Chartered Status: A Pathway of Recognition for Residential Surveyors

Hello everyone,

We recently hosted a significant webinar with the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) to introduce their new Residential Surveying Section (RSS). This initiative represents a fantastic opportunity for many of our members. If you missed the live session or wish to review the details, 

Now, you might be wondering why the RPSA, an organisation fiercely dedicated to supporting independent and small-practice building surveyors, is highlighting a membership pathway within another professional body. It might seem counterintuitive, perhaps even like turkeys voting for Christmas!

However, our commitment at RPSA is to empower you and enhance your professional standing. For too long, many highly skilled, practising residential surveyors have found other avenues less welcoming or not fully appreciative of their specific expertise. This new RSS is different. CABE is actively looking to recognise our specialism by offering an additional level of competence assessment to help surveyors set themselves apart. When such a respectful and credible pathway to chartered status emerges, one that values your proven skills, it’s our duty to ensure you know all about it.

What Makes This RSS Special? It's About Recognised Competence.

The webinar went into a lot of detail, but the core message for residential surveyors is this: the RSS, under the CABE umbrella, is uniquely designed to validate and recognise your specific expertise as a practising professional.

The key distinction here is the unwavering focus on genuine, current surveying competence. This isn't about just adding letters after your name based on a historical qualification or a related role, but a different role in the property sector. To join the RSS, you must be an active, competent building surveyor. Any current CABE member who wishes to join the RSS will also need to demonstrate their specific competence in residential surveying through assessment.

This directly addresses the public perception issue where individuals with general property titles are assumed to be expert building surveyors. The RSS is about establishing a clear benchmark for qualified, practising residential building surveyors – a standard of credibility we can all stand behind.

A Straightforward Path Built on Respect

The RPSA has been deeply involved in the development of this section. Amanda Ducas and I are on the internal RSS steering group, championing the needs and perspectives of independent residential surveyors. Our aim has been to ensure this pathway is not only robust but also respectful of the experience and qualifications our members already possess.

So, what does this mean for you practically?

• For those qualified via the SAVA route (e.g., Level 6 Diploma) and currently practising: This route is designed to be a smooth transition,      acknowledging your established qualifications and experience.
• The process will focus on your current practice for building survey degree holders. You'll likely need to submit a few recent reports and have a professional review interview to confirm your ongoing, active competence in the field. After all, the emphasis is on what you’re expertly doing now.
• There's a direct entry route available for those with a home inspector qualification and actively surveying. As mentioned in the webinar, this specific direct entry for the Home Inspector qualification will be recognised for applications made within the first six months of the section's launch.

The underlying principle is straightforward: CABE wants to confirm that you are a proficient, practising residential surveyor. This isn't about creating arduous barriers; it’s about validating the skills you use every day. To maintain clarity and value, we're keeping the focus on the primary "Residential Surveyor" grade, which aligns with chartered status.

An Exceptional Introductory Offer for RPSA Members!

To underscore their commitment and welcome RPSA members, CABE has created an excellent introductory offer for those wishing to join the RSS. This is available for applications received between 1st June 2025 and 1st November 2025:

• No administration/application fee (a £60 saving, funded by RPSA!) 
• No additional first-year section membership fee (saving you £55 in a year) 
• 17 months of initial membership for the price of 12 
• A 25% discount voucher for any assessment process required (provided your application is received within the 5-month window).

This is a considerable benefit and a prime opportunity to gain this recognition. (Please be aware that general CABE membership fees are scheduled to increase on September 1, 2025, making this offer even more timely.)

Our Commitment to Your Advancement

The RPSA firmly believes this new Residential Surveying Section by CABE offers a significant and respectful pathway for our members. It's a chance to gain chartered status that genuinely reflects your specialism and hard-earned expertise, particularly when other routes may have seemed less attuned to the realities of residential surveying.

This is about building on your credibility, offering the public greater assurance, and giving you the professional recognition you rightly deserve.

If you have questions or wish to discuss your specific circumstances and the most appropriate route for you, please contact us at RPSA or the CABE membership team. They are prepared and eager to assist.

Let's embrace this opportunity to elevate the standing of professional residential surveyors further.

Warm regards

Andrew McColl, Chairman.

Disclaimer: This blog post is based on the information presented in the CABE RPSA webinar dated May 2025 and the user's provided interpretations. Specific eligibility criteria, fees, and offer details should always be confirmed directly with CABE. The webinar notes that information is correct when recording, and changes in circumstances may impact accuracy

Experimental Audio overview (slightly cheesy, but useful)  Click Here