I was recently asked to define the phrase Chartered Surveyor. The text book answer is that a Chartered Surveyor is the description of Professional Members and Fellows of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Only qualified members of the RICS are entitled to use the designation.
But, of course, that is not the whole answer because the term Chartered Surveyor now covers a very wide base. I have listed below some of the areas of expertise that the word Chartered Surveyor covers:-
Property Professional Groups
- Arts & Antiques
- Commercial property
- Dispute Resolution
- Facilities Management
- Machinery & Assets
- Management Consultancy
- Residential property
- Valuation
- Building conservation forum
Land Professional Groups
- Environment
- Geomatics
- Minerals & Waste
- Planning & Development
- Rural
Built Environment Professional Groups
- Building control
- Building surveying
- Project management
- Quantity surveying & construction
- Dilapidations forum
- Insurance forum
Obviously, no one surveyor could be an expert in all of the above and all surveyors specialise.
The general puplic generally use the services of their local chartered surveyor for home and business dealings.
I am now going to declare my interest and try to explain some of my specialisations in order to indicate the sort of services that a typical Chartered Surveyor can offer:-
Home Inspections
About 10 years ago, the government decided to improve the home buying process and do their best to improve on home inspection in the UK. As part of this upgrade, the government followed the American lead and the concept of the Home Inspector evolved. As well as being a Chartered Surveyor I am also a fully qualified home inspector. (RICS and SAVA approved.)
We can therefore offer the client a choice of surveys, namely a,:-
1) Home Condition Report (Seller’s Report)
2) Home Condition Report (Buyer’s Report)
3) Homebuyer Report (Buyer’s Report.)
How often do you hear the cry, “I think I’m being overcharged by my Builder.” Very often, we can help to resolve disputes of this nature.
Planning Applications
Most home owners and small businesses from time to time need to to have plans prepared and submitted to local authorities. Being well versed in Planning and Building Control procedures, we can help our clients through the local authority mine fields. We can also prepare plans for Land Registry submissions.
Photographic Condition Surveys
One of the dangers of leasing commercial permises on a self reparing lease is that at the end of the term, the landlord can present the tennant with a Schedule of Delpidations worth thousands of pounds. The way to avoid being overcharged is to have a Photographic Condition Survey carried out so that the true condition of the buiding can be recorded prioer to the lease agreement being signed.
Energy Reports
When properties are sold, leased or rented, there is now a requirement that an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is supplied. This requirement covers both domestic and commercial properties. Not issung an EPC can result in heavy fines being levied.