RICS seeks to improve estate agency standards

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has today (Monday 31 October) launched its new edition of its UK Residential Property Standards with the aim of changing the way people view estate agents.

In the UK many people have a negative view of estate agents and with anyone able to set up a sales/lettings agency, many people have doubted whether agents have the expertise needed. In fact, some even prefer to use websites to buy or rent property independently.
 
But RICS hopes that it new Blue Book will provide residential sales and letting professionals with best practice advice to enhance the quality of the service provided.

‘We hope to change people’s perception of estate agencies by promoting the standards expected of residential agents under the long established RICS brand. The Blue Book will also help estate agents to improve their business by providing advice on issues such as conflicts of interest and how to build better relationships with buyers and sellers as well as information on how to expand their range of services,’ said David Dalby RICS director of Residential.

‘RICS is the only chartered organisation monitoring residential agents and those using an RICS agency will know that the level of service provided is of the highest standard,’ he added.

RICS has also developed a new online resource, isurv Estate Agency, which offers agents advice on how to deal with all aspects of residential estate agency and provides access to the Blue Book.

High street estate agents who aspire to provide a professional service backed by a robust regulatory regime that offers the highest standards of consumer protection have been able to become Associate members of RICS through the Residential Estate Agency route since 2009, providing another option to professional membership.