Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction

Welcome to My Local Surveyors Direct Ltd ("we", "our", "us", "the Company"). These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of our website mylocalsurveyorsdirect.co.uk and our property surveying services.

By accessing our website or using our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not use our website or services.

2. Definitions

• "Client" or "You" refers to the individual or entity using our services.
• "Services" refers to property surveying services, including building surveys, HomeBuyer reports, energy performance certificates, valuations, and related services provided through our network.
• "Surveyor" refers to the accredited building surveyor, domestic energy assessor, or property professional assigned to conduct your survey.
• "Website" refers to mylocalsurveyorsdirect.co.uk and all associated pages and subdomains.
• "Survey Report" refers to the written report produced by the Surveyor following inspection of the property.

3. Our Services

3.1 Service Description

My Local Surveyors Direct connects home buyers and property owners with accredited building surveyors, domestic energy assessors, and property professionals across the UK. Our services include:

• Building Surveys (RICS Level 3 surveys)
• HomeBuyer Reports (RICS Level 2 surveys)
• Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
• Property Valuations
• Commercial Property Surveys
• Snagging Surveys for new builds
• Specific Defect Surveys

3.2 Service Arrangement

We act as an intermediary, connecting you with qualified surveyors in our network. While we coordinate appointments and facilitate the service, the survey itself is conducted by an independent, accredited professional.

3.3 Surveyor Qualifications

All surveyors in our network hold appropriate qualifications and memberships with recognized professional bodies, including RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building), or RPSA (Residential Property Surveyors Association).

4. Booking and Appointments

4.1 Making a Booking

To book a survey, you must:

• Complete our online contact form or contact us directly
• Provide accurate property information and contact details
• Specify the type of survey required
• Confirm your preferred appointment dates

4.2 Booking Confirmation

Once we receive your booking request, we will:

• Assign a suitable surveyor from our network
• Provide a written quotation outlining the scope and cost of the service
• Confirm the appointment date and time
• Provide surveyor contact details

4.3 Property Access

You are responsible for ensuring the surveyor has full access to the property on the agreed appointment date. This includes:

• Coordinating access with current owners, occupiers, or estate agents
• Ensuring utilities (electricity, water) are operational
• Providing access to all areas, including lofts, basements, and outbuildings
• Removing any obstructions that may prevent thorough inspection

4.4 Rescheduling

If you need to reschedule, please provide at least 48 hours' notice. Appointments rescheduled with less than 48 hours' notice may incur a rescheduling fee of £50-£100, depending on the survey type.

4.5 Cancellations

See Section 7 for cancellation terms and refund policies.

5. Fees and Payment

5.1 Pricing

Survey fees vary based on:

• Type of survey required
• Property size, type, and age
• Property location
• Complexity of the inspection
• Urgency of service delivery

All fees will be clearly outlined in your written quotation before you confirm your booking.

5.2 Payment Terms

Payment is typically required:

• At booking: For most survey services, full payment is required when you confirm your appointment.
• On invoice: For commercial clients or bulk bookings, payment terms may be agreed on a case-by-case basis (typically 7-14 days from invoice date).

5.3 Accepted Payment Methods

We accept payment via:

• Credit/Debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)
• Bank transfer (BACS)
• Online payment platforms (as specified at checkout)

5.4 Additional Charges

Additional charges may apply for:

• Late cancellations or rescheduling (see Section 4.4)
• Properties requiring specialist equipment or access
• Rush services (surveys required within 48 hours)
• Travel to remote locations (by prior agreement)

5.5 VAT

All prices are quoted inclusive of VAT at the current UK rate, unless otherwise stated.

6. Survey Reports

6.1 Report Delivery

Survey reports will be delivered within the timeframe specified in your quotation, typically:

• Energy Performance Certificates: 24-48 hours
• HomeBuyer Reports: 3-5 working days
• Building Surveys: 5-7 working days
• Complex surveys: Up to 10 working days

Reports are delivered electronically via email in PDF format, unless alternative arrangements are agreed.

6.2 Report Content

Survey reports are based on a visual inspection of accessible areas of the property on the date of the survey. Reports do not include:

• Invasive investigations (e.g., lifting floorboards, removing wall coverings)
• Testing of electrical, gas, or drainage systems (unless specifically commissioned)
• Asbestos surveys or environmental testing
• Areas inaccessible during the inspection

6.3 Report Limitations

Survey reports represent the surveyor's professional opinion based on the inspection. They do not constitute:

• A structural engineer's report
• A guarantee or warranty
• An exact cost estimate for repairs
• Confirmation that defects will or will not worsen

6.4 Report Ownership

The survey report is prepared for the named client and may not be shared, reproduced, or relied upon by third parties without written consent from the surveyor.

