Damp/Disrepair Surveyor

Legal Disrepair and Damp & Mould Surveyor

South London HA

To provide specialist surveying expertise to address legal disrepair claims and manage damp and mould cases within our housing stock. Be able to diagnose damp and mould issues and provide expert compliant reports for legal cases and remedial actions. Including the preparation of Scott schedules, and to ensure the timely resolution of issues, compliance with legislation, and the delivery of high-quality housing services to tenants and end users.

To be able to navigate both the physical aspects of property assessment and the procedural requirements of legal disputes, ensuring their work supports fair outcomes for all parties in accordance with the Pre action protocol.

Key Responsibilities:

Legal and Disrepair Claims

• Investigate and assess properties in relation to disrepair claims under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. (HHSRS) and the prescribed hazards
• To have a clear understanding on Sections 9A,10, 10A & 11 of the landlord and tenant act.
• Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the landlord, tenant and Leaseholder responsibilities regarding property maintenance in both communal and residential environments.
• Produce detailed inspection reports, work schedules, Scott schedules and photographic evidence for use in legal matters with appropriate terminology used for use under SJE questioning in court.
• Represent the organisation as an expert witness in court or tribunal proceedings.
• Collaborate with legal teams, insurers, loss adjusters, tenants Leaseholders and 3rd party clients to reach effective resolutions.
• Monitor case progress to ensure compliance with Tomlin orders, legal orders, settlement agreements and completion of work terms in accordance with orders provided by the court to prevent breaches and additional costs.
• Conduct inspections and prepare specifications for new and or existing disrepair claims in accordance with the required Part 35 compliant report and Scott schedule.
• Prepare detailed specifications, including financial costings by using NHF data to assist with preparing costs for detailed examination.
• Prepare detailed reports, identifying trends, costs, and levels of exposure of which can be tracked against WIP and overriding budget controls via a risk matrix.

Damp and Mould Management

• Carry out in-depth inspections to identify causes of damp and mould, including condensation, Penetrative, Rising, Hygroscopic, construction related and water ingress.
• Ensure that we adhere to the implementation of Awaab's Law (Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023), in regards to it’s mandated that social landlords such as investigate and address damp and mould issues within specific timeframes and conduct the necessary inspections, reports and repairs within the associated timeframes
• Recommend and oversee appropriate remedial actions, including repairs, tenant guidance, guidance to both internal and environmental controls.
• Develop and implement preventative strategies across the housing stock.
• Educate both internal and external stakeholders on the preventative measures to assist with damp and mould cases, whilst identifying key trends in our housing stock.
• Work in partnership with contractors to ensure high-quality and timely repairs service with key components used to help reduce multiple visits.
• Evaluate the extent of Damp and Mould cases, against disrepair cases and its effect on property habitability and long term trends and costs.
• Maintain oversight of contractor performance to ensure effectiveness and value.

Latent Defects & Construction Issues

• Carry out inspections to identify potential latent defects, structural concerns, and historic construction issues affecting building performance
• Record and document findings with photographic and written evidence, ensuring clear identification of suspected defect type, cause and estimated impact.
• Refer all identified latent defects and complex structural items directly to the Technical Operations Manager for further review, technical validation, and instruction.
• Support the Technical Operations Manager by providing accurate site information, measurements, and resident impact details to aid in decision-making and scoping.
• Maintain a log of all latent defect referrals, tracking patterns and frequency across the housing stock to support long-term asset planning.
• Liaise with contractors and internal teams to ensure safe access arrangements during inspections, and to gather relevant background information such as property age, materials and previous works history.

Customer Focus

• Communicate with tenants professionally and with empathy, addressing concerns clearly and promptly.
• Provide regular updates on planned works and anticipated outcomes.
• Enhance tenant satisfaction by resolving issues efficiently and maintaining safe, liveable homes.
• Ensure residents are properly consulted throughout any repair or improvement process.
• Apply safeguarding protocols during home visits, reporting any concerns involving vulnerable residents or children.
• Ensure that the business maintains its SLA’s along with adhering to the key criteria of the consumer standards.

Compliance and Record Keeping

• Ensure all activities comply with relevant legislation, standards, and internal policies.
• Keep accurate records of inspections, findings, and actions using housing management systems.
• Identify and report on trends to support strategic planning and decision-making.
• Provide expert advice on effective repair and prevention methods.
• Work closely with teams across Repairs, Asset Management, and Housing Services to deliver a unified service.
• Support and lead on the delivery of training for staff, contractors, internal and external stakeholders on damp, mould, and disrepair-related issues.

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