Chartered Structural Engineer = surveyor?

noisla

I have a few queries about surveyors...

I have just had an offer accepted on a 2-bed flat (built in 1985 in a block of 4) and want to get a durvey done, independently of the mortgage valuation. I had a surveyor recommended to me by a friend. He is a Chartered Structural Engineer and carries the titles B.Sc., C.Eng., M.I.C.E., M.I.Struct.E. However, he is not on the directory of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

1) Does this matter? Or should I find someone else (from random reallymoving.com quotes)?
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I have some particular concerns I want the surveyor to consider: hastily installed air bricks (and the potential damp they are trying to solve) and sloping floors (which are probably not subsidence, but definitely want to check!). I therefore asked for a quote for a FULL survey. I was expecting a quote for around £1k, but the quote is for £300. They sent me a "Structural Surveys" document which outlined in detail the nature of a "Specific Structural Inspection" and "General Structural Inspection".

2) Is a £300 quote too good to be true? Am I getting what I want?
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They also advised me to have someone check the plumbing and electrics. I expected this to be included in a full survey, but apparently someone else (CORGI certified or whatever) has to do these.

3) Is this correct? Or would the right surveyor be able to do the lot?

Thanks in advance for any advice

kingstreet

I would choose a structural engineer for the things you raised.

And no, a chartered surveyor would recommend specialist reports for timber, damp, gas, electrical, wall ties, roofing etc and would not be able to say more than these items may be of concern, without the specialist inspection reports.

cattie

With flats you don't actually get a full structural survey as they can only inspect & comment on the parts of the building that you are buying. They can cast an eye over common parts just the same as happens with a Homebuyer's report.

All surveyors recommend that gas, electric & services are checked out by professionals. This is standard as surveyors are not experienced or trained in such things as gas & electrical installations.

propertyman

cattie wrote: »

All surveyors recommend that gas, electric & services are checked out by professionals. This is standard as surveyors are not experienced or trained in such things as gas & electrical installations.

Neither are structural engineers. Surveyor, like Architect, is a term that describes a profession, while Chartered ( in all 3 instances) describes professional qualification and membership.

All will be familiar with and trained and experienced with such installations but could not test and certify them in the way that an electrician or gas engineer can.

Similarly an Engineer or Archtiect cannot give advice as to value as they are not trained in that, they are not valuers, which chartered surveyors( to varying degrees) are.

In these cases a chartered bulding surveyor is more than adequate and you arrange specialist electrical gas safety and drain surveys.

phill99

noisla wrote: »

I have a few queries about surveyors...

I have just had an offer accepted on a 2-bed flat (built in 1985 in a block of 4) and want to get a durvey done, independently of the mortgage valuation. I had a surveyor recommended to me by a friend. He is a Chartered Structural Engineer and carries the titles B.Sc., C.Eng., M.I.C.E., M.I.Struct.E. However, he is not on the directory of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

1) Does this matter? Or should I find someone else (from random reallymoving.com quotes)?

You won't find him on in th directory of the Royal Institution of Zchartered Surveyors because he is not a Chartered Surveyor. He is a Chartered Structural Engineer, and therefore a member of the Institute of Structural Engineers. He is a spe Kalisz structural engineer and therefore highly qualified to undertake the survey you require.

noisla

Thanks for the replies. I do get the difference in institutions and nature of being chartered (being chartered myself, albeit as an accountant).

It sounds like I won't need to involve a surveyor at all? i.e. get the structural survey from the structural engineer, and then (3 separate?!) specialists to check electrics, plumbing and gas, and that's it?

The mortgage company do their own valuation, and I have good idea of prices in the area, so I am happy not to get any further valuations.