Building surveyor

Building surveyors advise clients about the design, construction, maintenance and repair of buildings.

In this guide

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In your day-to-day duties you could:

  • survey properties, identify structural faults and recommend repairs
  • assess damage for insurance purposes
  • establish who's responsible for building repair costs
  • advise clients on issues like property boundary disputes
  • act as an expert witness during legal proceedings
  • make sure properties meet building regulations, fire safety and accessibility standards
  • deal with planning applications and improvement or conservation grants

Working environment

You could work on a construction site, at a client's home or in an office.

Your working environment may be at height, outdoors in all weathers and you may spend nights away from home.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could move into project or senior management.

You could go into partnership in private practice or become self-employed as a consultant.

You could move into a related field, like building control.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of building and construction
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • analytical thinking skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • knowledge of public safety and security
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • persistence and determination
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Most relevant

  • Mathematics - Building surveyors use maths constantly – calculating measurements, areas, structural loads, and repair costs. They also need to interpret technical drawings and plans, which requires strong spatial and numerical reasoning.
  • Physics - Building surveyors need to understand how forces, loads, and materials behave in structures to identify faults and assess whether buildings are safe. Concepts like stress, compression, and thermal performance are central to evaluating a building's condition.
  • Design and Technology - Building surveyors work with technical drawings, construction methods, and a wide range of building materials. Understanding how structures are designed and assembled helps them spot defects and recommend practical repairs.
  • Engineering - Building surveyors assess the structural integrity of buildings and recommend repairs, which requires a solid understanding of engineering principles. They evaluate foundations, load-bearing walls, and building services like drainage and ventilation.

Also relevant

  • Geography - Building surveyors consider how location, land use, and environmental factors affect buildings – for example, flood risk, subsidence, or planning restrictions. Geography also builds skills in reading maps and understanding how landscapes and urban areas develop over time.
  • Business - Building surveyors often manage budgets, negotiate repair costs, and advise clients on the financial implications of building work. Many also go into private practice or become self-employed consultants, where business skills are essential.
  • Law - Building surveyors deal with building regulations, planning applications, property boundary disputes, and sometimes act as expert witnesses in legal proceedings. Understanding how legal frameworks apply to property and construction is a regular part of the role.
  • Environmental Science - Building surveyors increasingly consider energy efficiency, sustainability, and environmental impact when assessing properties. They may advise on conservation issues, assess flood or contamination risks, and ensure buildings meet modern environmental standards.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • a graduate training scheme

You'll usually need a degree or professional qualification approved by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in a subject like:

  • surveying
  • construction
  • civil engineering
  • building engineering

If you graduated in any other subject, you could do a surveying postgraduate conversion course. These usually lead to a master's degree or postgraduate diploma.

Entry requirements vary, so check with individual universities which degrees might be preferred.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

More Information

You could do a chartered surveyor degree apprenticeship.

It may be possible to work towards this role by doing a surveying technician apprenticeship. This will teach you some of the skills and knowledge required. You would then need to take further qualifications to gain chartered surveyor status.

RICS has more information on surveying apprenticeships.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

If you have a relevant foundation degree or higher national diploma and are working, for example as a surveying technician, you may be able to get more qualifications on the job.

You could do a postgraduate surveying qualification through:

Registration

Further information

You can find out more about careers in surveying through the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Building.

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