Job Details

Building Surveyor – Housing Services

Location: Manchester
Rate: £50 per hour Umbrella
Contract: Temporary
Department: Housing Services, Neighbourhoods Directorate
Grade: Grade 8

About the Role

Manchester City Council is seeking an experienced Building Surveyor to join its Housing Services team, supporting the delivery of high-quality repairs and maintenance across the Council’s housing stock.

The role has a strong focus on HHSRS, damp and mould, housing disrepair and remedial works, alongside reactive repairs, voids, major repairs and planned works.

You will undertake property inspections, diagnose building defects, provide technical advice and manage remedial works from specification through to completion. You will also work closely with residents, contractors, consultants and internal stakeholders to ensure works are delivered safely, on time and to the required quality.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake property inspections, diagnostic surveys, post-inspections and technical assessments.
• Identify and manage HHSRS hazards, damp, mould and condensation issues.
• Diagnose building defects and provide appropriate technical solutions and recommendations.
• Manage reactive repairs, void property repairs, major repairs and minor planned works.
• Specify, instruct and monitor remedial works through to completion.
• Manage contractor performance, quality, costs and timescales.
• Support the Council’s response to Awaab’s Law, housing quality standards and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Lead on housing disrepair remedial works, including joint inspections and preparation of Scott Schedules.
• Provide technical information and reports to support disrepair claims and legal processes.
• Where required, act as a Single Joint Expert and attend court, tribunals or hearings.
• Manage insurance-related property works, including inspections, decants and liaison with loss adjusters.
• Review contractor invoices and monitor expenditure against budgets.
• Ensure works comply with relevant legislation, health and safety requirements and CDM regulations.
• Work closely with contractors, consultants, M&E providers and internal Housing Services teams.
• Respond to resident concerns and complaints, taking ownership through to resolution.
• Produce clear and accurate technical reports and recommendations.
• Support continuous improvement across the Council’s repairs and maintenance service.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Experience working as a Building Surveyor, Housing Surveyor, Repairs Surveyor or similar.
• Experience within social housing, local authority housing, repairs and maintenance or asset management.
• Strong knowledge of HHSRS, damp and mould, building pathology and housing legislation.
• Experience managing housing repairs, disrepair cases, major repairs or planned works.
• Experience specifying and managing remedial works and contractors.
• Knowledge of housing disrepair processes and Scott Schedules.
• Understanding of building construction, building standards, planning regulations and health and safety.
• Experience producing technical reports and providing clear technical advice.
• Experience managing small projects and an understanding of CDM.
• Strong communication, organisation and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work independently.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Construction-related qualification or significant equivalent surveying experience.
• Full driving licence and access to a car for each working day.

Desirable

• Experience working within a Local Authority Housing environment.
• Experience supporting Awaab’s Law implementation.
• Experience acting as an expert witness or attending legal proceedings.
• Experience working with in-house direct labour organisations.
• Knowledge of asbestos management and wider housing compliance requirements.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be a technically strong housing surveyor who can combine property inspection and building pathology expertise with practical repairs and contractor management experience. They will be confident dealing with residents, contractors and legal/technical stakeholders and able to take ownership of issues from initial inspection through to successful resolution.