Building Surveyor Job Description
Use this template to create a clear, role-specific job advert for a Building Surveyor. It covers typical responsibilities, essential skills, hiring considerations and candidate questions so you can tailor the advert to your organisation and the type of surveying work required.
What does a Building Surveyor professional do?
A Building Surveyor inspects, diagnoses and reports on the condition of buildings, advises on defects and compliance, and manages repair or refurbishment works. Roles range from field-focused inspection work to project delivery and client advisory responsibilities.
Building Surveyor job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Building Surveyor
About the role
[Company name] is looking for a Building Surveyor to carry out condition surveys, diagnose defects and prepare technical reports and specifications for repair or refurbishment projects. You will visit sites across [region/location], produce clear, evidence‑based reports for clients and work with contractors to ensure works meet specification and statutory requirements. This role is [full-time/part-time], [permanent/contract] with benefits including [benefits].
Key responsibilities
- Carry out condition, defect and measured surveys on residential, commercial and public buildings and produce clear, well-evidenced reports.
- Diagnose building defects, identify causes and recommend appropriate repair strategies and maintenance plans.
- Prepare specifications, schedules of works and tender documentation; evaluate contractor quotations.
- Monitor and inspect repair and refurbishment works on site to check compliance with specifications and quality standards.
- Advise clients on statutory compliance, building regulations, party wall matters and risk mitigation where applicable.
- Liaise with clients, architects, engineers, contractors and other stakeholders to agree scope and timescales.
- Manage project budgets, programme milestones and on-site health and safety requirements.
- Maintain accurate records, photographs and survey drawings; produce deliverables within agreed timescales.
Essential skills and experience
- Relevant qualification (degree, HNC/HND or equivalent) in building surveying, construction, civil engineering or a closely related discipline, or equivalent demonstrable experience.
- Proven experience carrying out building condition and defect surveys and producing technical reports.
- Good technical knowledge of building construction, materials and common failure mechanisms.
- Strong written English and report-writing skills with attention to detail and evidence-based recommendations.
- Ability to manage multiple site visits and deliver reports to deadlines; good organisational skills.
- Comfortable working on site and assessing safety risks; able to communicate technical matters to non-technical clients.
- Right to work in the UK and ability to travel to sites across the advertised region.
Desirable
- Membership of, or working towards membership of, a professional body such as RICS or CIOB.
- Experience of preparing specifications, schedules of works and tender evaluation.
- Familiarity with measured/laser surveys, CAD or building information modelling (BIM) tools.
- Understanding of conservation principles and experience working on historic or listed buildings.
- Experience of contract administration and overseeing contractor performance.
- Formal health and safety training relevant to site work (for example SMSTS or equivalent).
What we offer
- [Pension contribution scheme]
- [Annual leave entitlement]
- [CPD budget and professional membership support]
- [Flexible/hybrid working options where role allows]
- [Company vehicle allowance or mileage reimbursement]
- [Private healthcare / wellness benefits (optional)]
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Building Surveyor role?
A building surveyor inspects and evaluates the condition of buildings, identifies defects and their causes, and recommends remedial works. They prepare technical reports and specifications, manage tender processes and monitor repair or refurbishment projects to ensure works meet technical and regulatory standards. Surveyors work with clients and contractors across residential, commercial and public sectors.
Inspections & Reports
Conduct thorough on-site surveys, document defects with photographs and measurements, and produce concise technical reports for clients.
Specifications & Works
Write specifications, prepare schedules of works and manage tendering and contractor performance during repairs or refurbishment.
Compliance & Advice
Advise on compliance with building regulations, party wall matters and statutory requirements; provide pragmatic options for remediation.
Typical Building Surveyor responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Carry out condition
Carry out condition, defect and measured surveys on residential, commercial and public buildings and produce clear, well-evidenced reports.
Diagnose building defects
Diagnose building defects, identify causes and recommend appropriate repair strategies and maintenance plans.
Prepare specifications
Prepare specifications, schedules of works and tender documentation; evaluate contractor quotations.
Monitor
Monitor and inspect repair and refurbishment works on site to check compliance with specifications and quality standards.
Advise clients on statutory compliance
Advise clients on statutory compliance, building regulations, party wall matters and risk mitigation where applicable.
Liaise with clients
Liaise with clients, architects, engineers, contractors and other stakeholders to agree scope and timescales.
Manage project budgets
Manage project budgets, programme milestones and on-site health and safety requirements.
