Building control surveyor : Employers and vacancy sources

Building control is a statutory duty of local authorities so the major employers of building control surveyors are the building control departments of local authorities throughout the UK. Councils may have separate building control departments or departments providing a range of property-related services. See the Local Authority Building Control (LABC)  website for more information.

Traditionally, only inspectors from the local authority were authorised to undertake building control. However, the Building Act 1984 has opened up the market, allowing qualified individuals and firms in the private sector to fulfil this role in England and Wales. Within Northern Ireland the building control function is entirely administered and controlled by the local authority district councils. This is also the case in Scotland, where all local authorities are members of the Scottish Association of Building Standards Managers (SABSM) .

Consequently, there are increasing opportunities for building control surveyors to work in the private sector for independent firms of consultants, as approved inspectors. Approved inspectors have the same responsibilities and powers as local authority departments, although they issue the final completion certificate to the local authority, rather than to the applicant.

Opportunities also exist for suitably qualified and experienced surveyors to work independently as self-employed approved inspectors, although they need to be registered on the Approved Inspector Register of the Construction Industry Council (CIC) .

There are currently about 60 approved inspectors in England and Wales, accounting for about 20% of all building control work. They range from specialist individuals to very large companies.

Property owners and developers who wish to apply for building authorisation can choose to use their local authority building control officer or an approved inspector. Generally, approved inspectors, working exclusively for their clients, are able to expedite the process.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Local Government Jobs    
• Local Government Careers  
• Opportunities: The Public Sector Media  
• Just Construction   
• JustEngineers  
• RICS Recruit   
• Building4jobs  
• Jobs in Surveying   
• Local and regional press.
• Local authority websites.

Recruitment agencies also handle vacancies. See the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC)  website for details, as well as RICS-approved recruitment agency Macdonald and Company .

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