7. Cancellation and Refunds

7.1 Client Cancellation

• More than 48 hours before appointment: Full refund minus £25 administration fee
• 24-48 hours before appointment: 50% refund
• Less than 24 hours before appointment: No refund
• No-show (without notice): No refund

7.2 Surveyor Cancellation

In rare cases, if the surveyor cannot attend the scheduled appointment (e.g., illness, emergency), we will:

• Offer to reschedule at no extra cost
• Provide a full refund if rescheduling is not possible
• Arrange an alternative surveyor if time-sensitive

7.3 Property Access Issues

If the surveyor cannot access the property due to issues on your side (e.g., no keys available, locked rooms, obstructions), this will be treated as a client cancellation with less than 24 hours' notice (no refund).

7.4 Refund Process

Approved refunds will be processed within 5-10 working days to the original payment method.

8. Liability and Insurance

8.1 Professional Indemnity Insurance

All surveyors in our network carry professional indemnity insurance covering their survey work. Cover typically ranges from £1 million to £10 million, depending on the surveyor and survey type.

8.2 Our Liability

My Local Surveyors Direct acts as an intermediary connecting clients with surveyors. Our liability is limited to:

• Ensuring surveyors hold appropriate qualifications and insurance
• Coordinating appointments and facilitating communication
• Processing payments and issuing invoices

We are not liable for the surveyor's professional opinions, survey findings, or any errors or omissions in the survey report. Such claims should be directed to the surveyor who conducted the inspection.

8.3 Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• Our total liability for any claim arising from our services shall not exceed the fees paid for that specific service.
• We are not liable for indirect, consequential, or punitive damages, including loss of profits, loss of business, or property damage resulting from reliance on survey reports.
• We do not warrant that our website will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free from viruses.

8.4 Your Responsibilities

You acknowledge that:

• Survey reports are advisory documents and should be considered alongside other information when making property decisions.
• Further specialist investigations may be recommended by the surveyor.
• You should seek legal, financial, and technical advice before proceeding with property transactions.

9. Intellectual Property

9.1 Website Content

All content on our website, including text, images, logos, graphics, and software, is the property of My Local Surveyors Direct Ltd or our licensors and is protected by UK and international copyright laws.

9.2 Permitted Use

You may view, download, and print pages from our website for personal, non-commercial use, provided you:

• Do not modify or reproduce content
• Do not remove copyright or proprietary notices
• Do not use content for commercial purposes without written permission

9.3 Survey Report Copyright

Survey reports remain the intellectual property of the surveyor who prepared them. You receive a license to use the report for the specific property transaction but may not reproduce or distribute it without consent.

10. Website Use

10.1 Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• Use our website for any unlawful purpose
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or data
• Introduce viruses, malware, or harmful code
• Scrape, harvest, or extract data from our website
• Impersonate another person or misrepresent your identity
• Interfere with other users' access to the website

10.2 User-Generated Content

If you submit reviews, comments, or other content to our website:

• You grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, and publish that content.
• You warrant that your content is original, accurate, and does not infringe third-party rights.
• We reserve the right to remove content that violates these Terms or is inappropriate.

11. Data Protection and Privacy

We collect, use, and protect your personal information in accordance with UK GDPR and our Privacy Policy. By using our services, you consent to our data practices as described in the Privacy Policy.

12. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., surveyor profiles, industry resources). We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or privacy practices of external sites. Your use of third-party websites is at your own risk.

13. Complaints and Disputes

13.1 Complaints Procedure

If you are dissatisfied with our services, please contact us via our Contact Form with details of your complaint. We will:

• Acknowledge your complaint within 2 working days
• Investigate thoroughly and respond within 10 working days
• Work with you to resolve the issue fairly

13.2 Disputes with Surveyors

If you have a complaint about the survey itself (e.g., report quality, surveyor conduct), we will facilitate communication with the surveyor. However, professional disputes are ultimately between you and the surveyor, who may have their own complaints procedure and professional body oversight (e.g., RICS Regulation).

13.3 Alternative Dispute Resolution

If we cannot resolve a dispute through our complaints procedure, you may refer the matter to an independent alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider or seek legal advice.

14. Termination

We reserve the right to:

• Refuse service to any individual or entity
• Terminate your access to our website if you breach these Terms
• Cancel bookings if we suspect fraudulent activity

Termination does not affect your rights to completed services or our rights to payment for services rendered.

15. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or business practices. Updated Terms will be posted on this page with a new "Last updated" date.

Continued use of our website or services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

16. Force Majeure

We are not liable for delays or failures to perform our obligations due to events beyond our reasonable control, including:

• Natural disasters (floods, storms, earthquakes)
• Government actions or restrictions
• Pandemics or public health emergencies
• Strikes or labor disputes
• Technical failures or internet outages

In such cases, we will make reasonable efforts to fulfill obligations or reschedule services.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable by a court, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

18. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and My Local Surveyors Direct Ltd regarding your use of our website and services, superseding any prior agreements or understandings.

19. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from these Terms or our services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

20. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, please contact us: