Chartered Building Surveyors offer a specialised service in all matters relating to construction, including the restoration of old buildings and the construction of new.  Building surveying firms are involved in areas such as project management, design, planning and expert witness.

They may also work in local authority building control or specialized areas such as Fire Safety and Conservation.
Among other services offered are

• Building & measured surveys
• Defect investigation and maintenance advice
• Insurance assessment and claims
• Property Legislation
• Dilapidations
• Health and Safety Regulations -  PSDP Role
• Project Management and Monitoring

Building Surveys and Measured Surveys

The Building Surveyor can undertake a building survey of a property and advise on matters such as the condition, defects and remedies, and the need for specialist investigation. Measured surveys can be produced to provide dimensional information on land or property or as a preliminary service before the start of building work.

Defect Investigation and Maintenance Advice

A Building Surveyor can provide advice on the existing condition of a property and its future maintenance liability. He/She can review the effect on maintenance of life cycle costing, comparing the current cost against the future maintenance and replacement costs to match the anticipated building life and expenditure. The Building Surveyor can also prepare a planned maintenance programme and encourage preventative cost effective maintenance.

Insurance Assessment and Claims

The Building Surveyor can assist in preparing an assessment of the cost of replacing a building in accordance with a clients' insurance policy. If a client needs to make a claim, the Building Surveyor can liaise with the insurer and loss adjuster.

Property Legislation

Advice can be provided on many areas of property legislation such as planning, public health, historic buildings, boundary disputes and fire precautions and means of escape. The Building Surveyor can also act as an expert witness or an arbitrator in the case of a dispute arising.

Dilapidations

The Building Surveyor can advise on the extent of a tenant's liabilities under a lease, and negotiate a financial settlement at lease expiry.

Health and Safety Regulations- PSDP Role

Under the current Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations most construction work requires the appointment of a Project Supervisor for the Design Process (PSDP) to ensure that health and safety is considered throughout the design and construction process. In this role the Building Surveyor can ensure that design and construction stage Health and Safety Plans governing the conduct of the works on site, and a Safety File, containing important information on the structure and services of the building are available for future use, are produced in accordance with the Regulations.

Project Management and Monitoring

Building Surveyors regularly act as a Project Manager / Employers Agent for larger projects, co-ordinating the design team and providing strategic advice on all construction issues. He can also act on behalf on investment funds and banks to appraise the work, monitor its progress and authorize payments.

Miscellaneous Services

• Approval of plans submitted by lessees and inspection of the building works
• Acting as an Approved Inspector; examining building or proposed plans and work on site to ensure that they comply with the Building Act and Building Regulations
• Working in local authority Building Control Department
• Surveying a property to see if it meets the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act
• Providing energy efficiency advice
• Site suitability assessments and design for on-site waste water treatment systems
• Inspection and certification of installation and maintenance of on-site wastewater systems
• Design, supervision and certification of radon mitigation measures for new and existing buildings