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RICS simplifies surveyor appointment process
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is looking to simplify and improve the process of appointing a surveyor with the introduction of its new suite of appointment forms.
The Consultancy Appointment Forms, launched this week reflect the recent changes to the legislative frameworks that govern health and safety and company administration.
RICS claim the default positions in the appointments provide a practical balance of risk between the client and the consultant and remove any ambiguity.
The forms comprise a Standard Form of Appointment, a Short Form of Appointment, explanatory notes and co-ordinated services for building surveyors, CDM co-ordinators, employer’s agents, project managers, project monitors and quantity surveyors.
The Standard Form of consultant’s appointment is suitable for projects of any size or value and offers flexibility within a standard template. It can be customised to suit the client and consultant risk profile on a project-by-project basis and a series of pre-determined options used to tailor the appointment without the need for rewriting.
The short version of the forms can be used for smaller, straightforward project appointments. The co-ordinated suite of services can be used individually or, where a multi-disciplinary appointment is required, collectively - whichever option is chosen the services clearly spell out the agreement between the consultant and their client.
The consultancy forms offer the first standard services available for project monitors, employer’s agents and the first for CDM co-ordinators that is CDM 2007 compliant.
David Tuffin, RICS President said: “One of the first, and most important, lessons I learned in my professional life was to ensure my appointment terms accurately reflected the service I was offering. This is the simplest way to avoid misunderstandings with clients which, almost inevitably, have a financial as well as a relationship cost.”
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