The Property Ombudsman has opened its doors to surveyors.

It is now approved by the RICS to provide Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) on all surveying services provided to consumers.

This approval extends TPO’s current approval for RICS members who operate lettings, estate agency and property management businesses, making TPO the only ADR provider approved for consumer-facing disputes for all surveying services.

The move follows the withdrawal of Ombudsman Services: Property from the property sector last August.

Although surveying firms are not subject to mandatory redress, TPO has created a new category of membership for property professionals engaged in the provision of surveying and other property related professional services, to cover referencing companies and inventory providers.

In future, this may also be expanded to cover other gaps in the market where there is no requirement for mandatory redress.

Ombudsman Katrine Sporle said: “By expanding our jurisdictions and offering a ’one-stop shop’ for help, advice and complaints handling, we can raise standards in the industry and put things right when they go wrong.”

TPO’s full list of jurisdictions now covers estate agents, letting agents, leasehold residential management, commercial and business agents, buying agents, residential property buying companies, auctions, international agents, building warranties and search providers, and now, property surveyors and other property professionals.