The RICS Home Survey Standard is up for a rewrite.
The news is out. RICS has officially launched its consultation on the Home Survey Standard.
This is a great opportunity to directly influence the rulebook that governs your daily work, your professional liability, and your future.
The current standard, implemented back in 2021, was a necessary step. It brought a much-needed baseline of consistency to a fragmented market and gave consumers a clearer idea of what they were paying for. It did its job.
But the world of 2025 is not the world of 2019 when this was first drafted. The question now isn't just "is the standard effective?" but "is it future-proof?"
Beyond the Press Release: What’s Really Driving This?
RICS states the review is to ensure the standard remains "fit for purpose," citing market evolution and consumer expectations. That's the official line. But what does that mean on the ground, for you, on a wet Tuesday inspecting a 1930s semi?
It means grappling with:
The Technology Chasm: How does a standard built for a notepad and tape measure adapt to drone inspections, thermal imaging, and fully digital, data-rich reporting platforms? We need a framework that doesn't just allow technology but actively encourages its use to deliver better, more accurate insights for clients.
The Green Imperative: Homeowners are no longer just asking "is the roof okay?". They're asking about heat pumps, insulation standards, EV charging points, and the property's overall energy performance. A modern survey standard must have sustainability embedded in its DNA, not just bolted on as an afterthought.
The Amazon Effect: Today's consumer expects instant, clear, and visually engaging information. A dense, text-heavy report is an anachronism. The standard must evolve to support modern reporting that helps buyers make informed decisions quickly, without sacrificing professional rigour.
The RICS survey of over 325 professionals and 1,400 homeowners confirms this disconnect. While surveyors, focus on the technicalities, homeowners are looking for clarity and confidence. This consultation is your chance to bridge that gap.
Two Consultations, One Big Question for the Future
It’s crucial to note that RICS is running two parallel consultations.
The Standard Itself: This is the nuts and bolts. The content, the structure, the minimum requirements of your reports. This is about the 'what' of your job.
A Potential Regulation Scheme: This is broader. It explores a formal scheme to regulate home surveying, likely to bolster public trust. This is about the 'who' and the 'how'.
While RICS insists they are separate, they are two sides of the same coin: Trust. One builds trust through the quality of the product (the survey), the other through the quality of the provider (the surveyor). Our advice? Engage with both. Your opinion on how the profession should be regulated is just as vital as your thoughts on Condition Rating 3 definitions.
It's Time to Shape the Agenda
This isn't just about tweaking clauses. It's about asking bold questions.
Should the standard define best practices for integrating data from new tech?
How can we make reports more accessible for consumers without dumbing down the expert analysis?
What role should the survey play in the UK's journey to Net Zero?
For the next six weeks, the floor is open. This is your moment to feed your real-world experience – the awkward conversations with clients, the frustrations with outdated templates, the "if only it included..." moments – directly back to the standards-setters.
Don't let this be a conversation that happens to you. Be an active part of it.
Read the draft, challenge its assumptions, and submit your views. The survey you're writing in 2028 could be fundamentally better for it.
The consultation is live now and runs for six weeks. Make your voice heard.
Find all the details and participate here: RICS Home Survey Standard Consultation