What does your role involve?
My job as a response surveyor is to go out to properties which have possible building defects and to figure out what the problem is. I then raise the repairs required to our internal team or contractors to resolve.
Some building defects can be challenging to identify, but I enjoy the challenge of identifying complex issues, and raising works to resolve.
How long have you been at Selwood Housing?
I’ve been at Selwood Housing for about two years now. I previously worked at another housing association where opportunities were limited, so progression and development were hard to come by. As a result, I looked to make the move into another housing association. Selwood Housing were local to me, so it seemed like a good suit. When I joined Selwood Housing, I was pleasantly surprised by the opportunities available.
What does a typical day at work look like?
A typical day in my role as a response surveyor involves a huddle in the morning. This is where we get together collectively with other surveyors and management and discuss any issues and queries we may have. Following that, it’s normally a morning of inspections around different properties, and back at my desk in the afternoon. I go through emails raising works for our internal team and contractors, and answer any queries from our customers and internal staff.
We look at a wide range of things, mainly damp and mould at the minute, but it could be external works or internal works of any variation. Our days can be quite varied. There can be a lot of admin work involved in what we do, but we get a good mix of on-site and desk work. It’s nicely balanced.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy problem-solving, and I enjoy how we work together as one team within Selwood Housing to resolve issues. I also like the responsibility of the job; we manage our own calendars and can make various decisions.
It's great to be able to progress and develop in my job role. It’s also very rewarding having a positive impact on our customers by raising repairs and tackling issues that our customers can find deeply frustrating.
How have you managed to progress your career at Selwood?
When I first started at Selwood Housing I was working as a multi-trade operative, carrying out repairs. While I was in that position, an opportunity came up for an entry level surveyor role. It looked interesting, and progression is something I’ve always wanted. I applied for the position, and I was awarded it. As part of my development plan, I was required to attend Bath College to gain my HNC qualification. That course has now been completed and a new qualification obtained. Selwood Housing have given me the opportunity to progress from tradesman to surveyor, and with the support of Selwood Housing, I’m achieving this.
What advice would you give anyone thinking of joining Selwood?
My advice would be to apply and show an interest in anything relevant Selwood Housing have to offer. Joining Selwood Housing has given new opportunities not available in any of my previous employments. I should have made the move sooner!
