Building surveyors are trained to check the safety and condition of buildings from construction to repair and eventual demolition.
However, Azree Othuman Mydin of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) said, unlike doctors, engineers, lawyers and other regulated professions governed by specific laws, building surveyors lack specific legislation to safeguard their practice.
This left their roles open to abuse or at risk of being performed by unqualified individuals, he said.
Azree called for Parliament to enact legislation regulating building surveyors, noting that such laws already exist in countries like the UK and Australia.
“These professionals are not just consultants, but partners in long-term asset management. Without a proper Act, their work is often undervalued or sidelined,” said the dean of USM’s housing, building and planning school.
Azree warned that without clear legislation, qualified surveyors risk being left out of projects or replaced by those offering cheaper and less reliable services.
USM building surveying lecturer Nuzaihan Aras Agus Salim said building surveyors are responsible not only for assessing the condition of buildings, but also for monitoring construction activities that may impact neighbouring properties.
She said building surveyors also help owners deal with safety problems that usually arise after the usual warranty or defect liability period has ended.
“Most building safety problems and issues arise after three years,” she said.
Nuzaihan noted that in the UK, building surveyors play a key role in property transactions, helping prospective owners to ensure the structural safety of their intended purchase.
However, safety awareness was low among Malaysians, she added.
She said the Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia has for over 20 years been pushing for Parliament to enact a dedicated Building Surveyors Act.
In the UK, building surveyors are recognised under the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Those carrying the title “chartered building surveyor” must meet strict training and conduct rules.
Their reports are often needed for property transactions, insurance claims and in the rectification of building defects. The profession is tied to broader laws such as the UK’s Building Act 1984.
In Australia, each state has its own law that regulates building surveyors. For example, Victoria and New South Wales require surveyors to register under state building Acts.
These surveyors approve building plans, conduct site inspections, certify structural safety, and bear responsibility for ensuring compliance with construction regulations.