Document downloads - Residential and commercial dispute resolution
Available downloads
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Surveyors acting as advocates
Published February 2017
Effective from 1 June 2017
The professional statement sets out the core duties expected of the surveyor-advocate. It applies where you agree (whether in writing or orally) to act as a surveyor-advocate before any tribunal in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
The guidance note offers guidance on fundamental aspects of advocacy practice. It outlines general duties and roles and offers best practice advice on, among other things, case preparation and preliminaries, evidence and documents, and hearings.
A client guide (a stand-alone electronic version of the professional statement) is also available. -
Surveyors acting as expert witnesses
Published April 2014
Effective from 2 July 2014
Reissued February 2023
Surveyors acting as expert witnesses, 4th edition, applies to surveyors when providing expert evidence, whether oral or written, before a range of courts and tribunals in the UK,
The practice statement sets out the mandatory duties of a surveyor in providing evidence, while the guidance note provides further information on good practice, including: the need for clear instructions and terms of engagement; fees; guidance on what to do in situations of conflict of interest; an outline of the written report format; clarification of the differences between the roles of expert witness and advocate; and the immunity of the expert witness.
A stand-alone electronic version of this practice statement (without the guidance note) is also available for potential use with clients in connection with the particular requirement of PS 3.3.
This document was amended in February 2023 to remove wording from PS10 and GN19 which could be read as prohibiting expert witnesses from taking instructions from solicitors who are engaged on a conditional fee, even if the expert is instructed on an unconditional fee basis. This was not the intention of RICS and has therefore been amended for clarity. -
DRS1: Commercial rent review dispute: application to RICS President for appointment
Application to President of RICS for the appointment of an arbitrator or independent expert on a commercial rent review dispute.
If it is not possible to settle a rent review amicably during negotiations, the rent review clause will generally lay down a procedure for the appointment of a third party. Provision will usually be made for the parties to attempt to agree themselves on the identity of a third party, or, in the absence of agreement, to apply to the president of RICS to make the appointment. This is the standard application form for appointment by the president. -
DRS1NI: Commercial Rent Review for Northern Ireland Cases
Application to Chairman of RICS in Northern Ireland for the appointment of an arbitrator or independent expert on a commercial rent review dispute.
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DRS2: Non-Rent Disputes
Application to President of RICS for the appointment of an arbitrator or independent expert on disputes other than commercial rent and construction.
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DRS2C: Adjudicator application
Application for the nomination of an Adjudicator by the President of RICS.
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DRS2SC: Service charge disputes
Application to the President of RICS for the appointment of an independent expert/arbitrator/mediator to determine a service charge dispute.
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DRS2P: Lease renewal disputes (PACT)
Application to the President of RICS for the appointment of an arbitrator or independent expert for a lease renewal dispute.
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DRS2 – Request the appointment of a Dispute Resolver on non-rent review and non-adjudication disputes
This form can be used for a wide variety of disputes, and the information required will differ accordingly. Use this form to request the appointment of an expert witness/single joint expert.
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DRS2D: Dilapidations disputes
Application to the President of RICS for the appointment of an arbitrator or independent expert on a dilapidations dispute.
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DRS2SB: Small Business Rent Review
Application to the President of RICS for the appointment of an independent expert to determine rent reviews on small businesses.
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DRS2ND: Neighbour Disputes
Application to appoint a neighbour dispute specialist to resolve a neighbour dispute.
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DRS3: Agricultural Rent Review
Application to the President of RICS for the appointment of an arbitrator under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 or Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 to determine a rent review dispute.
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DRS4: Agricultural Non-Rent
Application to the President of RICS for the appointment of an arbitrator under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 or Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 to determine a dispute other than rent review.
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DRS5: Agricultural Hold or Withdrawal
Form for holding or withdrawing an application for the appointment of an arbitrator/independent expert.
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An overview and comparison of dispute resolution processes in the UK (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
There are many different dispute resolution processes in the UK, the idea being that all of them strive to meet these aims in different ways. However, 'one size does not fit all', and selecting the wrong process can result in the opposite outcome; an unacceptable result in the longest possible time, with the greatest possible expense and maximum stress on the participants. The purpose of this paper is therefore to give an accurate, non-legalistic and user-friendly overview of the main dispute resolution processes available to the property, land and built environment sectors in the UK. This should assist users in selecting the most suitable dispute resolution process for their particular dispute.