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Private company

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

Organisation

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.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1868Founded1
  • HeadquartersRoyal Institution of Chartered Surveyors1
  • Websitewww.rics.org
  • Legal formRoyal Charter Company3
  • LEI549300KVOOGT7ULCZF343
  • StatusActive3
  • LEI statusLapsed (not renewed)3
  • Registered addressRICS HQ, SW1P 3AD London, United Kingdom3
  • Registered withCompanies House, RC0004873

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Photo: Rics2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons5

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.2

Corporate structure

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors sits at the top of its group. 2 entities, 2 countries on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

  • Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors London, United Kingdom
    • RICS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED Subsidiary · Gurgaon, India

Built from parent and subsidiary links from GLEIF, the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (CC0). Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

It was founded in London, England, as the Institution of Surveyors after a meeting of 49 surveyors at the Westminster Palace Hotel on 15 June 1868. The inaugural president was John Clutton (who founded Cluttons, a property firm still in business today). The organisation has occupied headquarters on the corner of Great George Street and Little George Street since then. It received a Royal charter as The Surveyors' Institution on 26 August 1881, The charter required RICS to "promote the usefulness of the profession for the public advantage in the UK and in other parts of the world."

The Surveyors' Institution became The Chartered Surveyors' Institution in 1930. George VI granted the title "Royal" in 1946, and the professional body became The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 1947.

In 1988, the RICS (with the CIOB, CIBSE, IstructE and RIBA) became a founding member of the Building Industry Council, today the Construction Industry Council.

In March 2025, RICS president Justin Sullivan "agreed to step aside" following criticism of his role as an expert witness in legal case regarding a £32.5 million moth-infested mansion. Sullivan referred himself to the body's standards and regulatory board. Nick Maclean, who is due to take over the presidency in 2026, was appointed as acting president temporarily.

From Wikipedia’s article on Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Timeline

  1. 1868Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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