The short answer
RPSA (the Residential Property Surveyors Association) and RICS (the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) are two separate professional bodies, and a surveyor certified by either one is qualified to carry out residential surveys. Both work to the same Level 1/2/3 Home Survey framework, so the report you receive is directly comparable whichever body sits behind it.
The honest position on "RPSA vs RICS" is that the letters after a surveyor's name tell you less than people assume. What really shapes the quality of your survey is the individual — their residential experience, how carefully they inspect, and whether they are genuinely independent. Anslow is RPSA-certified: Chris Anslow is an MRPSA member, ANS3259, and works purely on residential property.
What RPSA is
The RPSA is a professional association specifically for surveyors who specialise in residential property. Its members do not spread their attention across commercial, valuation or land disciplines — they focus on homes: houses, flats, conversions, period and modern construction. That residential specialism is the point of the body.
An RPSA-certified surveyor is trained and assessed to inspect and report on dwellings, and works to recognised technical standards and a code of conduct. The MRPSA designation — Member of the RPSA — signals that residential focus. When you see "MRPSA, member ANS3259" on our reports, that is Chris Anslow's RPSA membership.
What RICS is
RICS, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, is the larger and older professional body, and it is the name most buyers recognise. It covers a very broad range of surveying: residential and commercial building surveying, valuation, quantity surveying, land and property management, and more. A "chartered surveyor" is a RICS member (for example MRICS or FRICS).
Because RICS spans so many disciplines, being RICS-qualified does not, on its own, tell you that a particular surveyor specialises in residential property. Many excellent residential surveyors are RICS members — the point is simply that the badge is broader than one field. To be clear: Anslow is RPSA-certified, not RICS, and we never describe ourselves as chartered or RICS-registered.
What they share — the Level 1/2/3 standard
The most important thing to understand about "RPSA or RICS survey" is what they have in common. Both bodies adopt the same three-level Home Survey framework, so the survey you buy is structured the same way regardless of the body:
- Level 1 — a concise condition report for newer, conventional homes in good order.
- Level 2 — the mid-level Home Survey, suitable for most standard properties in reasonable condition.
- Level 3 — the detailed Building Survey for older, altered, extended or non-standard properties.
Whichever body certifies the surveyor, a Level 2 is a Level 2 and a Level 3 is a Level 3 — the same defined scope and the same clear condition ratings. If you are weighing the mid and detailed options, our guide on Level 2 vs Level 3: which do you need? walks through how to choose, and you can compare all our survey levels side by side. This shared framework is exactly why "is RPSA as good as RICS?" has a straightforward answer: the deliverable is directly comparable.
Does an RPSA survey cost less than a RICS survey?
Not inherently, and it is worth being clear about why. Neither body sets survey fees. Pricing is set by each individual practice, and it is driven by the survey level and by the property itself — size, age, construction type, how much it has been altered, and access. You will find cheaper and more expensive surveyors within both bodies.
What does affect the number is choosing the right level for the property. Paying for a Level 3 on a compact modern flat in good order is money spent on depth you do not need; choosing a Level 1 for a large altered period house is a false economy if it misses something a fuller inspection would have explained. Our guide to survey costs sets out what drives a quote. For reference, our own fixed prices start at £325 for a Level 1 Home Survey, £395 for a Level 2 and £495 for a Level 3, confirmed for your specific property before you book.
Will a mortgage lender accept an RPSA survey?
This question usually comes from two separate things being conflated.
Your lender arranges its own mortgage valuation, carried out by a valuer the lender appoints. Its purpose is to confirm the property is adequate security for the loan — it is not a condition report, it is not written for you, and you do not choose who carries it out. The difference between a valuation and a survey is one of the more expensive misunderstandings in a purchase.
The survey you commission is separate, and it is yours: instructed by you, written for you, and used by you to decide whether and on what terms to proceed. Because it is not part of the lender's lending decision, the question of a lender "accepting" it does not normally arise at all. If a particular lender or solicitor does raise a query about professional body membership, ask us and we will confirm precisely what our RPSA certification covers.
