agreed that the review added value to their business.

Registering as a sponsoring non-regulated organisation

Sponsoring Non-Regulated Organisations are organisations that pay fees and provide firm related regulatory information on behalf of their Registered Valuer employees but are not RICS Regulated.

Regulated Firm Sponsorship

Regulated firm sponsorship is the arrangement that allows registered firms to pay regulatory fees and provide firm related regulatory information on behalf of nominated Registered Valuers.

Registering to be 'Regulated by RICS'

Your firm will need to meet several preconditions for registering. It must:

  • Offer professional services in surveying disciplines to professional, corporate, institutional and other clients who rely on such services.
  • Have at least 25% of principals (a senior manager, partner or owner), who are qualified RICS professionals (MRICS, FRICS, AssocRICS).
  • Agree to observe and comply with RICS Rules of Conduct for Firms, including working to RICS standards.

There is no fee for registering your firm for regulation.

You can register your firm by downloading and submitting the application form below. We will then send your nominated person an invitation to complete the registration through our Firms Portal.

Frequently asked questions

We've compiled a list of frequent questions about registering your firm for 'Regulated by RICS' status.

Contact us