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kieran newcombe13 October 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Me and my partner have been going through the process of purchasing our first house and was recommended to get a Level 3 survey completed. From start to finish, H&S have been great. Quick and friendly correspondence, and communication was very good! The survey write up was in great depth and easy to understand. We have been in touch with them a couple times after the survey was completed and they have been incredibly helpful! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone, especially if you’re a first time buyer and this is all new to you. Reasonably priced and very happy customers. Thanks you! 👍Posted on GoogleJanet Bartholomew31 July 2026We used this company nine years ago when we bought our house,and Andrew was excellent ,very thorough and went out of his way to come back when we needed some extra advise,he did a full home buyers report for us. Today - nine years on Chris and Jack came round.they did an excellent job and gave good advice. I can’t praise these guys enough, Very thorough and professional.with all the latest technology! We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend h & s Chartered surveyors. Thankyou very much! IPosted on GoogleKatie Griffiths20 June 2026I would highly recommend this company. I am very impressed with the service provided particularly the excellent communication, customer service and willingness to provide guidance and answer questions at all stages. I am in the process of purchasing a house in Teignmouth. Firstly, h&s were recommended by the Estate Agents. I looked on the website and liked what I saw, clear and concise in explaining all the options. When I rang the office I was also very pleased after speaking with Saffron, she is very helpful, she clearly explained everything and arranged the next steps. Chris soon got in contact with me and really has been excellent from there onwards. Firstly, he explained that as the property was an older building and had been converted he would be able to best assess whether it should require a Level 2 or Level 3 Survey on inspection. Chris said he would keep me informed on the day, which he did, via WhatsApp at my request as I was at sea on a Transatlantic Cruise at the time! He deemed that it just needed the Level 2 which was great. I got the report in a timely manner both electronically, and a bound hard copy. It is clear and easy to understand. I spoke to Chris after I’d had time to digest it, and he spent over an hour on the phone with me going through it all, explaining the recommendations and answering lots of questions which I had mainly about next steps to take, which was so helpful. What amazing customer service! Chris also reassured me that I can contact him again via a call or email should I need to. I very rarely write reviews but this service was so exceptional that I just had to. I would not hesitate to use this company again. This has by far been the most seamless part of the process of purchasing my new property! Thank you so much Saffron and Chris 😊Posted on GoogleLuke Brisco21 April 2026Great service provided by the team four our survey needs. The Surveyor was very knowledgable and helpful with providing advice, with the report produced and sent over to us the following working day. Great communication and customer service, would definitely recommend!Posted on Googleoliver ware31 March 2026Friendly and professional company. Detailed and accurate report. Highly recommended and will use again in the future.Posted on GoogleSimon McGlynn31 March 2026Chris visited carried out two valuation reports for us, offering help and advice that went above and beyond (and probably saved us some money). Would highly recommend.Posted on GoogleLiyam Laraba30 January 2026Ian at h&s Surveyors provided an excellent survey. He provided a comprehensive report with lots of details and answered our specific queries really quickly. I would highly recommend h&s to anyone who needs surveyor services.Posted on GoogleMichelle Egan28 January 2026Excellent service, very good reports and was most helpful for follow up advice for conveyancing would and have recommended to others to use their services.Posted on GoogleMiss E Pierce3 January 2026I am really thankful and appreciate of the service that the H&S Team have given me every step of the way since the very first phone call back in July. Their service has been exceptional - from the customer care over the phone to the surveying process itself - the efficiency and professionalism truly is 5 star! I would highly recommend the team for any survey and valuation report needs!Posted on GoogleLouise White9 December 2025This was our fourth house purchase and H&S Surveyors were far and away the best we have used. Our surveyor, Chris, was extremely professional and approachable with excellent attention to detail. He was happy to follow up the report with further clarification over the phone as needed, and even supported with additional enquiries on some matters. After our first property fell through we had a second survey by Chris on our subsequent purchase. He had advised that the first required a Level 3 survey due to its age and condition; for the second, he advised that only a Level 2 was necessary as it was a newer build. We were very happy to trust his judgement and expertise. Office staff were also extremely helpful and communicative. We would thoroughly recommend H&S.
What to do if Your Property Survey Reveals Damp?
Damp is one of the most common issues we come across in our property surveys. We’ve talked about the mysterious phenomenon of rising dampness before, but if you’ve spotted signs of dampness in your home, or have had a RICS Level 2 HomeBuyer Survey or Building Survey carried out which is flagging up damp problems in the property you are interested in buying, you might be wondering what your options are.
Isolated patches of moisture are generally easy to deal with, however, when a building becomes riddled with dampness, it turns into more than just a superficial problem. Crumbling brickwork and rotten timbers can cause the structure to lose integrity, ultimately making a home uninhabitable if the underlying problem goes untreated. In addition, there’s the worrying fact that black mould is known to cause severe health problems over time.
Due to all the above-mentioned risks, even the mention of a damp in a property survey can be a cause for concern to some buyers, making them suddenly uncertain about the home they have their hearts set on.
So, what is the best way to proceed when a damp survey uncovers dampness in a building you are considering the purchase of? It’s a question we get asked a lot and we are happy to share some of our knowledge and tips in this blog.
How bad is the damp problem?
The first step is to ascertain how big a problem the presence of dampness is likely to be. Depending on the kind of property investigation you have commissioned, you may have all the information you need straight away, or you may need to have a further, specialist investigation carried out. The term ‘damp’ could refer to condensation damage, which may be rectified by opening a window, placing a dehumidifier into the room or installing an extractor fan. Or, it could refer to problems caused by a leaky roof or faulty damp-proof course (DPC).
Once you understand how serious the damp is, and how much of the property is affected, you can decide whether you are prepared to carry out the necessary repairs, or if you would rather pass on that particular property and find a less troublesome property to buy instead.
Condensation
Condensation is usually the least concerning kind of dampness, as there are easy steps to fixing it. Caused by humid air hitting a cool surface, it’s common to find condensation-related dampness in rooms where cooking, showering or clothes-drying take place. Using extractor fans and opening windows are quick ways to manage the room’s humidity, while a dehumidifier can help in a pinch. Long-term, proper ventilation and insulation on external walls and windows should help.
Mould and Mildew
Signs of mould and mildew are potential of greater concern, mostly due to how fast they can spread through a property. Mould and mildew are caused by spores in the air, which can multiply very quickly if they find a cold, moist surface to land on. People living in a building with mould and mildew may experience allergy-like symptoms including sinus congestion, coughing, skin irritations and more.
Again, the best course of action is to let in plenty of sunlight and improve the ventilation around the house, ensuring that damp areas can always dry out thoroughly.
Finding the Cause
In order to completely eliminate dampness in a property, you will need to find its source – and a Building Survey is an excellent tool to help identify this for you. Blocked gutters, missing roof tiles or damaged brickwork are common culprits, as are leaking internal pipes. Your Building Survey report should also advise the best way to deal with the dampness and include estimates for repair costs, giving you all the information you need to decide whether or not the property purchase is worth progressing.
Contact us
If you’re having trouble with dampness in a property or need a surveyor to help you find the cause, H&S Surveyors can help. As a long-established firm of Chartered Surveyors operating across South Devon, our team has extensive experience carrying out RICS Level 3 Building Surveys to find dampness and other property defects and issues. Get in touch with our friendly team today at (01626) 335008 or email us at ad***@************aw.com for a free quote and to see how we can help.
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Last updated: 24th April 2025