Is my surveyor qualified? It is the right question to ask — because in the UK, anyone can legally call themselves a surveyor. The title is not protected. Before you hand over fees or rely on a report, here is exactly how to check a surveyor’s credentials, what the letters after their name mean, and the red flags that should make you walk away.
What the letters actually mean
- MRICS / FRICS — Member or Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: assessed competence, mandatory insurance, CPD and a complaints scheme
- AssocRICS — RICS associate grade, qualified for many residential services
- FPWS / MFPWS — Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors membership, a specialist party wall credential
- MCIOB — Chartered Institute of Building, construction-side expertise
How to check in two minutes
Search the public register at rics.org (“Find a member”) using their exact name; ask for their membership number and professional indemnity insurance certificate; and check how long they have practised in your service area. A genuine professional volunteers all three without hesitation — every surveyor at Party Wall Surveyor London is RICS accredited and insured.
Red flags
No verifiable memberships; “free” surveys funding contractor referral fees; quotes given sight-unseen with no terms of engagement; pressure to sign today; and party wall “surveyors” who have never read the Act. For party wall work specifically, the Act lets almost anyone act as a surveyor — which is why checking credentials matters doubly. See how to choose a party wall surveyor.
Questions to ask before appointing
How many awards or reports did you complete last year? Who covers your file if you are ill? What does your fee include and exclude? Can I see a redacted sample report? Will you act impartially as the Act requires?
Check us
We publish our credentials and invite verification. Call 0204 579 8270 or ask us anything before you appoint — free, no obligation.
Leave a Reply