The chartered surveyor as property arbitrator: expert dispute resolution

For those who are familiar with the whole homebuying process, you will probably have decided to buy a survey to establish the condition and structural integrity of the home you are planning to purchase.

The survey isn't a legal requirement but most organisations involved in the process of buying a property would recommend getting a qualified surveyor to look the property over and cast their expert eye on to any problems that might exist, offering advice and an idea of what can be done to resolve them.

The chartered surveyor, ideally a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) like all the surveyors at Surveyor Local, is covered by a set of professional standards and guidance so that you can have the assurance and knowledge that you will be getting a good job for the money you are paying - and, ultimately, for that peace of mind and foreknowledge of what living in the property will mean to you and your family… and your pocket and bank balance.

One of the other services that can be offered by most chartered surveyors is the process of arbitration where a dispute has arisen over land, property or the built environment.

Because the chartered surveyor has an expertise in all things to do with surveying land and property and generally construction, this gives them far more knowledge than is likely if the dispute results in litigation and is taken to court.

One of the other benefits is that arbitration is completed in private, whereas any litigation carried out in the courts is a public affair, which can therefore result in reputations being dented.

Arbitration on any property-related matter using a surveyor is also cheaper, since they are the end of the process when it comes to experience and knowledge, whereas taking issues through the courts is a lengthier process and requires experts to be brought in to define the problem.

That's not to say that there will be problems with your planned purchase, but it may be the case that a problem arises with the property you want to buy, which they can provide input to so that you can have extra assurance that what you are buying is what you expect - a sense of peace of mind that you can take from their expert reports on the condition and structural stability.

It makes sense, then, to take out a suitable level of survey. Armed with the information it provides, you'll be in a good position to know what to do and the next steps to take. And if you are in any doubt as to its purpose or benefit of a survey on your next homebuying experience, then talk to us at Surveyor Local as soon as you can.

Having the confidence in what the survey report details about the condition of your home is an important part of the process, so you need to ensure you are clear on what the chartered surveyor will be looking for and, crucially, how they will define issues and verify the problem.

Surveyor Local connects you to professional advice through our nationwide panel of RICS chartered surveyors. They work hard to identify all kinds of problems, including the impact of prior flooding on the structure of the property.

Call to get your no-obligation survey quote, or use our easy-to-use quote generator online.