Building Surveyor -SOCIAL HOUSING

Main Duties and Responsibilities Purpose of the Job — MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE IN SOCIAL HOUSING

• To provide a sensitive, customer-focused Technical Service that is efficient, delivers value for money, and reflects the Equality and Diversity policies of East End Homes.
• To contribute towards achieving East End Homes’ Corporate Objectives and service delivery plans.
• To ensure the safety, compliance, and effective maintenance of East End Homes premises and estates.
• To work collaboratively with internal teams, residents, contractors, and specialist service providers to deliver high-quality, timely, and cost-effective technical solutions.
• To achieve high levels of resident satisfaction through professional service delivery.

Person Specification – IN SOCIAL HOUSING ENVIROMENT

Skills and Knowledge

• Understanding of repairs, maintenance, and improvement of housing stock.
• Knowledge of fire risk and asbestos management in a housing environment.
• Understanding of void processes and letting standards.
• Strong knowledge of statutory compliance, Health & Safety legislation, industry codes of practice, CDM regulations, and Building Regulations.
• Ability to use and interpret Schedule of Rates (SOR) codes accurately.
• Strong IT skills and ability to use housing management and asset systems.
• Well-developed communication, negotiation, and report-writing skills for professional interactions with tenants, staff, and contractors.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE:

• Raise orders, specify, diagnose, and issue repair instructions ensuring high-quality standards are met.
• Carry out site inspections as well as desktop inspections to assess work requirements.
• Undertake pre, post, and quality inspections of works to confirm compliance with specifications, safety, and value-for-money principles.
• Understand and correctly apply Schedule of Rates (SOR) codes when raising and assessing works orders.
• Authorise variation orders (VO) within remit ensuring value for money is demonstrated.
• Write detailed reports and provide recommendations for actions following inspections or investigations.
• Verify contractor payments with finance teams when required.
• Oversee and monitor the voids process to ensure properties are let within agreed timescales, budgets, and to East End Homes letting standards.
• Ensure contractors are held accountable for delays in void turnaround and escalate issues where necessary.
• Manage contractor performance and promptly address issues affecting repair quality or turnaround times.
• Manage fire risk assessment processes, ensuring timely completion, review of recommendations, and recording of actions on databases.
• Identify and schedule corrective works for fire safety issues.
• Oversee asbestos management, ensuring accurate information is maintained and made available to contractors, and assist in policy updates.
• Carry out playground and estate facility inspections in line with Health & Safety legislation, programming remedial works where necessary.
• Manage specialist treatments including mould and pest control issues.
• Programme planned maintenance schemes and cyclical works in collaboration with contractors and service providers.
• Specify, tender, and oversee projects, ensuring compliance with East End Homes’ financial regulations and procurement policies.
• Supervise minor and major accessibility adaptations following Occupational Therapist recommendations.
• Process Disability Facility Grant (DFG) applications and ensure works are completed effectively.
• Manage insurance-related repairs, preparing specifications, and progressing associated administration.
• Respond promptly and effectively to complaints, MP and Board enquiries, and client advocate concerns in line with policies and procedures.
• Provide clear advice and guidance to tenants and leaseholders on property alterations, repair processes, and technical matters.
• Participate in East End Homes’ out-of-hours rota when required to provide technical support for emergencies.
• Attend contractor, neighbourhood, and technical meetings, providing updates and professional advice on repair history and ongoing issues.
• Keep up to date with legislative changes, statutory compliance requirements, good practice, and industry codes of practice, applying them to all areas of work.
• Undertake project work specific to the technical service as required.
• Represent East End Homes as a witness in legal proceedings if necessary.
• Manage contractors effectively to ensure service delivery meets standards and agreed KPIs.

Experience

• Proven experience delivering a customer-focused technical support role in a housing environment.
• Experience monitoring contractor performance against contract specifications and KPIs.
• Experience undertaking technical inspections, managing responsive, planned, and void works.
• Experience raising orders, authorising variation orders, and demonstrating value for money in contract management.
• Experience managing contractors effectively to ensure service delivery standards are met.

Personal Qualities

• Flexible, solution-oriented, and committed to providing excellent customer services.
• Ability to work on own initiative while contributing effectively to both local and central teams.
• Empathy in service provision with an understanding of diverse customer needs, including vulnerable residents.
• Willingness to participate in out-of-hours duties when required.
• Strong commitment to equality, diversity, and continuous improvement.