Legal Disrepair Surveyor – AR

Legal Disrepair Surveyor

Location: Lambeth
Service: Housing Repairs / Housing Services

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Legal Disrepair Surveyor to provide a professional surveying service across council housing stock in North and South Lambeth.

The role will focus on progressing legal disrepair claims through to completion, carrying out property inspections, diagnosing complex repairs, preparing technical specifications, raising and managing works orders, and monitoring contractors to ensure works are completed to the required standard, within agreed timescales and cost.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out inspections of council properties in relation to legal disrepair claims.
• Review expert reports and letters of claim and identify the repair requirements.
• Undertake pre-inspections and post-inspections of occupied, void and communal properties.
• Diagnose complex and technical repairs, including structural defects.
• Prepare detailed repair specifications using SOR (Schedule of Rates) codes.
• Raise and manage works orders, IVRs and variation requests.
• Liaise with and effectively manage council contractors and subcontractors.
• Monitor contractor performance, quality, cost and timescales.
• Resolve technical issues and contractor disputes where required.
• Undertake quality checks and post-inspections of completed works.
• Work closely with Disrepair Case Officers to progress claims and ensure appropriate remedial works are completed.
• Provide technical advice to housing and repairs staff.
• Recommend cost-effective repair solutions and ensure value for money.
• Liaise with the Repairs Cost Team regarding quantities, costs and disrepair orders.
• Inspect and provide technical specifications for void properties where required.
• Communicate effectively with tenants and leaseholders regarding repair issues.
• Identify and escalate any safeguarding concerns encountered during property visits.
• Ensure all surveying activities comply with relevant legislation, council policies, health and safety requirements and housing procedures.
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to quality assurance processes.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Proven experience working as a Surveyor within a housing repairs environment.
• Previous experience dealing with legal disrepair claims is highly desirable.
• Experience carrying out property inspections and diagnosing complex repairs.
• Experience preparing technical repair specifications.
• Knowledge and practical use of SOR codes / Schedule of Rates.
• Experience raising and managing works orders, variations and IVRs.
• Strong experience managing and monitoring contractors.
• Experience undertaking pre- and post-inspections.
• Knowledge of social housing repairs and maintenance processes.
• Strong communication, organisation and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively with tenants, contractors, case officers and other council teams.
• Building Surveying qualification or equivalent demonstrable surveying experience.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be an experienced Housing/Repairs or Legal Disrepair Surveyor with strong practical knowledge of social housing repairs. They will be confident inspecting properties, writing specifications, managing works orders and contractors, and working alongside legal disrepair teams to ensure claims are resolved efficiently and cost-effectively.

Experience within a Local Authority or Housing Association would be particularly advantageous.