The Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA) has launched new residential survey standards designed for independent practitioners and home buyers.

The RPSA says that the new guidance, based on a single standard of comprehensive inspection, supporting a two-tier report structure, is clearer for consumers and sets a benchmark for independent surveyors.

Unlike traditional surveys which offer multiple levels of inspection and reports, the new RPSA standards are based on a single full inspection model, with either “light” or “heavy” reporting levels, providing a comprehensive review of the property and, importantly, clarity for home buyers.

The new RPSA Survey Inspection and Reporting Standards (SIRS) require surveyors to check the operation of every window, every tap and every toilet as well as looking for serious issues such as damp, rot or subsidence. Reports all include information about environmental concerns, flooding, broadband, conveyancing issues, and feature multiple photographs.

Alan Milstein, RPSA chairman, commented: “While other organisations may focus on corporate and global activity, the RPSA has identified a clear opportunity for independent surveyors to highlight their USP of offering home buyers a clear, simple and professional message.

“Multi-level inspection standards”, Milstein says, “are confusing for consumers and inevitably lead to disappointment and frustration. A single comprehensive inspection standard facilitates two survey report levels targeted more closely to the type of home being purchased, and a more relevant and satisfying experience for the consumer.

“Based on a simple message of being thorough and comprehensive, these standards give independent surveyors the opportunity to highlight a clear point of differentiation within the market, and help the decision-making process for buyers faced with an unfamiliar and all-too confusing process.

“Ours is a simple message. We do what our customers would, understandably and reasonably, expect us to do. Be professional, be thorough and be clear. It’s easy for our clients to understand what they’re getting when we are not spending our time trying to explain all the things we aren’t going to do. Yes, it’s a visual and non-invasive inspection, but as far as we can we’ll check everything. It might take us a bit longer to carry out our inspection, but if it helps avoid transaction-delaying recommendations for further investigations and reports then it’s money well spent.”

Milstein added: “This is a great opportunity for the independent surveyor to distance themselves from other providers in the market and to be ‘loud and proud’ about the quality experience they can deliver to home buyers.”

The RPSA Survey Inspection & Reporting Standards go live tomorrow.