CABE: The Gold Standard for Residential Surveying Professionals
As part of AMSurveys’ commitment to the highest professional standards, we proudly highlight our association with the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE). CABE stands as a unique professional body, particularly through its dedicated Residential Surveyor Section (RSS).
This section provides a crucial guarantee that its members are not just generally qualified professionals, but genuinely skilled and accredited Chartered Building Engineers whose day-job is specifically inspecting, diagnosing, and reporting on homes. Unlike broader professional institutes, you won't find auctioneers, estate agents, or "honorary fellows" here; every RSS member must pass a rigorous competency interview and portfolio review before the coveted MCABE letters are awarded, ensuring they can truly "do what it says on the tin".
This specialist surveying sector within CABE is, in fact, the only one in the industry that provides this explicit guarantee of dedicated residential surveying expertise. This matters more than ever in ensuring buyers receive the most competent and reliable advice. CABE’s RSS, which is launching nationwide in summer 2025, adds a second-layer skills test on top of general chartership, ensuring buyers know their surveyor truly has proven competence in home assessments.
While other institutes may be broad "churches," CABE’s residential pathway offers a single-discipline focus, purpose-built for home surveys, defect diagnosis, and retrofit advice. Furthermore, members follow a strict code of conduct and must maintain continuous professional development (CPD), with CABE able to (and actively doing so) discipline under-performers, upholding regulated ethics.
Andrew McColl’s Role in CABE
Andrew is proud to be both a Chartered Member and the Chairman of the RPSA. This unique dual hat allows him to actively contribute to and shape the future of residential surveying standards from multiple perspectives. Andrew leverages this position to:
- Sit on CABE’s Residential Surveyor Section Steering Group, directly shaping standards and assessment routes.
Align RPSA & CABE guidance, ensuring that whichever badge you see – RPSA or MCABE – you know the surveyor meets the same high bar for quality and competence.
- Advises surveyors who want to achieve chartered status, actively raising competence across the entire sector.
What You Get When You Book a CABE-Chartered Professional through AMSurveys
Choosing a professional with CABE accreditation, particularly within the Residential Surveyor Section, offers distinct advantages:
- Chartered status: This isn't just an honorary title; it requires a mandatory evidence-based interview and portfolio sign-off, with no "grandfathering" of qualifications.
- Residential Surveyor Section seal: This signifies an extra, home-specific competence test beyond general chartership, assuring you of specialist expertise.
- Truly independent: Like AMSurveys, CABE members uphold principles of independence with zero referral fees, ensuring their only duty is to you, the client.
- Nationwide reach: CABE members cover England, Wales & Northern Ireland, bringing local knowledge to your specific area with the backing of a national, reputable body.
Need clarity on a chartership, the new RSS pathway, or how CABE dovetails with RPSA reports? Drop us a line – Andrew is always happy to demystify the alphabet soup and point you to the right professional for your project.
