Chartered Surveyors in Herne Bay

Herne Bay is largely a Victorian and Edwardian seaside town with a substantial belt of inter-war
and post-war housing behind it, plus newer development towards Greenhill and Broomfield. Prices are
lower than Whitstable and the buyer profile is different, but the survey issues are just as real.

What we check in Herne Bay

The big-ticket items are usually roofs and rainwater goods on the tall Victorian terraces near the
seafront, where access costs mean maintenance has often been deferred for decades. Bay windows on
these properties frequently show differential settlement. Along the coast we assess exposure,
render failure and window condition, and inland we look closely at the 1930s semis for cavity tie
failure, chimney stack condition and the quality of any rear extension. Parts of the town sit on
London Clay, so seasonal clay movement and drainage-related subsidence are on our list.

Surveys in Herne Bay

Homebuyer Level 2 reports work well for the better-maintained inter-war stock. Seafront Victorian
property almost always justifies a Level 3.

Services we provide in Herne Bay

• 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

Every report is produced by an RICS regulated chartered surveyor, written in plain English, and
delivered with photographs, a clear summary of the significant findings and an indication of likely
repair costs.

Herne Bay survey questions we are asked most

Is a Homebuyer Survey enough for a Herne Bay seafront flat?

For a flat in a converted Victorian house, usually not. The expensive elements — roof, main structure, common parts — are shared, and a Level 2 report will not go far enough into them. We would normally recommend a Level 3 inspection of the building plus a review of the service charge and major works history.

What causes the cracking I keep seeing in 1930s Herne Bay semis?

Most of it is historic settlement and thermal movement rather than active subsidence, and it does not need underpinning. The pattern, width and location of the cracks, and whether they are still moving, are what tell us apart. We report on that specifically rather than leaving you to guess.

Book a surveyor in Herne Bay. 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.