Chartered surveyors in the United Kingdom
Despite the attempt to unify the profession under one title chartered surveyor there is very little in common across the whole range of disciplines that are within the grasp of all members.
The core membership is based in the construction profession, and another large sector deal with property ownership and management.
It is not usual for any individual member to have expertise in all areas, so partnerships or companies are established to create practices that can offer a wider spectrum of surveying services.
[2] When the surveyor is instructed in this combined role, the mortgage valuation is still produced for the lender, and an additional HomeBuyer Report or Building Survey is prepared for the borrower.
Its purpose is merely to confirm the property is suitable security and worth the price paid, in order to protect the lender's interests.
The report also includes commentary to advise your solicitor on issues that need addressing in the conveyance, and any risks that affect the building, grounds and people of a more general nature.
The practice note version building survey looks in more detail at the property to report on the visual condition and maintenance needs of nine external elements of construction, with scope for sub-division into individual features, with the nine internal elements of construction and the seven services supplied to the building examined in a similar manner.
The report also includes commentary to advise your solicitor on issues that need addressing in the conveyance, and any risks that affect the building, grounds and people of a more general nature.
There is also discussion on the means of escape in case of fire, which in older houses in particular can be compromised by poor design and alterations.
These can be added, along with cost estimates for the repairs by a separate agreement as discussed in the helpful RICS explanatory notes to clients.
Collectively, a key feature of RICS building surveys are that they provide an opportunity for clients and surveyors to strike up a detailed dialogue about the property they are intending to purchase.
Purchasers find a building survey useful in allowing for further negotiations on price or for providing a clients briefing document for extensions or repairs.
They may also recommend work by the buyer's solicitor to confirm matters which might affect their valuation, such as (with leasehold properties), the unexpired term of the lease, who is responsible for the boundaries, and so forth.
They do not have the authority to lift floorboards, drill holes, or perform excavations at a property which the prospective buyer does not, at this stage, own, which means that certain defects or problems may not be apparent from their inspection.
[16] As well as the services mentioned above, UK chartered surveyors may offer advice in boundary disputes, business rates, compulsory purchase matters and party walls.
