From Policing to Surveying
Retrain for a respected, structured second career where your investigative mindset, attention to detail, professionalism, and people skills are already highly valuable. Study part time with the Sava School of Surveying.
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A Professional Career After the Police
Residential surveyors are the "house detectives" inspecting people’s homes for issues and defects and reporting on property condition. As a surveyor, you'll typically be offering your expert advice to homebuyers, owners and housing providers as they invest in their properties.
Your experience in policing has already built many of the core skills successful residential surveyors rely on every day — investigation, evidence-based judgement, report writing, communication, professionalism, and attention to detail.
What does a residential surveyor do?
As a residential surveyor, you'll be qualified work independently or join an established surveying firm to carry out condition surveys and valuation reports on residential properties. This will involve:
- Researching and inspecting people's homes for issues and defects such as damp, structural movement and wood rot
- Writing up professional condition and valuation reports
- Communicating your findings to homebuyers, owners and housing providers
Your expert advice will help people better understand their property investments so they can make more informed decisions.
Degree-alternative training
Train part-time with the Sava School of Surveying and you can make the transition into residential surveying without giving up your current role.
Our Level 6, degree-alternative surveying qualification is approved for direct entry into the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) – professional body membership that shows you're serious about surveying.
Why do police officers transition well into surveying?
Many former police officers find surveying appealing because it retains the investigative and professional elements of their previous role, while offering better work-life balance, flexibility and control over their workload. And your transferable skills will also stand you in good stead:
Identifying risks
As a residential surveyor, you'll be the trusted expert inspecting properties for any potential hazards that could be dangerous and/or costly to repair.
Investigating issues
You'll follow evidence trails to not only identify issues and defects in people's homes, but also work out the root cause - or refer the client to someone who can.
Professional reporting
Your report-writing experience will be advantageous as you collate your property findings to write up a clear and detailed condition report for your client.
Clear communication
Your role doesn't stop with sharing the report. Many surveyors will follow up with a call to their clients to talk through their findings and unpick any technical details.
"In policing, the hours were extremely long and I had a young family so I wanted a change...I didn’t have time for a lengthy theoretical course. I needed a course that was vocational and focused specifically on residential property, something that would lead me into a career. And that’s what Sava gave me."
Chris Moran
Sava School of Surveying graduate | Owner of Christopher Moran Residential Surveying | Awarded RICS Residential Surveyor of the Year 2024
Qualifying Through the Sava School of Surveying
We offer the UK's leading professional route into residential surveying through our Level 6 Diploma in Residential Surveying and Valuation. This industry-recognised qualification opens the door to a rewarding and respected career in surveying, perfect for complete career changers.
How does our surveyor training work?
Unlike a university where the focus is on theory, at the Sava School of Surveying we value applied learning through practical, hands-on teaching, giving you the skills and knowledge to practise as soon as you emerge from the programme.
You can expect:
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Part-time learning
You'll train through a blend of face-to-face, virtual and online learning, with an average of two contact days per month.
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Accredited training
Our qualifications are accredited by the Awarding Body for the Built Environment (ABBE) and regulated by Ofqual.
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Expert tutors
Our trainers are all renowned surveyors, valuers and property professionals who are active in their fields.
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In-demand qualification
Our surveying graduates are sought-after by UK surveying firms, and have a 95% employment rate based on our recent graduate survey results.
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Professional memberships
Direct entry into the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE).
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High salary prospects
On average, Sava surveying graduates are earning a basic salary of £60k after just two years in the field.
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Talk To Us
If you're ready to take your career in a new direction, get in touch with a Sava School of Surveying course advisor today. We can take you through the exciting role of a residential surveyor and how our surveying diploma can help you get there. Talk to us to explore:
- Upcoming intakes and locations
- Modules and assessment methods
- Course fees and payment options
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Sava School of Surveying, 4 Mill Square, Featherstone Road, Milton Keynes MK12 5ZD E: hello@sava.co.uk T: 01908 672787
Sava School of Surveying is the trading name of Sava Limited (registered in England, number 01753762).
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