This new edition is the result of several years of planned, collaborative development with technical experts and a scheduled review informed by a public consultation in autumn 2025. Surveyors acting as expert witnesses (5th ed.) is a global standard that provides an update to the 4th edition, maintaining the highest professional standards and reflecting current practice.
By upholding the highest standards of professionalism, expert witnesses help maintain the integrity of the surveying profession and protect the public interest. RICS’ expert witness standard is written for surveyors who provide expert evidence to be relied upon in civil proceedings within a wide range of tribunals.
The new 5th edition of Surveyors acting as expert witnesses professional standard supports best practice, global consistency and the public interest in expert witness services through a major update, addressing matters such as conditional fees and modern technology challenges and focuses on integrity, impartiality and acting within an area of expertise.
The current standard:
- Explains the need for clear instructions and terms of engagement
- Gives guidance on what to do in situations of conflict of interest
- Contains detail on the written report format
- Clarifies the differences between the roles of expert and advocate
- Helps remove pressure upon experts to support their clients’ cases irrespective of their honest professional opinion
This professional standard is to be read alongside a practice guidance document, containing additional information to assist members in applying the mandatory duties under the standard and rules of the tribunal. The documents are also relevant to those who support, instruct, or advise expert witnesses, including legal representatives and those training to become expert witnesses. RICS has also published a ‘tribunal friendly’ version, in which both professional standard and practice guidance are contained in one single, internally hyperlinked document for easy referencing.
Note
During the course of the development of this standard, our governance processes raised important points relating to the local application of the standard, which have been considered by the Standards Committee. It is recognised by the RICS that a significant number of members practice as expert witnesses in jurisdictions with very different requirements from each other. Although the standard provides a carve-out for local rules and laws that conflict with the requirements of the standard, RICS is actively considering how to improve the interaction between local rules and the mandatory requirements imposed on members.
Downloads
Surveyors acting as expert witnesses, 5th edition (PDF 1.46MB)
Published date: 30 July 2026
Additional guidance for surveyors acting as expert witnesses (PDF 1.68MB)
Published date: 30 July 2026
Basis for conclusions (PDF 0.74MB)
Published date: 30 July 2026
Surveyors acting as expert witnesses, 4th edition (PDF 0.92MB)
Published date: 06 February 2023
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FAQs
The standard has been reviewed and updated to reflect current practice. The 4th edition was published in 2014 (with amendments in 2023) and applied to the UK, whereas the 5th edition applies globally to all RICS members. Areas addressed by the new edition include terms of engagement, managing conflicts of interest, fee arrangements, the preparation of written reports, and clarifying the distinction between the expert witness role and other roles a surveyor may undertake during proceedings.
A four-month transition period begins from the date of publication. During this period, RICS members are expected to review the requirements and begin integrating them into their practice. Formal regulatory oversight will commence at the end of the transition period. The standard will take effect from the 30 November 2026.
The standard primarily applies to RICS members acting as expert witnesses in judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings, including alternative dispute resolution proceedings. It is also relevant to those who support, instruct, or advise expert witnesses, including legal representatives and those training to become expert witnesses.
Firms are not appointed as expert witnesses. An appointment in the capacity of expert witness is a personal appointment.
Yes. The 5th edition is designed for global application while respecting local legal requirements. Given RICS's membership base, the law and practice relating to expert witnesses in England and Wales informs this document. However, the standard is intended for use in all jurisdictions. The professional standard is to be read with the supporting practice information document, which provides further detail.
The standard requires members to check the compatibility of the standard against local laws and procedural rules. Local laws and rules take precedence over the standard if there is a conflict with the standard’s requirements. Unless required by local laws or procedural rules, departures from the requirements of the standard need to be outlined to the tribunal and those instructing the expert witness.
Non-compliance is likely to result in regulatory sanctions and legal consequences. Expert witness reports, including the qualifications and expertise stated within them, may be subject to robust cross-examination, and a member who makes a false statement in their report may be found to be in contempt of court. Sanctions for breaching the mandatory requirements of the professional standard could include a caution, fine, conditions or expulsion from membership of RICS.
Members are encouraged to review the standard as part of their continuing professional development. The RICS Expert Witness Certificate is the recommended formal CPD pathway linked to this standard. Further training resources, including online modules and case studies, will be made available.