How to check a surveyor's RPSA membership
You do not have to take any surveyor's word for their credentials, including ours. The RPSA operates a public Verify a Member facility on its own website, so you can confirm a membership independently before instructing anyone.
Chris Anslow's membership number is ANS3259. We publish it deliberately — a credential you cannot check is not really a credential, and a surveyor who is reluctant to give you their number is telling you something. The same principle applies to insurance: we carry £1m professional indemnity and £2m public liability cover, and are happy to evidence it on request.
How to choose a surveyor
Rather than choosing on initials, weigh the things that genuinely affect your report. First, residential specialism — a surveyor who works only on homes will recognise the defects that matter in a house more readily than a generalist. Second, independence — an independent practice with no tie to an estate agent, lender or panel is free to report exactly what it finds. Third, the individual: their qualifications, experience and how clearly they explain problems.
On all three counts an RPSA surveyor stands on equal footing with a RICS one. Anslow is an independent, RPSA-certified residential practice covering Greater Manchester, Cheshire and the wider North West, and every survey is carried out and signed off by Chris Anslow MRPSA — member ANS3259, carrying £1m professional indemnity and £2m public liability cover. If the professional body behind a surveyor ever matters to your lender or solicitor, ask us directly and we will confirm exactly what our RPSA certification means for your purchase.
Key takeaways
- Both RPSA and RICS qualify a surveyor to carry out residential surveys.
- Both use the same Level 1/2/3 Home Survey framework, so the report you receive is directly comparable.
- RPSA is a residential specialist body — its members focus purely on homes, not commercial property.
- The competence, experience and independence of the individual surveyor matters more than the badge.
- Anslow is RPSA-certified: Chris Anslow BSc (Hons) MRPSA, member ANS3259, specialising solely in residential property.
Frequently asked questions
Is an RPSA survey as good as a RICS survey?
Yes. RPSA and RICS surveyors work to the same Level 1/2/3 Home Survey framework, so a report from either is directly comparable in structure, condition ratings and depth. What actually varies is the individual surveyor — their experience, residential specialism and independence — not the professional body's initials.
Do I need a RICS surveyor to buy a house?
No. There is no legal requirement to use a RICS-qualified surveyor for a residential survey. A surveyor certified by the RPSA is equally able to carry out a Level 1, 2 or 3 survey. If you are taking a mortgage, the lender's own valuation is separate from — and no substitute for — the survey you commission for your own peace of mind.
What does MRPSA mean?
MRPSA means Member of the Residential Property Surveyors Association — a professional body for surveyors who specialise in residential property. Chris Anslow is an MRPSA member (ANS3259). It is a residential-focused qualification, distinct from the RICS designations (such as MRICS) which cover a broader range of surveying disciplines.
What does RPSA stand for?
RPSA stands for the Residential Property Surveyors Association — a UK professional body whose members specialise specifically in residential property surveys, rather than working across commercial, valuation and land disciplines as well.
Does an RPSA survey cost less than a RICS survey?
Not inherently. Neither body sets survey fees — pricing is set by the individual practice and depends mainly on the survey level and the property's size, age, type and condition. You will find cheaper and more expensive surveyors within both bodies. Our own fixed prices start at £325 for a Level 1, £395 for a Level 2 and £495 for a Level 3, confirmed for your specific property before you book.
Will my mortgage lender accept an RPSA survey?
This is usually a misunderstanding of two separate things. Your lender arranges its own mortgage valuation, carried out by a valuer it appoints, purely to confirm the property is adequate security for the loan — that is not something you commission or choose the surveyor for. The survey you buy is a separate, independent report for your benefit, so the question of the lender accepting it does not normally arise. If a specific lender or solicitor raises a query about professional body membership, ask us and we will confirm exactly what our RPSA certification covers.
How can I check a surveyor is RPSA registered?
The RPSA runs a public Verify a Member facility on its own website, so you can confirm a surveyor's membership independently rather than taking a website's word for it. Chris Anslow's membership number is ANS3259 — you are welcome to check it before instructing us.
This guide is general information, not advice on a specific property. Every building differs — for findings specific to a property you are buying, book a survey.