Definition

In an APC context, a scope of services is a written statement, usually part of the terms of appointment, that specifies the services a surveyor will provide, the services expressly excluded, and any assumptions or limitations that apply. The RICS Rules of Conduct (effective 2 February 2022) require firms to ensure clients receive a written record of the work agreed before or at the start of an instruction; the scope of services fulfils that obligation.

Why this matters for Client Care

  • A well-drafted scope sets client expectations from day one, reducing the likelihood of disputes about what was or was not included.
  • It provides the contractual baseline against which any change in services can be identified, priced, and agreed.
  • It alerts the surveyor to tasks that fall outside their competence or PI cover, prompting either a referral or an exclusion.
  • Omitting services from the scope that were later performed creates liability exposure and undermines client trust.

Key principles

Clarity and completeness

The scope should describe each service in plain language: the nature of the task, the output to be produced, and the standard to which it will be performed. Vague wording such as "general surveying advice" creates ambiguity that can be exploited in a dispute. Where a service is subject to an RICS professional standard, reference that standard by name.

Exclusions and limitations

Stating what the surveyor will not do is as important as stating what they will do. Common exclusions include structural engineering advice, legal interpretation, asbestos assessment, and environmental surveys. Each exclusion should be accompanied by a recommendation that the client appoint a suitably qualified specialist.

Competence and PI alignment

A surveyor must not agree to a scope that includes work beyond their current competence or outside their PI policy categories. Before finalising any scope, check that each proposed service is within competence and covered by the firm's PI schedule. If in doubt, narrow the scope and engage a specialist.

Change control

Scope creep, where clients request additional services informally, is a common source of fee disputes. The terms of appointment should include a mechanism for agreeing changes in writing before additional work begins. Candidates should be ready to explain how they have operated such a mechanism.

Relevant RICS guidance and legislation

  • RICS Rules of Conduct (effective 2 February 2022) — Rule 3 (Service) requires that clients receive a written record of the terms of engagement.
  • RICS standard form terms of appointment — provides a tested framework for setting out scope, fees, and liability caps.
  • Consumer Rights Act 2015 — where the client is a consumer, services must be performed with reasonable care and skill and within a reasonable time; a clear scope helps evidence compliance.
  • RICS professional standard on conflicts of interest — Conflicts of Interest global professional statement (1st edition, 2017, effective 1 January 2018) — relevant where the surveyor's scope touches areas where a conflict may arise.

Ethics and Rules of Conduct angle

Defining a scope of services engages Rule 3 (Service) most directly: the surveyor must ensure the client understands what will be provided and on what terms. Rule 1 (Honesty and Integrity) requires the scope to accurately represent what the surveyor is capable of delivering, and Rule 2 (Competence) prohibits accepting services outside one's competence. A surveyor who knowingly accepts an instruction beyond their expertise, or who allows the scope to drift without client consent, risks disciplinary action.

APC-style Q&As

Q (Level 1) What is a scope of services in the context of a surveying instruction?

A scope of services is a written description of the tasks the surveyor agrees to perform, the deliverables to be produced, and any services expressly excluded, forming part of the terms of appointment provided to the client before or at the start of the instruction.

Q (Level 1) Why should a surveyor clearly state exclusions within the scope of services?

Exclusions prevent misunderstanding about what the client can expect and protect the surveyor from liability for tasks they have not agreed to perform. They also prompt the client to seek appropriate specialist advice, which is itself a client care obligation under RICS Rule 3.

Q (Level 2) How would you handle a situation where a client requests additional services part-way through a commission that fall outside your agreed scope?

(example) On a commercial lease advisory instruction, I was asked mid-commission to provide rent review advice, outside the original scope and beyond my competence. I wrote to the client to confirm the request, explained it fell outside our appointment, and recommended a specialist. I updated the scope document to record formally what had been requested, declined, and signposted, maintaining a clear audit trail.

Q (Level 2) How does PI insurance influence the scope of services you agree with a client?

Before finalising a scope I check that every service falls within the categories declared to our PI insurer. If a client requests something outside our policy, accepting it would expose the firm to uninsured liability. I either exclude the service and recommend a specialist, or raise the matter with our risk manager to explore extending cover, and document whichever course is taken.

Q (Level 3) A client has asked you to advise on a listed building survey, structural repairs, and the procurement of a contractor, but you are competent only in the survey element. How do you structure the scope, and what are your ethical obligations?

(example) Rule 2 (Competence) is clear: I must not accept work I am not qualified to perform. I would draft a scope covering only the listed building survey, setting out structural repairs and procurement as express exclusions with a recommendation that the client appoints a structural engineer and a project manager. I would also check that the survey element sits within our PI categories, given the specialist nature of listed buildings. The client would receive a written explanation of why the scope was drawn in this way, so they could make an informed decision about their overall team.