The Property Surveyors Standards Board (PSSB) is the result of a joint venture by three industry bodies; SAVA (Surveyor and Valuers Accreditation), BRE (the Building Research Establishment) and the RPSA (the Residential Property Surveyors Association), who are all involved with the Home Condition Survey (HCS).
The PSSB is expected to work alongside these trade bodies and regulators within the surveying arena, but it will deal exclusively with surveyors who specialise in residential property.
The HCS is a detailed and objective residential property survey that offers home buyers a comprehensive report on the condition of the property they plan to purchase.
“The formation of the PSSB marks an important step for our members,” said Andrew McColl of the RPSA.
“In its role as a standards board, the PSSB will enable the development of new surveying products and services, which our members will be able to offer to the home buying public.
“The new body will be focused on working with wider stakeholders to develop a successor qualification for the existing Diploma in Home Inspection (DipHI), while constantly looking at ways this can be adapted and evolved to meet the changing needs of the profession. This will allow us to ensure we always deliver the highest level of product and service.”
Hilary Grayson from SAVA added: “We developed the HCS as a consumer friendly, jargon free survey to be produced by surveyors specifically trained in the product and its features. The PSSB will ensure that the HCS is subject to ongoing refinement and development.”
Directors of the board for the PSSB and have been working together to create the necessary infrastructure and documentation. Scheme standards, product standards and technical standards have all been agreed, along with a comprehensive Code of Conduct.
They will now be working on a successor qualification to the DipHI. The PBBS said that completing the new qualification will enable those in the industry, who may have existing, complimentary qualifications, to conduct the HCS, without the need to complete the full, existing diploma.
