Freelance Disrepair Surveyor (North-West)
10 days ago
Manchester
We are seeking an experienced Freelance Disrepair Surveyor who is a qualified Chartered Building Surveyor to support housing disrepair inspections and expert reporting across the North West region.\n\nThe successful candidate must have substantial experience acting as an Expert Witness in housing disrepair matters and be confident preparing CPR-compliant reports for legal proceedings, joint expert inspections, and court attendance where required.\n\nYou will carry out detailed inspections of residential properties, identify defects, assess causation and liability, prepare Scott Schedules where required, and produce clear, robust expert witness reports suitable for litigation, pre-action protocol compliance, and housing disrepair claims.\n\nThis role requires strong technical knowledge, excellent report-writing skills, and proven experience working within landlord and tenant disrepair matters, particularly social housing and residential portfolios.\n\nKey Responsibilities\n\nThe role involves conducting housing disrepair inspections across occupied and void residential properties and identifying building defects including damp and mould, condensation, leaks, structural movement, roofing issues, ventilation failures, and general building fabric defects.\n\nThe successful candidate will be expected to diagnose the root causes of defects and distinguish between disrepair, lifestyle issues, and tenant-related matters while assessing landlord liability in accordance with repairing obligations and relevant housing legislation.\n\nYou will prepare detailed survey reports suitable for legal proceedings and produce Scott Schedules together with costed schedules of works where required. A core part of the role is producing Expert Witness reports compliant with Civil Procedure Rules, including CPR Part 35, with the ability to defend findings under legal scrutiny.\n\nThe position will require attendance at joint inspections with claimant or defendant surveyors, providing technical advice to solicitors, housing providers, landlords, and managing agents, reviewing contractor quotations and remedial specifications, and offering recommendations for remedial works and estimated costs.\n\nAttendance at court hearings and giving Expert Witness evidence will be required as part of this role.\n\nEssential Requirements\n\nApplicants must be a Chartered Building Surveyor with MRICS or FRICS status and be degree-qualified in Building Surveying or a related discipline.\n\nYou must have proven experience in housing disrepair surveying together with demonstrable experience acting as an Expert Witness in housing disrepair and residential litigation matters.\n\nA strong understanding of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), the Pre-Action Protocol for Housing Conditions Claims, and CPR Part 35 is essential.\n\nYou must have a strong track record of preparing Expert Witness reports for legal proceedings and be confident attending court and defending professional opinions where required.\n\nExcellent knowledge of residential construction defects, remedial solutions, and landlord repairing obligations is essential.\n\nStrong written reporting and communication skills are required, together with a full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across the North West.\n\nProfessional indemnity insurance must be in place, or the ability to demonstrate suitable cover where required.\n\nDesirable Experience\n\nPrevious experience working with social housing providers, local authorities, housing associations, and solicitor-led instructions would be highly advantageous.\n\nExperience acting for both claimant and defendant instructions is desirable, as this role requires a balanced and objective professional approach.\n\nSpecialist experience in damp and mould investigations would be beneficial, together with knowledge of CDM regulations and health and safety compliance.\n\nThe ability to undertake drone inspections would also be considered an advantage.\n\nPersonal Attributes\n\nThe ideal candidate will be highly organised, self-sufficient, and capable of managing multiple instructions and deadlines independently.\n\nYou should demonstrate strong attention to detail, commercial awareness, and a pragmatic approach to problem solving.\n\nProfessionalism, credibility, and confidence when dealing with legal teams, barristers, solicitors, and clients are essential, alongside an objective, evidence-led approach to inspections and reporting.\n\nYou must be comfortable operating in formal legal environments and presenting evidence with authority and clarity.\n\nDeliverables Expected\n\nThe successful surveyor will be expected to deliver inspection reports within agreed service level agreements together with full photographic evidence and defect schedules.\n\nThis will include costed remedial recommendations, Scott Schedules where applicable, CPR Part 35-compliant Expert Witness reports, attendance notes, joint inspection summaries, and court-ready documentation where required.\n\nIdeal Candidate Profile\n\nYou will be an experienced Chartered Surveyor with a strong reputation in residential disrepair matters and a proven background as an Expert Witness.\n\nYou will be capable of operating independently and delivering high-quality reports that withstand legal scrutiny while confidently managing instructions from initial inspection through to court attendance and Expert Witness evidence.\n\nYou should be comfortable working with solicitors, landlords, housing providers, barristers, and legal teams across both claimant and defendant instructions