Freelance Disrepair Surveyor (North-West)

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.

The 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.

You 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.

This 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.

Key Responsibilities

The 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.

The 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.

You 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.

The 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.

Attendance at court hearings and giving Expert Witness evidence will be required as part of this role.

Essential Requirements

Applicants must be a Chartered Building Surveyor with MRICS or FRICS status and be degree-qualified in Building Surveying or a related discipline.

You must have proven experience in housing disrepair surveying together with demonstrable experience acting as an Expert Witness in housing disrepair and residential litigation matters.

A 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.

You 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.

Excellent knowledge of residential construction defects, remedial solutions, and landlord repairing obligations is essential.

Strong written reporting and communication skills are required, together with a full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across the North West.

Professional indemnity insurance must be in place, or the ability to demonstrate suitable cover where required.

Desirable Experience

Previous experience working with social housing providers, local authorities, housing associations, and solicitor-led instructions would be highly advantageous.

Experience acting for both claimant and defendant instructions is desirable, as this role requires a balanced and objective professional approach.

Specialist experience in damp and mould investigations would be beneficial, together with knowledge of CDM regulations and health and safety compliance.

The ability to undertake drone inspections would also be considered an advantage.

Personal Attributes

The ideal candidate will be highly organised, self-sufficient, and capable of managing multiple instructions and deadlines independently.

You should demonstrate strong attention to detail, commercial awareness, and a pragmatic approach to problem solving.

Professionalism, credibility, and confidence when dealing with legal teams, barristers, solicitors, and clients are essential, alongside an objective, evidence-led approach to inspections and reporting.

You must be comfortable operating in formal legal environments and presenting evidence with authority and clarity.

Deliverables Expected

The successful surveyor will be expected to deliver inspection reports within agreed service level agreements together with full photographic evidence and defect schedules.

This 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.

Ideal Candidate Profile

You will be an experienced Chartered Surveyor with a strong reputation in residential disrepair matters and a proven background as an Expert Witness.

You 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.

You should be comfortable working with solicitors, landlords, housing providers, barristers, and legal teams across both claimant and defendant instructions.