Duties And Responsibilities of Insurance Surveyor And Loss Assessor

Preface: This post was originally published in 2023 and has been updated on August 14, 2025, to provide you with the most current and accurate information.

An Insurance Surveyor and Loss Assessor is a professional licensed by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to investigate insurance claims, determine the claim amount, verify policy coverage details and assess losses incurred by an insured party due to a contingency, on behalf of the insurer.

After assessing the losses, the surveyor reports them to the insurer and the insured. It is essential for a licensed Surveyor and Loss Assessor to conduct their work with a high level of competence, objectivity and professional integrity. They must also adhere to the code of conduct as the IRDAI stipulated in its regulations. 

In this blog post, we shall discuss the duties and responsibilities of an insurance surveyor and loss assessor in the context of India. So, if you are planning to pursue a career as a Surveyor in the insurance sector, then going through this blog post will give you an idea regarding the responsibilities you’ll be expected to fulfill. 

Surveyor's Duties and Responsibilities

IRDAI has issued the following duties and responsibilities for a licensed Surveyor and Loss Assessor:

(i) Interest Declaration

The Surveyor must declare his interest in the subject matter, or it pertains to any of his relatives, business partners, or persons with material shareholding.

(ii) Updation in the furnished details

The Surveyor must inform the Authority of any update in the information or particulars it furnished at the time of license issuance. The Surveyor must report such changes within fifteen days from the date of update.

(iii) Maintain Neutrality During Claim Handling

The surveyor must maintain confidentiality and neutrality when handling a claim process. It must not jeopardize the company's liability and the policyholder's claim.

(iv) Conducting Inspection

The Surveyor must inspect and re-inspect the property in question suffering a loss.

(v) Checking Claim Legitimacy

The Surveyor and Loss Assessor must examine, inquire, investigate, verify and check all the possible causes and circumstances of the claim losses. This includes the following:

• Extent of Loss

• Nature of the Ownership

• Insurable Interest

(vi) Surveying and Assessing 

The Insurance Surveyor must conduct spot and final surveys whenever necessary. They must also analyze and submit the franchise, its excess or under insurance, and other matters. 

In addition, they must estimate, measure and determine the quantum and description of the subject under which loss has occurred.

(vii) Offering suggestions for prevention of further losses

The Insurance Surveyor must suggest to the Insurer and the insured the following to avoid further losses:

• Loss Minimization

• Loss Control

• Security

• Safety Measures

(viii) Commenting regarding Claim Admissibility

The Surveyor must comment on the claim's admissibility. It must also assess the company's liability in accordance with the insurance policy terms and conditions.

(ix) Surveying and Assessing

The Surveyor must survey and assess the loss on behalf of the Insurer. It must also satisfy the queries of both parties and entities. The Assessor must recommend the following to the Insurer:

• Applicability of Depreciation

• Percentage

• Quantum of Depreciation 

The Surveyor is also expected to give reasons for repudiation if the policy does not cover the claim. The Surveyor must arrange for an expert opinion if required.

(x) Surveyor as a Company's Director

Suppose a Surveyor, appointed as a director or a member partner in a registered Company or a Partnership Firm, is seeking a license application for a Corporate Surveyor license. 

In that case, the surveyor must conduct their surveys and issue survey reports only in the capacity of the Director or partner of the Applicant Company or the Firm.

(xi) Assessment Report Submission 

A Surveyor, appointed by the Insurer or the policyholder, must submit its assessment report to the Insurer as soon as possible. The report delivery must be within 30 days of its appointment. 

The Surveyor must submit its assessment report to the insured, giving his comments on the consent of the policyholder or loss assessment.

Conclusion

In India, the approval of IRDAI is essential to become an Insurance Surveyor and Loss Assessor. Upon grant of surveyor license, the individual is expected to fulfill certain duties and responsibilities like those explained in this post. If you want to become a surveyor, do not hesitate to connect with our consultants at Registrationwala. We’ll help you file an application with the IRDAI and help you secure the surveyor license without facing any hassle!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Which authority’s approval is required to provide loss surveyor services in India?

A. To provide loss surveyor services in India, the approval of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).

Q2. What are the various duties carried out by an insurance surveyor?

A. The various duties carried out by an insurance surveyor include conducting inspection/re-inspection of property suffering a loss, conducting spot and final surveys, commenting upon franchise, excess/under insurance, advising insurer and insured for loss minimization, security measures and loss control among others.

Q3. Which form needs to be filed with IRDAI for becoming a surveyor?

A. To become an individual surveyor, you need to file Form-1-AF with IRDAI.

Q4. Which Institute conducts examinations for individuals who want to become surveyors?

A. The Insurance Institute of India (III) conducts examinations for individuals who want to become surveyors in India. 

Author: Dushyant Sharma

Hey there, I'm Dushyant Sharma. With the extensive knowledge I've gained in past 8 years, I have been creating content on various subjects such as banking, insurance, telecom, and all the important registration and licensing processes for various companies. I'm here to help everyone with my expertise in these areas through my articles.