RICS - the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors - was founded in the United Kingdom in 1868, and received a royal charter in 1881.
Members are known as chartered surveyors, and are recognised by the designation after their name -  FRICS (for Fellow of RICS) or MRICS (for Member of RICS).

Today, RICS is a global property professional body with international headquarters in London and world regional offices in Brussels, Dubai, Hong Kong, New York and Sydney.  Members number over 100,000 across more than 146 countries.  The key roles of RICS are to regulate and promote the profession, maintain the highest educational and professional standards, protect clients and consumers through a strict code of ethics, and provide impartial advice, analysis and guidance.

RICS is the world's leading qualification when it comes to professional standards in land, property and construction.

RICS Regulation is responsible for ensuring that RICS members and firms meet the requirements of RICS' Rules of Conduct. These define the professional, ethical and business standards which are expected of RICS members and firms. Regulation is administered by a Regulatory Board which is chaired by a non member of RICS. This demonstrates that RICS' regulation of its members is independent and at arm's length from the interests of RICS members. 

RICS Regulation monitors, guides and assists members and firms to comply with rules, regulations and ethical standards. It reviews and investigates complaints received about members and/or regulated firms and, where appropriate, takes disciplinary action in cases where members and/or regulated firms fall short of the standards expected of them.
In 2007, RICS began regulating firms in the UK, and now there are close to 10,000 firms over there who carry the designation “Regulated by RICS”.  April 2009 saw the introduction of this initiative in Hong Kong and as of November 2010, the initiative was also rolled out in Continental Europe. Registration outside of the UK is not mandatory and is done on a voluntary basis. 

Not all firms in Continental Europe are eligible for Firm Regulation.  At least 50% of the Principals/Directors/Management Board must be chartered surveyors. The firms are also asked to provide proof of Personal Indemnity Insurance, evidence of a Complaints Handling Procedure, and present documentation of Continuing Professional Development for staff members.  For those firms who handle clients’ money, review visits are scheduled to ensure that files are up to date and in order. Firms must also provide information on whether any employees have been involved in financial personal insolvency procedures or criminal convictions. 

The “Regulated by RICS” designation represents an additional level of quality and assurance that the firm will act with integrity in business dealings and that they will perform services in a highly professional manner.

For a complete, up-to-date list of Regulated Firms, please go to www.ricseurope.eu/en/regulatedfirms