Maintain accurate records
Maintain accurate records, photographs and survey drawings; produce deliverables within agreed timescales.
Building Surveyor skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Relevant qualification (degree, HNC/HND or equivalent) in building surveying, construction, civil engineering or a closely related discipline, or equivalent demonstrable experience.
- Proven experience carrying out building condition and defect surveys and producing technical reports.
- Good technical knowledge of building construction, materials and common failure mechanisms.
- Strong written English and report-writing skills with attention to detail and evidence-based recommendations.
- Ability to manage multiple site visits and deliver reports to deadlines; good organisational skills.
- Comfortable working on site and assessing safety risks; able to communicate technical matters to non-technical clients.
- Right to work in the UK and ability to travel to sites across the advertised region.
Useful where relevant
- Membership of, or working towards membership of, a professional body such as RICS or CIOB.
- Experience of preparing specifications, schedules of works and tender evaluation.
- Familiarity with measured/laser surveys, CAD or building information modelling (BIM) tools.
- Understanding of conservation principles and experience working on historic or listed buildings.
- Experience of contract administration and overseeing contractor performance.
- Formal health and safety training relevant to site work (for example SMSTS or equivalent).
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Building Surveyor job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Be specific about site types and caseload
State whether the role focuses on domestic, commercial, historic or mixed-use stock and how many site visits or reports are typical each week.
Clarify seniority and decision-making
Set out whether the post is expected to run surveys independently, supervise contractors, or be part of a wider project team to avoid mismatched applications.
Outline professional support
If you offer support for chartership, CPD or membership fees, note this — it attracts candidates aiming for professional development.
Describe travel and equipment expectations
Explain the travel radius, frequency of site visits and whether the employer provides survey equipment, vehicle or mileage reimbursement.
Include a short example task
Mention a representative assignment (for example a 2–3 page condition survey of a mid‑terrace building) to help candidates assess fit.
Building Surveyor salary considerations
Pay for Building Surveyors varies with experience, qualifications and the nature of the work. Consider the factors below when setting a salary range rather than using a single market figure.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Building Surveyor candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
What types of buildings will I survey?
Candidates want to know if work is mainly domestic, commercial, public sector, or historic — different building types require different skills and experience.
How much travel is involved and is a vehicle provided?
Specify typical travel radius, number of site visits per week and whether the employer offers a vehicle, mileage reimbursement or parking support.
Is support provided for professional membership or chartership?
Many candidates look for employers who contribute to RICS/CIOB membership fees or provide time and mentoring for chartership.
What equipment and software will I use?
State whether the employer provides inspection tools, cameras, laser scanners and software such as CAD or survey reporting platforms.
What health & safety arrangements are in place?
Experienced candidates expect clarity on site safety procedures, PPE provision and any required training before site attendance.
How is workload and performance measured?
Clarify expectations for number of reports, turnaround times and the level of supervision or quality assurance applied to survey outputs.
Where to post a Building Surveyor job
Building Surveyor roles attract candidates from surveying, construction and heritage backgrounds. Advertise on general UK job boards and specialist built-environment sites, and promote through professional networks (for example RICS or CIOB groups) and regional property‑sector communities. For field-focused roles, local advertising and industry forums tend to generate strong applicants; for senior or specialist posts, emphasise professional development and chartership support in targeted channels.
Related construction & property job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Building Surveyor job description FAQs
Do I need to require RICS chartered status?
Chartered status is valuable but not always essential, especially for entry-level roles. For senior advisory positions or where clients expect chartered surveys, consider making membership or chartership desirable or essential depending on the post.
Should I include a practical assessment in the hiring process?
A short practical task — for example reviewing a short condition report or identifying defects from photos — helps verify candidates' survey and report-writing skills and differentiates experienced applicants.
Is a driving licence mandatory?
Many building surveyor roles require travel between sites; rather than automatically mandating a licence, describe the travel requirements and whether a vehicle or mileage is provided so candidates can confirm suitability.
How do I assess technical competence at interview?
Ask candidates to talk through recent surveys, explain defect diagnoses and propose remedial options. Request sample reports or references to verify technical reasoning and written presentation.
When should I advertise as 'senior' or 'assistant' surveyor?
Use 'assistant' or 'graduate' for candidates needing close supervision and training; use 'senior' where the role requires independent surveying, project management and client liaison responsibilities.
Ready to hire a Building Surveyor?
Use the sections above to tailor the advert to the type of surveying work, required experience and professional support you offer. Add your location, benefits and application details to complete the job posting.
