If you’re eyeing a role as an Estates Surveyor within a local authority or housing association, one question tends to come up again and again:

“Do I need to be RICS chartered?”

The short answer? No, but it helps.

At Marks Consulting Partners, we work with public sector employers across the UK and regularly place both chartered and non-chartered Estates Surveyors into key roles. Here’s what we’ve learned:

In many public sector property teams, chartership is preferred but not required. That’s especially true where:

• The authority is under-resourced
• They need someone with strong local property knowledge
• The role is operational rather than strategic
• Or it’s an interim post where hands-on experience matters more than letters after your name

We’ve placed countless Estates Surveyors into roles managing commercial portfolios, lettings, acquisitions, and disposals, without RICS status.

That said, being MRICS or FRICS opens doors. It’s a signal of professionalism, technical competence, and commitment to the field. It also shows:

• You’ve had structured assessment and peer review
• You understand ethical and legal frameworks
• You’re likely to bring a strategic lens to estates management

In competitive panels, chartership can be the tie-breaker, particularly for permanent roles or senior-grade positions (e.g. Principal Surveyor, Strategic Asset Lead).

One of the big advantages in the public sector? Relevant experience counts for a lot. If you’ve:

• Managed complex landlord/tenant negotiations
• Delivered on asset rationalisation programmes
• Handled valuations, CPOs, or development feasibility

… you’ll often be considered even without chartered status, especially if you’ve worked within councils, ALMOs, or other public bodies before.

If you’re already in an Estates Surveyor role and thinking about pursuing RICS status, it’s worth it. Many public sector employers will:

• Support APC candidates
• Offer study leave or mentoring
• Value your commitment to continuous development

It’s a solid way to futureproof your career, especially if you’re eyeing progression into strategic asset roles, head of property, or estates transformation programmes.