WELCOME TO NOTTING HILL CHARTERED BUILDING SURVEYORS.
Our panel of Chartered Surveyors is strategically situated across various locales in Notting Hill. They are qualified and/or accredited to manage anything and everything related to residential surveying with the utmost professionalism.
This well-assembled team extends its warm services to all who need them for anything from RICS HomeBuyer Reports and Basic to Full Building to Expert Witness or Party Wall services, as well as Valuations and Leasehold Enfranchisement.
Notting Hill Surveyors is proud to offer a service that feels personal. Each project receives attention and assistance in negotiation between agents and the freeholders of the properties that are in dispute. The surveyors are specialists, each with their own area of expertise, enabling you to make informed decisions on your property.
Fill out the contact form, and our booking agent will furnish you with a quote.
Building Survey Quotation
We make sure that your structural survey reports are:
- Easy to understand (less jargon, more Plain English)
- Professionally regulated (with members of RICS, CIOB, and/or RPSA)
- Industry-standard (covering all the fundamental elements)
- Low-cost and best-priced
- In-depth (desktop research and/or thorough site investigation)
- Local (your surveyor will know your area well)
- Extra advice (about defects, repairs, maintenance, and budgeting)
- Post-survey care (your surveyor is still here for you after we hand the report over)
- Fast (3-5 working days typical turnaround)
Party Wall
- Plan checks provided at no cost
- Free, immediate consultations
- Fixed report prices
- 24-hour notice/report preparation and submission
- 24-hour response to email and/or phone calls
- tips on avoiding hidden statutory costs
- performance guarantee
- 1-week* completion
- Fast (3-5 working days typical turnaround)
Property Value / Valuations
Property Condition / Dilapidations
Legal Disputes / Matrimonial Valuation
Inheritance Tax / Probate
Building Insurance / Reinstatement Cost Assessment
FAQs
Is a Property Survey Needed?
If you’re looking to buy a house, it’s always a good idea to have a property survey done. It will bring to light any particular problems that may need fixing. If you really want the house or flat, you can use the survey and its findings to negotiate a lower price, arguing that you will need to do the respective work to make the house right. If you don’t want the place after all, you can use the survey as proof that the house is not worth what the seller is asking.
What Type of Property Survey do I Need?
Getting an efficient property survey performed can yield the most vital and useful information in a property transaction. It can disclose the property’s construction and any likely issues it has now or is susceptible to in the future. This knowledge can be a dealmaker or a dealbreaker when it comes to deciding about the purchase. Before purchasing, though, you need to choose between key types of property survey:
- Valuation Report
- Snagging Survey
- Condition Report (Level 1 Survey)
- Homebuyers Survey (Level 2 Survey)
- Building Survey (Level 3 Survey)
Every kind of property survey is unique and possesses its own particular set of investigations. These are better suited to some types of property than to others. For example, the survey that gives you the most information—the Level 3 Survey—provides the best amount of detail about your property, inside and out. Here is an overview of different types of survey so you know which to choose from.
What is the HomeBuyer Survey (Level 2 Survey)?
Currently called a RICS Home Survey Level 2 Report, the HomeBuyers Survey is appropriate for the majority of purchasers and contemporary buildings. The homebuyer survey estimates are used to engage a trusted surveyor who will inspect the property and produce a truthful report.
A Level 2 Survey typically runs around £600. This comprehensive assessment checks the property from top to bottom, inside and out. They give a condition rating of 1, 2, or 3, with 1 being that the home is in good condition and 3 meaning it has serious problems that threaten its value. They cover all deficiencies and any signs of something that might develop into an apparent defect. This is what they include in the reports:
Internal
- Chimney breasts & Joinery
- Damp & Condensation
- Woodworm and Rot
- Ceilings
- Walls & Floors
External
- Roof Space: Full Roof Inspection
- Windows & Doors
- Chimneys
- Gutters
- Main Walls
- Boundary walls
- Drainage & Boundaries
- Fences
Other
- Conservatories
- Garages & Permanent Outbuildings
- Tenure
- Services
Alongside the Level 2 home survey, surveyors can provide an additional service: valuation. They may include this if it is necessary to fully address your needs which you should discuss at quotation. If you require a valuation for your mortgage, first ensure that your lender will accept the type of report you are ordering. Also, check to see if you will need a Full Building Survey (Level 3) or a Homebuyer’s Survey (Level 2).
