Choosing a Chartered Surveyor

A chartered surveyor is an RICS member who has met professional requirements. Surveyors may specialise in homes, buildings, land, boundaries, valuations, construction or other areas, so check that the person has relevant experience.

A mortgage valuation is mainly for the lender and is not a condition survey for the buyer. A structural engineer investigates structural design or movement; a surveyor may recommend one where specialist engineering advice is needed.

Use RICS Find a Surveyor to locate firms, then use RICS Find a Member to check an individual. Check whether the firm is marked Regulated by RICS; not every firm listed on Find a Surveyor has that status.

Ask whether the work is covered by professional indemnity insurance and request the firm's written complaints procedure. Confirm the surveyor is competent for the property type, age, construction, location and purpose of the report.

• Level 1: a concise condition overview, generally for conventional properties in satisfactory condition.
• Level 2: a more detailed inspection and report; a valuation may be included if agreed.
• Level 3: a detailed assessment, often suitable for older, altered, unusual or poor-condition properties.

Other work includes specific defect inspections, valuations, boundary advice and project services. Tell the surveyor what decision the report must support rather than ordering by name alone.

Get written terms stating the property, inspection level, included and excluded areas, access assumptions, report date, fee, VAT, extra costs and cancellation terms. Ask whether roof spaces, services, outbuildings, flats' common parts or inaccessible areas will be inspected.

Tell the surveyor about accessibility and communication needs. Ask for an accessible report format or a telephone explanation if useful. Do not send unnecessary identity, banking or property documents; use the firm's secure method and verify unexpected payment changes independently.

Disclose conflicts that may affect independence, including referrals from an estate agent, lender or developer, and ask the surveyor to explain any conflict.

Read the whole report, including inspection limits and recommendations. Ask promptly about unclear wording, urgent defects, estimated further investigations and whether specialists are needed before becoming legally committed.

A survey records what could reasonably be inspected under its agreed scope. It does not guarantee that every hidden defect will be found. Keep the terms, report, photographs and correspondence.

Raise concerns with the surveyor or firm first and follow its written complaints process. Explain the alleged error, evidence, loss and outcome sought. A regulated firm must name an alternative dispute resolution provider for unresolved consumer complaints.

RICS can consider concerns about professional conduct or standards, but it does not normally decide a negligence claim or award compensation. Legal advice may be needed where a deadline or significant loss is involved.

Our Letter Support can help organise a complaint letter.

RICS membership and firm checks are UK-wide, but property law and buying processes differ. Scotland normally requires a seller's Home Report before marketing; buyers may still need additional specialist advice. England, Wales and Northern Ireland have different transaction and property-registration arrangements. Choose someone experienced in the nation where the property is located.

This page is general UK information, not legal, financial, valuation or engineering advice. Choose professional advice for the property and decision involved.