What does a Chartered Surveyor do?

So, what does a Chartered Surveyor do?

Asking what a chartered surveyor does is a little like asking what an artist does. There are so many subtleties and variations within the profession that it’s impossible to define it precisely.

At its most basic, a chartered surveyor’s job involves land, property and construction. They might be asked to value property and examine buildings for structural defects; they might also offer expert advice on environmental issues and construction. We take an in-depth look at what chartered surveyors do in relation to commercial property.

What is RICS, and how is it linked to chartered surveyors?

Until 1999, chartered surveyors were classified by formal designations by their professional body, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). After this date, all RICS members were known simply as chartered surveyors, with information supplied to clients to inform them of the individual’s specialism.

All RICS members are post-graduates, most having completed a degree in building surveying, and many have additional qualifications in areas such as urban and land studies, geography, science, economics or maths. RICS offers accreditation to individuals who have completed a range of construction- and property-related degrees, after which training must be undertaken before becoming a member of the organisation. This is to ensure that members of RICS hold appropriate and relevant qualifications and undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD), which enables them to offer the most up-to-date advice to clients.

What tasks do chartered surveyors deal with?

Property valuations and support

Surveyors who elect to work in commercial property play a vital role for both landlords and tenants, as well as those purchasing or selling a commercial building. Their ‘bible’, the RICS Valuation – Professional Standards or Red Book, lists the rules by which they must abide, guidance on best practice, and procedures for asset valuation – the most common area with which they deal. RICS commercial property surveyors are also involved in the four main areas of the sector: retail, office, industrial and leisure.

If you work in commercial property, in whatever capacity, you will have had dealings with a commercial property surveyor. In the first instance, you may have approached them in order to establish a valuation for your property. This is a key skill and has implications for bank lending, investment opportunities, accounting and taxation issues.

Surveyors can also be appointed to deal with issues surrounding purchasing or selling a property, the management or leasing of premises (whether from a landlord’s or a tenant’s perspective) or portfolios and negotiations between landlords and tenants.

Dispute resolution and lease advisory

Another aspect of a surveyor’s work is dispute resolution, which can encompass liaising between parties in cases of rent reviews, the renewal of leases, building contracts, disputes in planning cases, and boundary disputes. RICS-qualified surveyors are often skilled negotiators and can advise on avoiding conflict and act as mediators in cases where parties cannot reach an agreement.

Surveyors might also be involved with facilities management – this area deals with issues such as health and safety, property management, services and utilities.

Asset and business valuations

Finally, surveyors might be asked to value machinery, equipment and business assets – this can mean anything from a computer to an HGV. This side of the role plays an important part in insurance, insolvency, compulsory purchase, accounting, taxation and market value purposes.

Discuss your property and asset needs with our chartered professionals

As you can see, a commercial chartered surveyor’s work is not simple or straightforward. They carry a heavy responsibility of professionalism and care with them in their course of work, to ensure fairness and complete transparency at all times. At Eddisons, our RICS-qualified chartered surveyors have had many years’ experience in all aspects of their profession and can offer you impartial and expert advice on all matters relating to commercial property.

If you would like to speak to a member of our team about a property or asset, please complete the form below.