Your guide to the 12 types of surveyor
Posted on: 11 November, 2024
Surveying is a broad term that applies to a variety of different professions in the built environment. Here are 12 you need to know.
It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of career pathways available in the built environment. From chartered and quantity to rural, environmental, building and valuation, there are a wide range of different professions in our sector with the title ‘surveyor’. Yet while they may seem similar at first, each has unique duties and areas of expertise in the building lifecycle.
Here are 12 of the different types of surveyors that work in the built environment, and how their roles and responsibilities differ:
12 different types of surveyors
1. Building surveyors
Building surveyors are focused on assessing the safety, compliance and functionality of new and existing buildings. They provide advice to clients on a wide range of projects, from fresh developments to existing structures and historic buildings, and look for ways to optimise their condition and performance.
One of the most versatile functions in the sector, building surveying applies to the entire building lifecycle, from planning and construction through to operation and demolition or retrofitting.
To find out what it’s like to work as a Building Surveyor, read our student success story with UCEM alumni Annabel Huffer.
2. Quantity surveyors
Quantity surveyors are often referred to as the financial experts of the construction industry. They bring detail, accuracy and organisation to construction projects, helping to ensure that the end result meets both the expectations of the client and the projections set out in the brief in terms of cost, time and quality.
If you enjoy working with numbers and establishing relationships with stakeholders, quantity surveying could be the career for you.
There are also many different specialisms in this area that professionals can choose to pursue in quantity surveying to further their career, such as Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP), civil engineering and contract disputes.
3. Residential surveyors
One of the most well-known roles on this list, residential surveyors appraise and survey residential real estate. These professionals carry out surveys on properties for homebuyers, helping them to decide if they should make a purchase.
Residential surveyors perform a variety of functions, from valuing properties and assessing their condition to managing transactions and negotiating with stakeholders.
4. Commercial surveyors
In contrast to residential professionals, commercial surveyors perform a similar function in a commercial setting. They perform surveys of commercial buildings, offering professional advice to clients who may be interested in purchasing or leasing a property and helping them manage their portfolios.
Both residential and commercial real estate are people-driven industries, making them ideal career paths for someone who loves working with others and building relationships. As Sadaqat Hussain, Senior Surveyor at CBRE and alumni of UCEM’s BSc Real Estate Management programme, told us:
“The people are what make this the best – the clients and the people I work with. They’re what makes this an enjoyable career.”
Learn more: Property is about people – a student success story with Sadaqat Hussain MRICS
5. Valuation surveyors
Another common role in the built environment is that of a valuation surveyor. While valuations are performed by other surveyors on this list, these professionals are specialists in this area, and work on many different types of property, from residential to commercial and industrial.
Valuation is often a career path that real estate professionals choose to specialise in, and could be worth considering for individuals who particularly enjoy the numerical, commercial and analytical elements of the industry.
6. Environmental surveyors
As the name suggests, this type of surveying is focused on assessing the environmental impact of construction work. Environmental surveyors play a vital role in managing the relationship between the natural and built environment and helping our sector embrace more sustainable practices.
On a typical day in this role, these surveyors can find themselves either out in the field, collecting samples and performing assessments, or in the laboratory, conducting analysis and creating solutions for businesses and clients.
Environmental surveying is a great option for individuals with a passion for the environment and an interest in science and research. It can also be a springboard to other career specialisms, including sustainability consulting.
7. Land surveyors
Land surveyors are involved in the planning and development stage of the building lifecycle. They perform topographic surveys to create maps and measure the boundaries and features of a prospective building site to ensure it’s adequate for a project. This allows them to highlight any potential issues or risks
Land surveying is often referred to as geomatics land surveying, however this itself is a broad term that can encompass other specialisms, including engineering surveying. It’s a great field if you like to work outside and could be a good fit for you if you’re keen to work with specialist technology like 3D scanning and satellite imagery.
8. Rural surveyors
Rural surveyors specialise in the management of farms and estates. They perform a similar function to other real estate surveyors, but are able to provide specialist input in a rural and agricultural context.
There are various specialisms within rural practice, including auctioneering, forestry and property management. It’s also an area that crosses over with other professions, with environmental and valuation surveyors also able to specialise in rural practice.
9. Planning and development surveyors
Planning and development surveyors manage competing demands for the use of land and property. They’re involved in the earliest stages of the building lifecycle, providing input on site planning and balancing economic, social and environmental factors to make informed decisions on the feasibility of development.
These professionals play a key role in the makeup of our communities, towns and cities, making them one of the most significant functions in the sector. Their decisions can impact everything, from the size of our cities to the designs of our infrastructure and the levels of congestion.
Learn more: What skills does an Urban Planner need?
10. Building control surveyors
Building control is a fairly new profession compared to many of the other surveying roles on this list, but in light of the Grenfell Tower fire and the Building Safety Act, it could be one of the most significant.
Building control surveyors are experts on industry regulation and law, and are brought in to ensure building projects comply with a wide range of safety, sustainability and energy-efficiency standards.
Professionals in this field are trusted with an enormous amount of responsibility to ensure the safety of buildings for their occupants. They also have a crucial role in the sustainability agenda, and can play a big part in the push to net zero by promoting the use of sustainable materials and the incorporation of more energy-efficient technology like heat pumps.
11. Party wall surveyors
The role of a party wall surveyor is to manage boundary disputes as per the Party Wall Act 1996. These professionals resolve issues between parties from an impartial perspective regarding the party wall – the boundary that divides two buildings.
Party wall surveyors are usually called in when neighbours are unable to reach an agreement on exactly where the boundary is between their buildings or land. They provide an impartial perspective free of bias, allowing the issue to be resolved fairly and in line with the Party Wall Act.
12. Chartered surveyors
A chartered surveyor can work in any of the above professions in the built environment, as long as they fulfil the standards set by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) – usually a certain amount of experience alongside relevant, accredited and recognised qualifications.
If you’re interested in a career in surveying, UCEM offers various accredited programmes across multiple pathways. As a specialist university for the built environment, many of UCEM’s academics and lecturers have first-hand industry experience, meaning they combine both the academic theory and the practical skills you’ll need in the profession you choose.
