BUILDING SURVEYORS LONDON

Building Surveys

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Our RICS Chartered Building Surveyors hold great expertise and skill in undertaking Residential Building Surveyors to houses, flats, maisonettes and bungalows.

ZFN have developed a bespoke, meaningful building survey report that contains evidence-based photographs with annotations, technical overview of any building defects, their remedial works and budget costs.

The building survey report report provides vital information to owners and buyers alike about the condition of the property and enables clients to make an informed judgement about current issues and future liabilities regarding the building.

Our building survey report concludes by listing a summary of defects identified and their respective budget cost. Our clients are then able to use this to negotiate their purchase price.

What is a Building Surveyor?

A Building Surveyor can provide technical building advice on existing buildings, new buildings, design, compliance with regulations such as planning and building control. A Building Surveyor normally acts on behalf his or her client ensuring that their vested interests remain protected. The Royal Institution of Surveyors (RICS) is a world-recognised governing body for those working within the built environment.

A Chartered Surveyor is one who attains MRICS professional membership via the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) by undergoing rigorous training and attaining key work experience across various technical competencies set out by the RICS who then in turn test, scrutinise, examine and assess such candidates before awarding them Chartered status (MRICS).

It is therefore accurate to say that all Chartered Surveyors can be qualified building surveyors, but not all qualified building surveyors are necessarily Chartered Surveyors.

ZFN Chartered Surveyors are fully regulated by the RICS.

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Do I really need a Building Survey?

The majority of home buyers instruct for a building survey for reassurance and peace of mind. London is full of elderly properties like built in the Victorian, Georgian & Edwardian time periods. Properties built within this time period are generally reaching their 100 year anniversary and whilst they may stand strong for another 100 years; it is often prudent to survey such properties so that a clear understanding is ascertained with regards to the condition, state of repair and any potential cost liabilities that the home buyer could face once they get the keys to their new home.

On the other hand, a property that is in good condition may not necessarily require a building survey if it has been maintained well; but sometimes, instructing a building surveyor and for their technical expertise can pay itself back as some issues may require further investigation and detective work to diagnose; like we found out when undertaking a survey to a Victorian house in London with evidence of structural problems. You can read more about this here.

CASE STUDIES

Victorian House - Roofing Defect

ZFN Chartered Building Surveyors undertook a building survey for a client who had purchased a large Victorian terraced house in Waltham Forest, London.

As part of the building survey, our surveyor noticed a large damp stain to the first floor Artex ceiling. The surveyor's investigatory skills kicked in! A competent surveyor will always try to investigate causes of damp and building defects before recommending for further investigation.

The front elevation had a large bay window roof which appeared to have plain clay tiles that had moved out of place and was most likely the cause of water ingress.

ZFN Chartered Surveyors recorded this potential cause and remedy as a building defect within the survey report and issued it to our client.

Victorian House - Stonework

Whilst undertaking a building survey for a large Victorian terraced house in East London, we took moisture readings to the first floor bay window wall internally. The moisture meter readings appeared high and elevated. It is important to note here that our surveyors will always try to get to the bottom of the issue and try their hardest to establish the likely cause of any building defects, such as damp and water ingress. A detailed inspection to the front elevation of the property revealed significant damage to the Victorian stone cills. The expertise of our building surveyors meant that we were able to advise on the likely cause of this defect and the damp wall internally. Our surveyors were able to advise to the client on the required remedial works to resolve this building defect.

Bungalow Survey - Wasps Nest

ZFN Chartered Building Surveyors undertook a Building Survey to a Bungalow property in Essex.

As part of the survey, our surveyors always try to access the loft space if there is suitable and safe access.

Upon entering this loft space, our surveyor was surprised to find large wasps nest to the underside of the roof rafter!

Whilst our surveyor did not have to fend off a wasp attack, we did record this in our building survey report, recommending the client that they instruct for its removal but also to undertake a check of the roof to ensure any potential entry points are sealed off.