This comprehensive guide is written for surveyors who provide expert evidence to be relied upon in civil proceedings before a wide range of tribunals.

This document:

• Explains the need for clear instructions and terms of engagement
• Gives guidance on what to do in situations of conflict of interest
• Outlines 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 practice statement is also published in the form of an accompanying client guide, a copy of which can be supplied by the expert witness to the prospective client. This guide may be provided without copyright permission; however, the expert witness must make clear to the prospective client that his/her copy is for his/her use only, and that any reproduction of the guide for the use of a third party would breach RICS copyright, as specified in PS 3.4(b).