Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

About

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is a professional body for those working in the Built Environment, Construction, Land, Property and Real Estate. It was founded in 1868 in London, England, and currently has offices around the world. The RICS works at a cross-governmental level, and aims to promote and enforce the highest international standards in the valuation, management and development of land, real estate, construction and infrastructure.

Founded as the Institution of Surveyors, it received a royal charter in 1881 and became the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 1947. With its headquarters in London and regional offices across the United Kingdom, plus international offices, it serves a 113,000-strong membership distributed over nearly 150 countries. The RICS is linked to other national surveying institutions, collaborates with other professional bodies, and, in 2013, was a founder member of a coalition to develop the International Property Measurement Standards (IPMS). It also produces cost information and professional guidance on valuation and other activities.