How to Verify a Party Wall Surveyor's Credentials (RICS vs Faculty vs Pyramus & Thisbe)
Look them up on the professional body's own website, not on the surveyor's brochure. No licence is required to act, so verification is up to you. Membership does not guarantee quality but it gives you something to check.
Your action checklist
- Ask which professional body the surveyor belongs to and their membership status.
- Find that body's own website and its member search.
- Match the name, firm and location.
- Ask for a party wall example of similar size to yours.
- Check that they carry professional indemnity insurance and ask to see it.
- Keep a note of what you checked and the date.
Why checking matters
Anyone can be appointed as a party wall surveyor. There is no statutory register. So the only check you have is the professional bodies and the surveyor's track record.
Bodies include RICS, the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors, the Pyramus & Thisbe Society, CABE, CIOB and the Institute of Party Wall Surveyors.
RICS
- Large chartered body for many surveying fields
- Search its online register of members and firms
- Ask whether the member handles party wall work regularly
- Check the status of the firm as well as the person
- Read its complaints information on its own site
Faculty and Pyramus & Thisbe
- Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors focuses on party wall practice
- Pyramus & Thisbe Society is another party wall body
- Check each body's own member listing
- Ask for the membership level and how it is earned
- Neither guarantees quality of work
Reading a listing
Directories differ. Some show grades of membership, some show firm names, some do not list individual members. If you cannot find the surveyor, ask them to explain and to provide a membership number or letter.
Beyond the badge
Ask about complaints procedures and insurance. Ask who to contact if something goes wrong. Read recent reviews with caution, as they are easy to write and hard to verify.
If something does not add up
Pause before signing any engagement letter. Ask for the evidence in writing and give the surveyor a fair chance to respond. If the answers are unclear, get a second quote from someone else. The cost of a few extra phone calls is small compared with the risk of an award that is challenged, delayed or unsafe to rely on. Keep your checks on file in case a dispute arises later.
Compare the bodies
The panel below sets out general differences in what you might check. Confirm details with each body directly.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official register?
No. There is no licensing scheme, so check each body's own listing.
What if they are not on any list?
Ask why. They may still be capable, but you should look closely at experience and insurance.
Should I ask for insurance details?
Yes. Ask what professional indemnity cover they hold.
Can I check past awards?
Awards are private, but the surveyor may share anonymised examples.
Related guides
- RICS vs FPWS: Choosing the Right Faculty or Institution
- How to Choose a Party Wall Surveyor
- Red Flags When Hiring a Party Wall Surveyor
- Questions to Ask a Party Wall Surveyor Before Hiring Them
Last updated: . This page is general information about the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (England and Wales). It is not legal advice. Every property and dispute is different, so take advice from a party wall surveyor or a solicitor before you act.