The RPSA Reviews 

I’ve been a member for a few months and I’m finding the experience to be a good one. I understanding that some free CPD is about to be offered which will be very useful. I’m finding that the term RPSA is becoming more widely acknowledged. Keep up the good work 👍

I have been a member since they started and have always found them helpful and good value for money. However, since they appointed a new chairman, things have improved 10-fold, and they are better than ever, offering excellent value for money and support for independent and small businesses. I would certainly recommend them for any residential surveyor, whatever area you specialise in. They are about to start offering free CPD, which will be invaluable.

As an independent residential surveyor, I've found being a member of the RPSA to be a valuable part of my professional development and day-to-day work.

It's reassuring to be part of an organisation that understands the challenges faced by independent surveyors and recognises the importance of maintaining high standards within the profession. The guidance, support and resources available provide real value, particularly for those of us running independent surveying practices.

I also believe the RPSA plays an important role in giving homebuyers greater confidence when choosing a surveyor. Purchasing a property is one of the biggest financial commitments most people will ever make, and having the reassurance of an independent surveyor who is accountable to a professional association, follows recognised standards and has the appropriate knowledge and experience is incredibly important.

For homebuyers, knowing that their surveyor is independent of estate agents, mortgage lenders and other parties involved in the transaction can provide additional reassurance that the advice they receive is focused on their interests and the property itself.

I'm proud to be a member and would happily recommend the RPSA to fellow independent surveyors and homebuyers looking for greater confidence in the surveying process.

The RPSA is a good example of what a professional association should offer. The support they provide to practising surveyors is excellent, with clear communication, approachable staff and a genuine willingness to help.

They place a strong emphasis on professional standards whilst understanding the everyday challenges faced by residential surveyors. There is a real sense that they address important issues and work in the interest of the public and their members.

The value they offer is also excellent. The RPSA asks relatively little of its members yet, in my experience, provides more in terms of practical support, accessibility and engagement than some larger, more expensive professional bodies.

A well-run organisation that genuinely supports its members and the profession.

I have been a member of the RPSA for several years. My experience has only ever been positive. Unlike similar Bodies, they provided full support, including documents, survey software, training, networking, updates and a framework for this independent surveyor to operate a small business. Thank you RPSA

An excellent organisation that gives both surveyors and their clients confidence

I have been a member of the RPSA since its early days and have had the opportunity to watch it grow from a fledgling organisation into the highly credible, professional and supportive association it is today.

I have read some of the reviews on Trustpilot and, whilst I fully respect that everyone is entitled to their own experience and opinion, I have to say that some of the criticisms do not reflect my experience of the RPSA over the larger part of my surveying career.

It is fair to say that any large organisation can occasionally have issues, but in my experience these are relatively rare. More importantly, the RPSA does not simply ignore problems — it has processes for dealing with them and will hold its members to account where appropriate. I would hate to see isolated experiences put someone off gaining the support and reassurance that comes from using a properly trained, professionally supported and accountable surveyor when making what may be the biggest financial investment of their lifetime.

For me, one of the RPSA's greatest strengths is the balance it achieves between supporting its members and holding them to account. Surveyors are subject to regular and random reviews of their reports, with feedback provided directly to the surveyor. That feedback can be frank — and sometimes brutally so — but that is exactly what gives the organisation credibility. The objective is not simply to criticise, but to identify areas for improvement and ensure that professional standards remain high.

Ultimately, that benefits the consumer. Good surveying is not simply about identifying defects; it is about listening to the client, recording evidence properly, explaining limitations and providing clear advice about the significance and urgency of findings. The RPSA's continuing focus on these issues, together with wider developments in the profession such as complaints, consumer protection and the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, demonstrates that it takes both professional standards and client care seriously.

Excellent support, excellent value and, most importantly, genuine confidence for both the surveyor and the customer. I am very pleased to have been a member from the beginning and to have seen how far the RPSA has come.

Excellent organisation, which produce excellent reports and set the standard for residential surveying.

The RPSA is the default for independent, high quality building surveyors as a overseeing / standards body. Whilst we have RICS accreditation for the commercial works, RPSA surveys allow for greater flexibility, depth and reporting for any domestic / normal pre purchase scenarios.

An excellent voice for small practitioners and the quality / service they offer to buyers and sellers across the UK.

Myself and my family company have been members of RPSA for a number of years. We find membership of this professional body to be better than most others we have experienced, most of which are much larger. Some organisations can inevitably be impersonal and treat you as a number as their memberships are vast and their operators do not have the time to bother with social contact. I do not remember any instance during the many years, where I have not received genuine support, real and effective solutions, and a professional attitude coupled with a personal connection that doesn't leaving you feeling numb.
Contacting larger organisations takes longer as you can often be transferred several times before the right person is at the other end. With RPSA, its usually the person that answers.

