Grade 2 damp and timber survey

[MrsJelly]

Has anybody used somebody they liked / would use again? We are trying to find a London based person to take a look at a place we want to buy but can’t seem to find much via Google that isn’t Kenwood type. Smiths sounded good but are very booked.

 

[Cubist]

It may be an idea to call your local authorities Building Control Office or check their website. Their Conservation Officer/team may be prepared to suggest someone in the area.

 

[NecessaryWing]

Has anybody used somebody they liked / would use again? We are trying to find a London based person to take a look at a place we want to buy but can’t seem to find much via Google that isn’t Kenwood type. Smiths sounded good but are very booked.

We used this company for a damp and timber survey.

https://www.heritage-consulting.org/

They were excellent. I think they travel anywhere - we are north London. When we bought the house, we’d had a standard Level 3 survey which flagged numerous damp issues we weren’t convinced by. At the time — during the last stamp duty relief period — we had to go with whoever was available.

After moving in, contacted Heritage Consulting, as they specialise solely in period properties. We had a damp and timber survey to use as a second opinion. The difference in findings and advice compared with the initial full building survey was huge. In fact, following the first survey’s recommendations would have caused real harm to parts of the house.

For example, the initial survey described our cellar as “very damp” and advised cement tanking. Joe from Heritage Consulting carried out carbide tests on several bricks and found the walls were actually very dry — no action needed, except for one cement-rendered wall which was saturated. His advice was to remove that wall render as soon as possible — the complete opposite of the original recommendation.

Hope you find someone - good luck.