A ‘PCA Independent Surveyor’ is an individual who offers a specialist surveying service and has no Commercial Link or interest with any organisation or individual that derives profit or gain from the undertaking of building preservation work.

A ‘PCA Freelance Surveyor’ is an individual who offers a specialist surveying service but has a declared Commercial Link with one or more organisation or individual that derive profit or gain from the undertaking of building preservation work.

A ‘PCA Independent Consultant’ is an individual who offers a specialist building preservation consultancy service and has no Commercial Link or interest with any organisation or individual that derives profit or gain from the undertaking of building preservation work.

PCA INDEPENDENT/FREELANCE SURVEYOR MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

1.0 GENERAL

1.1 A Surveyor must operate in accordance with the Property Care Association’s Code of Ethics.  

1.2 A Surveyor must hold Professional Indemnity Insurance, Public Liability insurance and where required in law, Employers liability insurance.

2.0 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

2.1 To prevent any possible suggestion of complicity a Surveyor must declare to the PCA any commercial links with contracting organisations and/or material suppliers. Declarations of commercial links will be available to view on the PCA website. (Refer to Definitions Document for guidance)  

2.2 A Surveyor is at liberty to offer and provide services to any individual or business who may wish to engage them and that remuneration for the provision of such service is agreed in writing in advance.  

2.3 A surveyor must not offer any form of inducement to a company, organisation or individual to obtain instructions. An independent surveyor must not receive any commission, profit share, bonus or other incentive or reward resulting from the supply of their services or the execution of any work that may transpire as a result of their inspection. A Freelance surveyor may benefit as outlined above, where commercial links have been declared and made known.  

2.4 A Surveyor must take all reasonable measures to avoid conflicts of interest. Where the potential for a conflict of interest exists the Surveyor must either declare their conflict or withdraw from the instruction.

3.0 INSPECTIONS AND SUBMISSIONS

3.1 A Surveyor must at all times demonstrate a commitment to extending

professional courtesy to fellow professionals, PCA members and officers of the PCA.

3.2 A Surveyor must not use language in promotional material, reports, web sites, internet chat rooms/forums or on site which by inference or innuendo could be regarded as defamatory or derogatory. The use of such language is regarded by the Association as unacceptable, particularly if it brings the Association into disrepute.

3.3 A Surveyor must be familiar with relevant British Standards, Codes of Practice and general guidance issued by BSI, BRE and PCA concerning inspection, remedial treatment, repair and improvement of buildings.

3.4 Prior to conducting an inspection the scope and extent of a survey should be agreed in writing with the client and the client should be given the opportunity to change, clarify or withdraw instructions if they are not satisfied.

3.5 A Surveyor is expected to conduct all surveys and site investigations with the due care and diligence that would be expected of a competent building preservation surveyor.

3.6 A Surveyor must as far as practically possible carry out their survey or site investigation in accordance with the instructions agreed in advance with their client.

3.7 Survey reports and submissions produced by a Surveyor should relate to the facts apparent and exposed during a survey, site investigation or subsequent off site analysis and must, when relevant, correctly exercise a duty of care to the client.

3.8 In the event of a client requiring an oral report only all notes, observations, sketches etc. recorded at the time of the inspection and any subsequent recommendations made must be recorded and retained.

4.0 SAFETY & HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT

4.1 A Surveyor must comply with requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and regulations there under including in particular The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

4.2 A Surveyor should not put them self or others at risk when conducting an inspection or site visit.

4.3 Risks associated with specialist recommendations made by a surveyor should be identified and reported to their client.

4.4 A surveyor must immediately verbally report to the client any hazardous situation, material or substance discovered or exposed during the course of an inspection. This initial reporting should be followed up in writing as soon as practicably possible.

5.0 PERSONNEL, TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION

5.1 A Surveyor must be appropriately trained, experienced and qualified and must not take on any instruction that from the onset is known to be beyond their experience, qualification or practical ability.

5.2 A Surveyor is expected to commit to a process of continual learning and knowledge development.

6.0 SITE MANAGEMENT AND SITE SUPERVISION 

6.1 Should a Surveyor being engaged to provide a site management service, or to act in a supervisory role for specialist work, the surveyor must take all reasonable steps to ensure that as far as practicably possible all work is undertaken effectively, in accordance with industry best practice and the terms of engagement agreed and contained with the written work specification.

6.2 A Surveyor must be honest, fair and equitable at all times when dealing with contractors or other third parties.

7.0 DISPUTE RESOLUTION & COMPLAINT MANAGEMENT

7.1 In the event of a dispute arising between a client and a Surveyor it must be handled in accordance with a written complaints procedure. This procedure will have provision for recourse to an independent dispute resolution services. This is available through the Property Care Association and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.