An independent and forward thinking association that has clear and professional standards for all consumers.
With specialist knowledge of the residential market they will guide you on the correct survey type which will meet your needs and give you the confidence in the information to make informed decisons

As a residential surveyor, and the owner of a small independent surveying practice, I have been a member of the RPSA for nearly 5 years. Andrew and Ben are a credit to the industry. Always approachable, knowledgeable and genuinely happy to help. The advice, guidance and support which I have received has been outstanding. I strongly recommend any practicing surveyor to join the RPSA. The services they provide are invaluable and they are totally committed to helping their members.

Thank you RPSA, and thank you Andrew and Ben. Keep up your excellent efforts, your support is really appreciated.

Outstanding Professional Association – Dependable, Supportive and Forward-Thinking

As a practising residential surveyor and RPSA member, I have found the Association to be an invaluable source of professional support, guidance and representation. The RPSA genuinely understands the realities of residential surveying and works hard to raise standards across the profession, while providing its members with practical guidance, CPD and a strong independent voice.

Particular credit must go to Andrew McColl and Ben Jeffs. In my dealings with them, both have been thoroughly dependable, trustworthy and approachable. When advice or assistance is needed, they respond thoughtfully and professionally, and you always have confidence that they will do what they say they will do.

What I particularly value is that the RPSA feels like an organisation that is genuinely working for its members rather than simply administering a membership scheme. There is a real commitment to improving residential surveying and representing independent surveyors within the wider property industry.

I would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending the RPSA to any residential surveyor looking for a professional body that is knowledgeable, supportive and genuinely committed to its members. Five stars without hesitation.

The RPSA is a fantastic organisation, of which I have been a member for 4 years. Excellent communication with clients and high standards are maintained in report writing.

In my personal experience, I have completely lost confidence in RPSA as a consumer protection body.

I instructed a surveyor who was using RPSA branding and, at the same time, publicly presenting himself with qualifications and RICS-style status that he did not actually hold. When this was challenged, he later described those qualifications as “typos” and “old templates” in writing.

Instead of clearly distancing themselves from this and taking transparent action, RPSA then “administratively corrected and reinstated” his membership with continuous effect from September 2024 – effectively backdating it. That change was made after concerns had already been raised and only then allowed him to refer my case into The Property Ombudsman (TPO).

TPO have confirmed they can only look at service complaints and can typically award around £200, and they do not deal with negligence or the real financial losses. In my view, this backdated membership has had the effect of giving a problematic surveyor access to a redress scheme that was never designed to deal with the real damage caused.

From my experience:
• RPSA membership did not give me confidence in standards or enforcement.
• When serious concerns were raised about misleading qualifications, the outcome felt more like protection of a member than protection of the consumer.

My honest opinion now is that RPSA operates very differently to RICS in terms of oversight and consumer assurance. Personally, I would treat RPSA membership as a red flag rather than a reassurance and would strongly advise anyone relying on a surveyor to check their qualifications directly with the awarding body (e.g. RICS, SAVA etc.) and not assume that RPSA affiliation alone guarantees anything.

This review reflects my own experience and documented correspondence with RPSA, TPO and the surveyor involved.

In total, our family will be out of pocket to the tune of £50,000 with structural costs, Building costs, Court fees and third party witness statement and solicitor fees.

Avoid any Surveyor registered with this company at all costs. The surveyor we used for a level two survey has missed subsidence, cracking lintels, broken drainage and electrics that haven’t been fitted to standard.
It appears to be a membership body for estate agents who can make a lot of notes and take a lot of pictures but who fail to understand what’s actually happening in those pictures. Legal action will be following once we have received advice from Solicitors.

This company RPSA, seems to be operating fraudulently, We had a surveyor fraudulently claim to be a RPSA member why he done a report for a property we purchased, We had major issues, and a bill for over £20,000, We called RPSA, whom claimed the member was suspended and had no right to use there branding or LOGO, I have a email from the surveyor saying the use of RPSA was a TYPO, he refused to provide his insurance details, then somehow we got a email from RPSA saying they are backdating the membership. What is legally incorrect, then we got a response from the Surveyor laughing at us saying he is a member '' good luck '' winning the court case, what was a big smack in the face.

Legal action pending, RPSA does not act professional at all, and be warned of NICK LAKE, LAK2268 membership number. Avoid at all costs.

legal action pending.

These guys appear to have scammed us. Employed them to do a survey, they farmed it out to a "member". The survey was pathetic even though we paid for the top level 3. In all it cost us over £20k to get stuff sorted. We complained, all they did was back the guy to the hilt, even though his report didn't meet thier own guidelines. Neither they or the surveyor Michael Whitelock will confirm if he had any professional indemnity insurance. If we take him to court he's protected by an inactive, limited company, so the most we can get back is £50!
I wouldn't use these people, use RICS, when you look into the company they've had more directors resign than any other company I've ever looked at. BEWARE!