Surveyors and valuers

RICS responsible AI training for surveyors

The RICS responsible-AI standard has applied to RICS members and RICS-regulated firms since 9 March 2026. Here is what that text requires of a practice, including a small one, and what the pack contains.

What the rule says

The source is the RICS professional standard, Responsible use of artificial intelligence in surveying practice, 1st edition, September 2025. Page numbers below are the printed page numbers. Read it at RICS, and the rows on Evidence and sources.

The standard applies where an AI output has a material impact on the delivery of the surveying service (section 1.2, printed page 5). RICS gives examples: a summary that is then relied on in a report, a significant part of an opinion, or a recommendation of where to investigate a fault. If the member or RICS-regulated firm decides the use does have a material impact, they must record that decision and the reasoning. The text does not switch the duty off because the practice is small.

Members who use AI to deliver surveying services must keep a basic understanding of the types of system, how they fail, the risk of erroneous output, bias, and data risks (section 2, printed page 6).

RICS-regulated firms must safeguard private and confidential data. They must not upload it to an AI system unless there is express written consent in advance from the people affected, and the firm has taken reasonable steps to satisfy itself that the upload does not pose an unacceptable risk (section 3.1, printed page 7).

Before an AI system with a material impact is used, the firm must have a written assessment of whether AI is the appropriate tool, and a written register of those systems, their purpose, when they were first used, and when that use will next be reviewed (section 3.2, printed pages 7 to 8). Policies on responsible use must cover who is responsible, training at least annually, how a person checks the output, and how staff spot risk (section 3.2, printed pages 8 to 9). A risk register is required, and it must be reviewed at least quarterly (section 3.3, printed page 9).

For a material output, professional judgement has to be applied and a written decision recorded on whether the output can reasonably be used. That note is prepared by, or under the supervision of, an appropriately qualified and named surveyor who accepts responsibility (section 4.2, printed pages 10 to 11). If the firm automates a high volume of outputs, it must still take randomised dip samples at regular intervals, and it remains accountable for each output. Clients must be told, in writing and in advance, when and for what purpose that AI will be used (section 4.3, printed page 12).

The RICS pack

The pack helps a practice put governance, documentation and staff capability in place:

• AI risk register, built with you, ready for review
• Client notification wording and file templates
• Due diligence checklist for every AI tool in use
• Half-day staff training on safe, useful AI in practice

A sector pack starts from £1,950. A half-day workshop on its own is £950.

Questions