Building Surveyor
Building surveyors inspect buildings and advise clients on their design, construction, maintenance and repair. They identify problems, recommend what work is needed and help clients understand the standards their buildings must meet. They may work on construction sites, visit properties and spend time in an office.
Day-to-day tasks
In this role you could:
- Inspect buildings for structural problems and recommend repairs
- Assess damage for insurance claims
- Work out who is responsible for paying for repairs
- Advise clients on property issues such as boundary disputes
- Give expert evidence in legal proceedings
- Check that buildings meet building regulations, fire safety and accessibility standards
- Handle planning applications and grant applications for building improvements or conservation
Skills & knowledge
You'll need:
- An understanding of how buildings are constructed
- Attention to detail when inspecting buildings
- The ability to assess how well a building or its components are performing
- Analytical and maths skills
- An understanding of public safety and security
- The ability to use your initiative
- The ability to explain findings clearly to clients and others
- Confidence using computers and common software
Industry Qualifications
If you’d like to start your studies on the Isle of Man, University College Isle of Man (UCM) offers a further education route. Visit UCM’s Construction, Architecture & Surveying page for current course details and entry requirements.
A common route to qualifying as a building surveyor is to complete a degree or professional qualification accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Other options include a surveying apprenticeship, further study while working as a surveying technician, or a postgraduate conversion course if you already have a degree in another subject.