Posted on Google
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.
The Mysterious Phenomenon of Rising Damp
A large number of homes – particularly older ones – are affected by damp in some way. Damp problems are usually filtered into three categories; penetrative damp, condensation and rising damp.
Rising damp describes ground moisture seeping upwards through a building, and its existence is hotly contested. Critics will often argue that this phenomenon simply isn’t possible, but rising damp has been observed for over 200 years, and several studies have shown that water is perfectly capable of climbing through porous masonry, such as bricks and mortar.
The real myth is that an injectable damp proof course (DPC) is the best solution for treating rising damp in an old building. This idea gets perpetuated when damp is identified within a property, and the report suggests that a “damp proof specialist” is called for a second opinion. Unfortunately, these experts are usually employed by a company which installs injectable DPCs, so their recommendations are not as impartial as one might hope. In actual fact, installing a new DPC can exacerbate more problems than it solves.
Instead, the source of the damp should be identified and managed appropriately. A common cause is external landscaping acting as a moisture bridge across the damp proof course. Culprits are usually lawn banks, long grass or high-level paving where rain may be bouncing off and penetrating the walls. Adjust, trim or relocate any offending features, and consider installing a gravel trench around the perimeter of your external walls so that rain is absorbed into the ground, rather than deflected onto the building.
In other cases, a fault in the lower areas of the wall might be to blame, such as a crack in render or masonry. The majority of properties “breathe” to some degree, so check that any air bricks or vents are clear from both sides, and take steps to improve the general ventilation indoors. As long as damp is not causing significant damage to masonry or timberwork, it can be easily managed and should not have too much bearing on your decision to proceed with the purchase.
Contact Us
Are you about to buy a property without having a survey? Do you have concerns about damp in your current home? Contact our team today to discuss your requirements and book an appointment with an experienced qualified surveyor.
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Last updated: 24th April 2025