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The Negotiator Conference & Awards | Friday 27 November 2026 | Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London

A conference is taking place in London next month that I believe should be firmly on residential surveyors' radar.

The Negotiator Conference & Expo is primarily aimed at estate and letting agents, but don't let that put you off. This year's programme addresses some of the biggest changes facing our industry, particularly the Government's proposed homebuying reforms, upfront property information and the growing role of artificial intelligence.

And the RPSA has negotiated a 15% discount for members who would like to attend.

Why should surveyors be interested?

The central theme of this year's conference is a particularly interesting question:

"What will the home buying and selling process look like in 12 months' time?"

It's a question we should all be asking.

The Government's proposals to improve the homebuying process could change when surveys are commissioned, how property condition information is provided, and how surveyors work alongside estate agents and other property professionals.

Upfront property information, including the potential for surveys to be commissioned earlier in the transaction, is no longer simply an interesting idea. It is becoming a serious part of the industry's reform discussion.

And then there is artificial intelligence. Its growing use in property marketing, administration, customer communication and professional reporting presents both opportunities and challenges for surveyors.

These are not subjects we can afford to leave entirely to estate agents, technology providers and policymakers.

Surveyors need to be part of the conversation, not simply waiting to hear what everyone else has decided.

An impressive conference line-up

The organisers are bringing together senior figures from across the property industry to examine the proposed changes.

The homebuying and selling reform discussions will include Kate Faulkner, Angela Hesketh from PEXA, Travis Scholes from LMS and Chris Rosindale from Connells.

Also speaking is Victoria Latham, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), who chairs the digital reform committee.

Simon Jack, the BBC's Business Editor, will host the conference, and AI in property is another major theme throughout the programme.

Discussions will also cover the Renters' Rights Act, regulation, technology, and wider pressures affecting the property industry.

For surveyors, this is an opportunity to hear directly from people involved in developing, influencing and implementing changes that may affect how we work over the coming years.

And, of course, there is the opportunity to meet estate agents, property businesses, technology providers and other industry professionals face to face.

The organisers also describe the conference as a CPD-qualifying event.

And then there is the evening!

Those who have been following our news will know that the RPSA worked with The Negotiator to introduce two national surveying awards last year.

These were designed to recognise excellence across the residential surveying profession, regardless of professional affiliation.

The two categories, officially titled Supplier of the Year: Independent Surveyor and Supplier of the Year: Surveying Firm, have returned for 2026.

And what a response!

28 businesses are shortlisted across the two categories, showing how much enthusiasm there is for recognising the work of residential surveyors.

The awards are open to the entire profession, and the winners will be announced at a black-tie gala dinner at Grosvenor House on the evening of Friday 27 November.

I attended last year and can personally recommend the experience. It was a splendid evening and, importantly, an opportunity for surveyors to receive recognition in front of hundreds of people from the wider property industry.

The evening begins with a champagne reception at 6.30 pm, followed by dinner, the awards presentation and entertainment.

You don't have to be shortlisted to attend. It's a chance to celebrate the profession, support the finalists and enjoy an evening with colleagues and friends.

Read our earlier article announcing the 2026 surveying awards shortlist.

An exclusive 15% discount for RPSA members

Now, let's talk about the cost.

I won't pretend that attending a major industry conference at Grosvenor House is inexpensive, particularly when you factor in travel and potentially a night in London.

However, the RPSA has arranged a 15% discount with the organisers for members wishing to attend either the conference alone or the combined conference and awards evening.

Conference only – 15% discount

Use code: TNC26-RPSA

Conference and Awards combined – 15% discount

Use code: TNAC26-RPSA

For reference, the advertised conference-only delegate price is £220 plus VAT, while the combined conference and awards ticket is £460 plus VAT before the discount. The organiser also lists a separate conference supplier-ticket rate, so please check the appropriate ticket category when booking.

The discount does not apply to awards-only tickets.

The conference ticket includes access to the speaker sessions, lunch and refreshments during the day.

To book, visit:

The Negotiator – Conference & Awards tickets

Enter the appropriate RPSA discount code when booking.

A day worth considering

I appreciate that attending a conference involves both time and money, particularly for independent surveyors and small practices where a day away from inspections is a day not earning fees.

But there is also value in understanding where our industry may be heading, meeting people outside our usual professional circles and making sure the voice of residential surveyors is heard.

The proposed changes to homebuying, upfront information and AI could create significant opportunities for our profession, alongside challenges that we need to understand and prepare for.

The Negotiator Conference is an opportunity to listen, learn, ask questions and be part of those discussions.

And if you decide to stay for the evening, you'll also have the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our fellow surveyors at the national awards.

I hope to see some of you there.

Andrew McColl 

Chairman, Residential Property Surveyors Association