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The Heritage Surveying Company: Comprehensive Property Assessment Services

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Surveying Expertise for Heritage Properties

The Heritage Surveying Company is a family-run heritage property consultancy specialising in the expert care and preservation of English listed buildings. With 30 years of combined experience, we provide a complete service tailored to the specific needs of historic architecture, with Chartered Surveyor expertise available where required.

Our work focuses exclusively on period properties — from timber-framed medieval cottages to grand Georgian townhouses. This deep immersion in traditional construction gives us a thorough understanding of how historic buildings perform and how they should be protected. We believe that heritage property requires more than just a survey; it requires measured, informed professional judgement rooted in conservation principles.

Listed homes demand an informed approach. From solid walls and lime-based materials to breathable construction methods, we offer conservation-led advice that prevents the lasting damage caused by inappropriate modern repairs. Where formal RICS-regulated reporting is necessary, instructions are undertaken by a Chartered Surveyor.

Based in Chichester, we provide detailed guidance on listed building requirements, delivered with a warm tone and professional precision.

We provide a straightforward, jargon-free service that respects the history of your property and the needs of those who live in it. As a family practice, we handle every instruction with genuine care, ensuring that England’s architectural legacy is preserved with integrity for generations to come.

SERVICES

RICS Level 3 Survey

Essential for listed and period properties. Our most thorough structural audit focusing on historical fabric conservation and remedial bespoke repair strategies.

Home Buyer Survey

A comprehensive assessment for traditional homes. We identify defects and provide professional risk ratings to guide your property investment with over 30 years of expertise.

Heritage Inspections

Specialist diagnostics for unique historical features. Expert guidance on damp management, timber decay, and compliance with listed building regulations.

A LEGACY OF PRESERVATION

Expert Guidance for Heritage Properties Across England

My career has been defined by a lifelong immersion in heritage buildings, a journey shaped by the meticulous care and specialized knowledge required for listed architectural conservation. At The Heritage Surveying Company, we transform this personal legacy into scholarly stewardship for England's historical assets. Our family-run consultancy blends decades of hands-on experience with academic precision, ensuring that the integrity and historical context of every property we consult on are honored and preserved for future generations.

Level 1 – Heritage Condition Report
(Entry-level overview for buyers needing general reassurance)

  • Suitable for
  • - Buyers with some renovation budget in mind
  • - Properties that appear generally well maintained
  • - Lower-risk purchases (cash buyers or experienced owners)
  • What’s included
  • - Visual inspection of all accessible internal and external areas
  • - Roof covering, chimneys and rainwater goods (from ground or drone, if available)
  • - Walls, including stone/brick condition, pointing and render issues
  • - Windows and doors, including timber condition and glazing type
  • - Checks for signs of movement or structural cracking
  • - Damp assessment based on visual indicators only (no invasive testing)
  • - Basic visual overview of services (electrics, plumbing, heating)
  • - Identification of obvious defects that may affect value
  • - Comment on visible risks relating to listed status and obvious unauthorised changes
  • Report format
  • - Clear traffic light (RAG) condition ratings
  • - Summary of urgent defects and main concerns
  • - Broad budget estimate ranges for key repairs
  • - Typically 20–40 pages in length
  • Not included
  • - Detailed structural analysis
  • - Technical repair specifications
  • - Conservation method or materials advice
  • - Any invasive investigation

Level 2 – Heritage Building Survey (Recommended for Most Listed Homes)
(Equivalent to a RICS Level 3 but tailored to heritage construction)

  • Suitable for
  • - Most Grade II listed properties
  • - Timber frame, solid wall, stone and lime mortar buildings
  • - Buyers planning alterations or renovation
  • What’s included
  • - Everything in Level 1, plus:
  • - Detailed structural assessment of:
  •   - Timber frame (if visible)
  •   - Roof structure
  •   - Floor structures
  • - Damp diagnosis based on traditional breathable construction
  • - Assessment of inappropriate modern materials (cement render, gypsum plaster, injected DPCs)
  • - Commentary on chimney stack and flue condition
  • - Review of outbuildings and boundary walls
  • - Drainage observations
  • - Detailed defect analysis (cause, implications, repair options)
  • - Maintenance prioritisation plan (1-year and 5-year guidance)
  • - Advice on likely Listed Building Consent requirements
  • - Commentary on reinstatement risks where historic features have been removed
  • - Approximate repair cost guidance (more refined than Level 1)
  • Report format
  • - Narrative style report (no tick-box format)
  • - Photographic evidence throughout
  • - Typically 40–80 pages in length
  • - Clear explanation of traditional construction methods
  • Optional add-ons
  • - Drone roof survey
  • - Thermal imaging
  • - Moisture profiling

Level 3 – Full Heritage & Conservation Survey
(Specialist investigation level – for high-value, complex or heavily altered properties)

  • Suitable for
  • - High-value or large Grade II properties
  • - Grade II* or Grade I buildings
  • - Thatched, medieval or heavily altered structures
  • - Properties showing signs of structural movement
  • - Buyers planning major renovation or extension
  • Structural and fabric investigation
  • - Everything included in Levels 1 and 2, plus:
  • - In-depth analysis of movement and historic settlement
  • - Timber decay risk assessment (rot, beetle and fungal risk)
  • - Commentary on roof spread and structural loading
  • - Guidance on lime mortar and other historic fabric
  • - Assessment of previous structural repairs
  • Conservation and compliance review
  • - Review of historic alterations
  • - Risk analysis of unauthorised works
  • - Guidance on Listed Building Consent pathways
  • - Repair philosophy aligned with conservation principles
  • - Advice aligned with Historic England best practice
  • Repair strategy
  • - Outline repair specifications (lime, oak and other traditional methods)
  • - Phased works plan (short, medium and long term)
  • - More accurate cost guidance for repair works
  • - Identification of where specialist contractors are required
  • Documentation review (if provided)
  • - Review of previous planning and listed building consent documents
  • - Review of historic surveys
  • - Review of structural engineer reports
  • Report format
  • - Fully narrative technical report
  • - Extensive photographic evidence
  • - Defect mapping diagrams where needed
  • - Typically 70–120+ pages in length

READY TO PROTECT YOUR HERITAGE?

Request a professional consultation for home buyer inspections, or dedicated heritage reporting. Our expert surveyors ensure your historical assets are documented with uncompromising precision.

Contact Us

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a message and we'll respond as soon as possible.

How can we help you?

HERITAGE PROPERTY SPECIALISTS • LEVEL 3 SPECIALISTS • COMPREHENSIVE LISTED BUILDING SURVEYS • CONSERVATION-LED ADVICE • ENGLAND LISTED HOMES

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