We're the global professional body promoting and enforcing the highest international standards in the valuation, management and development of land, real estate, construction and infrastructure.
We can trace our history right back to 1792 when the Surveyors Club was formed. However, the foundations of the current organization started to properly take shape when 20 surveyors met at the Westminster Palace Hotel. Under the chairmanship of John Clutton, they appointed a sub-committee to draw up resolutions, bye-laws and regulations. This was done in order to establish a professional association to represent surveyors and the growing property profession.
This group, which had expanded to 49 members by 1868, met again at the Westminster Palace Hotel on 15 June 1868 to approve the resolutions and elect the first Council. John Clutton was elected the first president of the Institution of Surveyors. Offices were then leased at 12 Great George Street , which we still use as our headquarters today.
The requirement for such an organization was driven by the rapid development and expansion of the industrialized world; as infrastructure, housing and transport links grew, so did the need for more stringent checks and balances.
For 150 years, our professionals have worked to ensure that, while unlocking the inherent value held within the world's physical assets and developing its potential, we don't spoil the planet for future generations.
Even in parts of the world where the term 'chartered surveyor' means very little, the high standards of our professionals speak volumes. They are viewed by major financial institutions and world governments as the 'gold standard' when it comes to professional regulation in the property sector.
Professional groups provide technical advice across the organization. They contribute to our public policy agenda, and develop and maintain strategic alliances with other professional bodies and industry organizations and groupings. Most groups are also responsible for maintaining alternative designations (e.g. chartered valuation surveyor; chartered facilities management surveyor).
Our Valuation Professional Group is the professional specialism across the valuation sector.
Our Professional Groups focus on four main areas:
Standards
Our Professional Statements
Market insight
What we Regulate
Our Valuation Professional Group Board is made up of our volunteer members, led by our staff working in partnership across the following sectors:
General valuation
Compensation bases
Assessment for compulsory acquisition
Investment appraisal
Performance measurement and analysis
Decision taking
Rating valuation and property taxation law and practice
Property funding and financing
Working groups made up of our professionals who provide the technical guidance and market insight that underpin our standards and guidance.