Chartered Surveyors in Canterbury

Canterbury is our home city, and it is one of the more demanding places in the South East to
survey properly. Within the city walls you have medieval timber frames, Georgian brick refronting,
and post-war rebuilding that replaced what was lost in the Baedeker raids of 1942 — often three
different construction eras inside a single terrace. Get the survey wrong here and you can miss
tens of thousands of pounds of liability.

What we survey in Canterbury

Our RICS chartered surveyors work across the whole city and its surrounding villages, from the
listed properties of Palace Street, Burgate and the Kings Mile through to the Victorian and
Edwardian terraces of Wincheap, Northgate and St Dunstan’s, the inter-war semis of Hales Place
and the new-build estates at Barham Downs, Highland Court and the Canterbury Riverside
development. We also cover Sturry, Bridge, Chartham, Blean, Littlebourne and the Elham Valley
villages.

Canterbury issues we look for

• Timber frame and wattle-and-daub. Many of the older city-centre buildings have
  been sealed with impermeable cement render or modern gypsum plaster, trapping moisture against
  historic timber. This is one of the most common — and most expensive — defects we report on.
• Flint and chalk foundations. Canterbury sits on chalk with river gravels along
  the Stour. Shallow historic footings, tree-related heave and old wells or cellars beneath the city
  all show up in movement patterns we see regularly.
• Flood risk along the Stour. Parts of Wincheap, St Mildred’s, Sturry and
  Fordwich sit within Environment Agency Flood Zones 2 and 3. We flag it, and we tell you what it
  means for insurance and for resale.
• Listed building and conservation area consent. Canterbury has a large central
  conservation area and a very high concentration of listed buildings. Unauthorised alterations by a
  previous owner become your enforcement problem. We check what has been done against what
  was permitted.
• HMO conversions. With two universities in the city, a large number of houses
  have been converted for student letting. We report on the standard of the conversion, fire
  separation, and whether the licensing position stacks up.

Surveys and valuations we offer in Canterbury

RICS Home Survey Level 2 (Homebuyer) and Level 3 (Building Survey), structural and specific
defect reports, damp and timber investigations, Red Book valuations for probate, capital gains
tax, matrimonial and Help to Buy purposes, party wall notices and awards, schedules of condition,
and expert witness reports. If you are unsure which report you need, tell us the age and
construction of the property and we will tell you honestly — including when the cheaper option is
the right one.

Services we provide in Canterbury

• RICS Home Survey Level 2 (Homebuyer Survey) and Level 3 (Building Survey)
• Structural surveys, specific defect reports and crack and movement assessment
• Damp, timber and condensation investigations
• Red Book valuations for probate, capital gains tax, matrimonial and shared ownership
• Party wall notices, awards and disputes under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996
• Schedules of condition, dilapidations and commercial building surveys
• New build snagging inspections and professional consultant’s certificates

Canterbury survey questions we are asked most

How quickly can you survey a property in Canterbury?

In most weeks we can inspect within two to four working days and issue the report within a further two to three working days. If you are up against an exchange deadline, say so when you enquire and we will tell you honestly whether we can meet it.

Do I need a Level 2 or a Level 3 survey in Canterbury?

As a rule of thumb: post-1960, conventional construction and visibly well maintained, a Level 2 is usually adequate. Anything listed, timber-framed, pre-1900, heavily extended, or showing signs of movement or damp should have a Level 3. We will give you a straight answer before you book.

Can you value a property in Canterbury for probate?

Yes. We are RICS registered valuers and prepare Red Book date-of-death valuations that satisfy HMRC for inheritance tax purposes, including for listed and unusual Canterbury property where comparable evidence is thin.

Book a surveyor in Canterbury. Call us or use the enquiry form below and we will come back to you the same working day with a fixed fee and the earliest available inspection date.