Location
London Borough of Waltham Forest

Hours
Full Time - 36 hours per week, 5 days per week

Salary
Grade PO5 range from £47,000 to £49,900 per annum

About the Role
As a Disrepair Surveyor, you will manage housing disrepair cases from inception through to completion, ensuring the Council complies with its statutory, contractual and regulatory obligations. You will inspect properties, diagnose building defects, prepare specifications, manage remedial works, and provide technical expertise in response to legal disrepair claims. Working closely with Legal Services, contractors, residents, and internal stakeholders, you will minimise legal exposure, improve resident satisfaction, and ensure homes are maintained to a safe and habitable standard.

Key Responsibilities
- Manage a caseload of housing disrepair claims and pre-action protocol cases
- Undertake inspections of residential properties to identify defects and assess liability
- Determine causation of defects including damp and mould, water ingress, structural movement, condensation and building failures
- Prepare detailed schedules of work, specifications and cost estimates
- Prioritise cases according to legal risk, health and safety concerns and service impact
- Ensure repairs associated with disrepair claims are completed within agreed timescales
- Conduct property inspections and post-inspections
- Assess buildings in accordance with housing legislation, relevant British Standards and Council policies
- Identify Category 1 and Category 2 hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)
- Prepare technical reports, condition surveys and witness statements where required
- Specify repair solutions that provide long-term value and prevent recurring defects
- Support the Council's response to housing disrepair claims under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985
- Liaise with Legal Services regarding active claims, expert reports and litigation matters
- Attend joint inspections with claimant surveyors and legal representatives where required
- Review expert witness reports and provide technical responses
- Assist in preparing evidence for court proceedings, injunction applications and settlement negotiations
- Instruct and manage contractors undertaking disrepair works
- Monitor contractor performance, programme delivery and quality of workmanship
- Ensure contractors comply with health and safety legislation and contractual obligations
- Authorise payments and variation orders in accordance with financial regulations
- Carry out post-inspections to verify satisfactory completion of works
- Act as the primary technical contact for residents involved in disrepair claims
- Communicate effectively and sensitively with vulnerable residents
- Explain findings, repair solutions and programme delivery clearly and professionally
- Work collaboratively to resolve complaints and improve resident outcomes
- Maintain accurate records within housing management and case management systems
- Produce management information relating to disrepair performance
- Monitor expenditure against approved budgets
- Contribute to service improvement initiatives aimed at reducing disrepair and improving repair completion times

Experience
- Experience managing housing disrepair claims within a local authority or social housing environment
- Strong knowledge of building construction, maintenance and defect diagnosis
- Experience of managing contractors and repairs programmes
- Understanding of Section 11 Landlord and Tenant Act 1985
- Knowledge of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)
- Experience producing technical specifications, reports and schedules of works
- Strong stakeholder management and customer service skills
- Experience working with legal teams and external surveyors

About You
- Technical expertise in building pathology
- Strong written report writing skills
- Negotiation and conflict resolution skills
- Risk assessment and problem solving abilities
- Effective case management skills
- Commercial awareness
- Ability to manage competing priorities
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Qualifications
- Essential: HNC/HND, Degree or equivalent qualification in Building Surveying, Construction, Building Studies or related field or relevant time served
- Essential: Full UK Driving Licence
- Desirable: Membership of RICS, CIOB, CABE or equivalent professional body
- Desirable: Accredited HHSRS qualification
- Desirable: Damp and mould surveying qualification