The RICS is inviting members and industry stakeholders to share their views on the draft Code of measuring practice, 7th edition, as part of a consultation that is open until 13 October 2026.
The Code of measuring practice is widely used across the public and private sectors to support consistent, transparent and comparable property measurement. The proposed seventh edition is intended to ensure the guidance remains relevant for today’s property market, supporting more informed decision-making across the property life cycle and promoting a shared understanding between those providing and receiving measurement advice.
Why the update matters
Accurate measurement sits at the heart of many property decisions, from valuation and leasing to management, investment, taxation and analysis. Where measurement approaches differ, the result can be inconsistent reporting, reduced comparability of data and uncertainty for clients, practitioners and other market participants.
The RICS says the updated guidance aims to improve usability and data quality, while maintaining the clarity and consistency that members and regulated firms need when undertaking, reporting and relying on measurement advice.
What is changing?
The proposed changes are described as technical updates rather than major revisions. They are designed to reflect how buildings and market practice have evolved since the previous edition, and to address areas where clearer guidance may help reduce ambiguity.
- New content on the measurement of the vertical height of buildings.
- Updates to ensure the guidance reflects changes in building design, use and measurement practice since the previous edition.
- Clearer recognition of the link between the Code of measuring practice and the measurement of flats for residential Council Tax purposes.
- Further emphasis on consistent reporting conventions, definitions and measurement practices.
Nigel Fishwick, an associate partner in our lease advisory team, said: “As lease advisory professionals, we rely on accurate and consistent measurement to underpin advice on rent reviews, lease renewals, rental valuations and wider property decisions. Even small differences in interpretation can have a material impact, so it is important that the Code continues to reflect how buildings are designed, occupied and assessed in practice. This consultation is a valuable opportunity for practitioners to feed into guidance that is used across the market and to help make sure it remains clear, practical and fit for purpose.”
How to take part
The consultation gives members and stakeholders the opportunity to review the draft code, comment on it section by section, and answer the accompanying questionnaire. The RICS is seeking feedback on whether the draft is easy to understand, whether its structure is clear, whether anything technical is missing and whether respondents have wider comments on the proposals.
Responses will be reviewed by the RICS, the author and the expert group before the final version is taken through the RICS governance process and published.
Have your say before 13 October 2026. Download the draft code, submit comments and complete the questionnaire via the RICS consultation page
For professionals involved in lease advisory, property measurement, valuation, agency, residential work, asset management, development or occupier advisory, the consultation is an opportunity to help shape guidance that is used across the industry every day.