Building Surveyor – Repairs and Maintenance
This role provides high-level technical surveying and defect diagnosis to support a major housing association's maintenance division in delivering quality repairs across West London and surrounding regions. You will blend expert specification writing and project management with commercial oversight, ensuring budgets and contractors are managed effectively to enhance resident safety and satisfaction.
Client Details
One of the UK's most successful social enterprises and leading housing associations, managing a diverse portfolio of homes across London and the South East. Driven by a social mission, the organisation is dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable homes and creating communities where people can thrive.
As the Direct Maintenance (DM) division continues to evolve, they are seeking a technically proficient Building Surveyor to provide specialist support in repairs, maintenance, and defect management. This role is central to a commitment to resident safety and satisfaction, ensuring assets are maintained to the highest standards through rigorous technical oversight and collaborative project management. The organisation champions a culture of accountability and excellence, offering a supportive environment where surveyors can see the tangible impact of their work on residents' lives.
Description
Technical Inspections & Defect Management: Conduct detailed property surveys and specialist inspections to identify building defects, latent issues, and dilapidations, specifically managing damp and mould cases.
Project Specification: Prepare robust technical specifications and itemised work orders using NHF Schedules of Rates (SORs) for tenders, insurance claims, and remedial works.
Contract Management: Oversee works to completion, ensuring contractors adhere to quality standards, project timelines, and value-for-money principles.
Financial Oversight: Manage delegated project budgets ranging from £5k to £100k, providing accurate cost projections and supporting the variation approval process.
Collaborative Liaison: Partner with internal teams-including Housing Services, Development Aftercare, and Legal-to ensure a seamless repairs service across the West region.
External Stakeholder Management: Act as a key point of contact for insurers, loss adjusters, and external consultants on complex claims, fire, flood, or theft-related works.
Compliance & Risk: Ensure all works comply with statutory and regulatory provisions, maintaining a sharp focus on Health & Safety, lone working protocols, and fraud prevention.
Disrepair Resolution: Support the management of legal disrepair claims, utilizing the Disrepair Protocol and addressing Councillor or MP enquiries through to resolution.
Data & Reporting: Maintain accurate records within property databases to track contractor performance, complaints, and service outturns.
Mentorship & Support: Provide expert technical advice to Maintenance Managers and Supervisors, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and commercial awareness.Profile
Experience: Extensive repairs surveying experience, ideally within a Housing Association or Local Authority environment, with a strong background in varied housing stock.
Technical Knowledge: Excellent understanding of modern and traditional building construction methods and a proven ability to diagnose complex defects.
Qualifications: HNC/HND in a related discipline or a degree in Building Surveying. Professional membership (MRICS or MCIOB) or CEng status is highly desirable.
Regulatory Awareness: Strong understanding of contract law, housing law, and general Health & Safety practices.
Commercial Acumen: Experience in monitoring financial budgets and delivering high-quality, efficient housing services through the use of NHF SORs.
Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional communication and negotiation talents, capable of influencing stakeholders and managing resident expectations with empathy.
Mindset: A problem-solver who takes ownership of tasks, manages conflict effectively, and thrives in an agile, site-based environment.
IT Literacy: Proficient in the Microsoft Office suite (specifically advanced Excel) and comfortable using complex property management databases.Job Offer
Competitive Compensation: Salary up to £52,000 per annum plus an Essential Car User allowance of £1,300.
Generous Benefits: An industry-leading pension plan (up to 12% total contribution), 28 days holiday, and a comprehensive health cash plan.
Agile Working: A modern, flexible model with 20%-40% of time spent at the reporting hub or site, providing autonomy over your schedule.
Professional Development: Significant commitment to CPD and a clear pathway for career progression within a large-scale, expanding organisation.
Purpose-Driven Work: High-level responsibility where your technical expertise directly improves the health and security of diverse communities.
Supportive Culture: Access to a collaborative ecosystem of in-house specialists, volunteering days, and a robust Employee Assistance Programme