What is in a Building Survey (Level 3 Survey)?
An RICS Building Survey, which is a Level 3 Building Survey, gives the most thorough and detailed of reports on a building’s condition and construction. These surveys are so detailed that the surveyors conducting them must research internal and external property factors as well as hard-to-reach areas. In conducting this work, they put in a significant amount of time and effort. Because of this, the RICS Building Survey is the most expensive type of survey we offer. Generally, the cost is around £750, although it can fall as low as £600 and go as high as £2,500. This kind of survey is appropriate for all types of buildings, but especially ones that are:
- Historic or Listed
- Above 80 years old
- Poor condition
- Situated within a Conservation Area
- Unconventional construction (e.g. PRC)
- Altered in some way
- Not with Building Regulations approval
We advise you to have a Building Survey done if you plan to buy a large or expensive home; a property with a long history, such as an old build, a cottage, or a home needing renovation; or a period property. While a Building Survey quote can seem like an unnecessary expense, it can save you more money in the future if the property turns out to have serious issues that could impact its structural integrity or your safety. The survey looks for many clues, including the following:
- Dangerous materials
- Structural issues
- Illegal alterations
- Damp
- Other defects and remedies
It’s vital that you know the building is safe and any alterations you’re planning can be done feasibly. Your Chartered Surveyor will be in touch after you have accepted the Level 3 survey quote and will be happy to talk to you about the property before and/or after the inspection.
What is the Cost of a Valuation Report?
A valuation report from a CIOB, RPSA or RICS surveyor will present you with the genuine market value of your property or the one you are looking to purchase. For an average property in the UK worth around £250,000, it costs approximately £500. However, for larger or more expensive properties over £1,000,000, it can set you back as much as £1,500.
The report is worth it if you’re concerned that the price tag might be inflated. It is even more worthwhile if you have good reason to believe that the property might be undervalued. All are conducted by accredited Registered Valuers to give you confidence pre/post-purchase.
You must keep in mind, however, that this is not a building survey. It will not reach any detailed conclusion about the condition of the property. Lenders will usually conduct a mortgage valuation for free, but this may be skewed in their favour and they will not assess the property condition. It is very much in your interest to obtain a separate and independent building survey and valuation.
You will definitely also require a reinstatement/build cost assessment for your mortgage and insurance as well. This calculates how much it would cost to rebuild your specific property if it were demolished.
What does a snagging survey include?
When you purchase a new building, make sure to get a snagging survey. This will identify any issues that don’t meet the warranty requirements. It’s also designed to catch any ‘snags’ before you move in for convenience purposes—these are usually minor or cosmetic issues.
The common snags that the surveyor will look for are unfinished jobs, loose handles/taps, broken tiles, etc. The snagging survey will then be presented to the developers. They will work on the issues identified in the snagging survey, meaning you don’t have to spend time and money on these.
What will a Party Wall Survey do?
If your neighbour either declines or does not respond to a request for a party wall notice, that is when you most need the help of a party wall surveyor.
You are required by law to serve a notice when you plan to do notifiable work (digging or building a wall next to your neighbour or working on a shared wall). If there is any dispute with your neighbour over the wall, then you also need to appoint a surveyor to help resolve the issue.
When there is disagreement over a proposed plan, standard practice is to have a surveyor look over things and determine what work needs doing. After the decision is rendered in the form of a Party Wall Award, the parties will be legally bound to follow the terms.
