Building surveyor

As a building surveyor, you'll complete detailed reports, known as building surveys. Within these, you'll identify defects and advise on options for repair, maintenance and restoration.

Projects can include heritage or listed buildings and the development of new ones. You may implement preventative measures to keep buildings in good condition and explore ways to improve their sustainability and energy efficiency.

What do building surveyors do?

As a building surveyor, you'll need to:

• ensure projects are completed within budget and on schedule
• advise clients on projects and development schemes, helping to define requirements
• prepare design proposals, including costings, project timelines and specifications of work
• organise tender documentation and advise on appointing contractors, designers and appropriate procurement routes
• determine the condition of existing buildings, identify and analyse defects, including recommending proposals for repair
• advise on energy efficiency, environmental impact and sustainable building practices
• provide guidance on the conservation and restoration of historic buildings
• advise on the management, maintenance and ongoing performance of buildings
• deal with planning applications and advise on property legislation and building regulations
• assess and design buildings to meet the needs of disabled people and ensure accessibility compliance
• advise on construction design and management (CDM) regulations and compliance
• negotiate dilapidations (when there is a legal liability for a property's state of disrepair)
• carry out feasibility studies
• advise on the health and safety aspects of buildings
• advise on boundary and 'right to light' disputes and party wall procedures
• prepare insurance assessments and claims.

What salary does a building surveyor earn?

• As a junior or assistant building surveyor, you can expect to earn between £25,000 and £30,000, and up to £39,000 in London.
• With a few years' experience, as a qualified, consultant or analyst building surveyor, you can earn in the region of £47,000 to £70,000.
• Senior building surveyors at director or partner level in the UK typically earn salaries ranging from £80,000 to over £120,000+ per year.

For more information about salaries, benefits and careers in construction, see the Macdonald & Company Salary, Rewards and Attitudes report.

Salaries vary depending on location, with central London offering the highest and chartered professionals earning the most.

In addition to your base salary and bonuses, you may also be entitled to a pension plan, life insurance policy, private healthcare and car allowance.

Income data from RICS. Figures are intended as a guide only.

How many hours do building surveyors work?

Working hours are generally 9am to 5pm, although you may be required to work longer. Meeting and socialising with clients can sometimes require out-of-hours working.

The work is much less desk-bound than some branches of surveying, with a large proportion of the working day spent on site. This may require working alone for significant periods of time.

What qualifications does a building surveyor need?

Although this area of work is open to all graduates, a degree in building surveying or a related property or construction subject combined with technical knowledge will improve your chances.

Other subjects that may help to provide relevant knowledge include:

• economics
• geography
• languages
• mathematics
• science
• social sciences
• urban and land studies.

Degrees are available in a range of property and construction-related subjects that are accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Studying a RICS-accredited degree can help you progress towards becoming a chartered surveyor by allowing you to complete the required professional training.

If your degree is in an unrelated subject or isn't accredited, you can study a RICS-accredited Masters degree, which will usually allow you to move on to professional chartered surveyor training. Some employers will support you through this postgraduate training while you work and may also help with funding. You can search for accredited courses at the RICS

HND entry is available at surveying technician level. Technical property-related subjects, such as building surveying and building/construction, may improve your chances. Surveying technicians usually work on less complex tasks, with a lower level of responsibility. To reach the level of full surveyor, you'll need to take further qualifications while working.

The Chartered Surveyors Training Trust provides support for people who want to become qualified surveyors, regardless of their academic, social or financial circumstances.

You can also enter the profession through a degree surveying apprenticeship, which combines paid work with study.

What key skills does a building surveyor need?

You'll need to have:

• strong written and verbal communication skills
• good mathematical ability, especially numerical analysis and analytical thinking
• a creative approach to problem solving
• an inquisitive mind and interest in how things work
• good IT and project management skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• commercial awareness.

Building surveying work experience

Graduates who have completed a sandwich year in industry or a work placement are at a considerable advantage and are better placed to enter the job market.

Many of the larger surveying firms offer work experience placements, internships and insight programmes, and you can find information about these on company websites.

However, any relevant pre-entry experience is desirable and gaining experience in vacations or on placements can help you secure a permanent job.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Who employs building surveyors?

Building surveying is required in various real estate markets, including residential, commercial, leisure, agricultural and industrial property.

As a chartered building surveyor, you could work in the private, corporate, public or voluntary sectors. Typical employers include:

• specialised private practices, including surveying firms, specialist property consultancies and construction companies
• central government departments and agencies
• local government, such as local authorities
• large property-owning organisations, such as housing associations, retailers and leisure groups
• public-private organisations
• loss adjusters and insurance companies.

Professional surveying qualifications are recognised worldwide and there may be opportunities to work abroad with a range of international property and construction firms.

Many large, private practice firms have an annual intake of graduates and may have closing dates as early as December or January of your final year. Others will accept speculative applications slightly later, and smaller employers may recruit throughout the year. Public sector organisations rarely accept speculative applications and usually advertise vacancies as they occur.

You could consider self-employment or consultancy work once you've gained enough experience.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Building4jobs
• Careers in Construction
• EG Jobs
• Property Week 4 Jobs
• RICS Recruit

Recruitment consultants often handle vacancies in this area, including RICS-endorsed Macdonald and Company.

Professional development and career prospects

If you've successfully completed a degree or Masters accredited by the RICS, you can work towards chartered status through the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). This structured work-based training programme usually takes two to three years and combines practical experience, professional development and assessment. Completing the APC leads to RICS membership and chartered surveyor status.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is an important part of the role and helps you maintain professional standards and keep your skills up to date. Training opportunities may cover areas such as building regulations, sustainability, digital construction technologies, management and leadership.

Other professional qualifications and training opportunities are available from organisations including:

• Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)
• Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)
• Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES)
• Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM)

Membership of a professional body can support CPD through access to training, industry news, professional journals and networking opportunities.

With experience, you may progress into senior technical, project management or leadership roles. You could also choose to specialise in areas such as building conservation, sustainability, building pathology or digital construction, or work within sectors such as residential, commercial or retail property. Once chartered and experienced, you may decide to set up your own consultancy or private practice.