DAMP AND TIMBER SURVEY REPORT COMPANY
0800 368 9161
We cover most of the UK for specialist damp and timber surveys and providing reports for homeowners and mortgage purposes.
Manchester | Birmingham | Leeds | Chester | Liverpool | Wrexham | Sheffield | London | Blackpool | Warrington | Wirral | Anglesey | Salford | Didsbury | Bury | Wigan | Bolton | Oldham | Wallasey | Coventry | Nottingham | Leicester | Mold | Bradford | Macclesfield | Most of Wales and many more
Damp and timber report for mortgage, homeowners, landlords, commercial, equity release
Specialist damp and timber report company
Need a damp and timber report for a mortgage, rented property, or a damp problem in your home? We offer a full damp and timber report for homeowners, landlords, remortgaging, peace of mind, and many more.
You will most likely be asked by your mortgage lender to obtain a specialist damp and timber report as part of buying or selling a property. This is one of the most common surveys you’ll have to have when buying a property. Mortgage lenders require a specialist report on properties to determine if the building structure is free from rising damp problems, woodworm infestation, or dry rot.
We also offer fully independent damp and timber reports for peace of mind. This type of report is provided without a quotation. Even though we carry out some small timber and damp proof treatments, all our damp and timber surveys are carried out fully independently anyway. Our surveyors are not on commission and don’t look for work like most other timber and damp contractors working for large damp companies near you.
If you’ve had a building survey carried out then you’ll most likely be asked to get a damp and timber report. They normally state that high readings were picked up to the ground floor walls and timber in contact could be affected by rot. This is nothing to worry about as most building surveyors will recommend this as common practice when they find some damp on a wall. If any high damp readings are picked up in the property or if any woodworm or timber rot is found, the surveyor has a duty of care to recommend you seek specialist advice. The building surveyor is not a damp specialist, dry rot specialist, or woodworm specialist and this is why he will tell you to get a damp and timber survey. Our surveys are carried out professionally and we always correctly diagnose the timber decay or dampness issue. The report you’ll receive from us will be very detailed with recommendations, a site map, and a fixed quotation if necessary.
Click here to read our damp proof course myth page
So you’ve had a survey carried out and the surveyor has stated that the property has rising damp. This is very unlikely as most houses in the UK have a physical damp proof course in place. This damp proof course will still work and stop rising damp. We have uncovered damp proof courses well over 100 years old that still look brand new.
What is a damp and timber report?
What is a damp and timber report? These specialist reports are required by mortgage lenders on a day-to-day basis. You may need one if you are buying or selling a property that may be suffering from dampness. Not all of us buy or sell houses every day. When a mortgage lender asks for a damp and timber report, most of us panic, stress, and don’t really know what to do.
9 times out of 10 when you need a damp and timber report, the lender is just covering their back or it may just be policy to have one carried out. Even if there is a small amount of damp or a small amount of mould in a property, the mortgage company wants to know if it’s serious or not. Damp is very common in the UK and is normally easy to fix using eco-friendly methods.
On the other end of the scale, damp can cause you a big headache. Damp can rot structural timbers, perish plaster, destroy floors, and prevent you from selling your home or getting a mortgage. This is why it is important to receive specialist advice on the matter before purchasing or selling a home.
You’ll normally be asked to obtain a damp and timber report from a previous survey such as a building or valuation survey. The surveyor may have picked something up and would like it investigated further by a damp specialist. The issue could be very minor or a major issue. This type of survey should not be ignored and should always be carried out by a specialist and not a builder.
How much is a damp and timber report?
How much does a damp and timber report cost? What should I expect to pay for a damp and timber report?
The cost of a damp and timber report depends on several factors. The size of the property is the main one and what is required to be checked. We offer damp and timber reports for pre purchase properties, commercial and the rental market. These all play a part in the price of the initial survey. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as saying “How much is a damp and timber report”.
Examples:
Based on a typical 3-bedroom semi-detached property, you would be expecting to pay around £200 – £400 for a damp and timber report. Depending on what needs checking. Having just a damp survey is cheaper than having a damp and timber survey.
£200 is normally at the bottom end of the scale and anything below that is something to avoid. Avoid a cheaper price you say? Yes, damp companies offering lower survey prices are normally damp treatment contractors. Their main priority is work (not the correct diagnosis). These companies will carry out a cheap damp and timber survey looking for work that doesn’t need doing. These damp treatment contractors or timber treatment contractors will normally recommend chemical treatment such as a new damp proof course. Installing a new chemical damp proof course will cost you hundreds of pounds and is most likely not needed at all.
This is why we can’t stress enough that you have a specialist damp surveyor carry out the timber and damp survey and correctly diagnose the issue (that’s if there is one).
On top of a normal survey fee, some companies offer add-ons. These add-ons can be for a same-day survey or a next-day report. These add-ons are usually around £50-£100 and are well worth doing if you’re in the process of buying or selling as this speeds everything up.
So the cost of a damp and timber report boils down to how much you’re willing to pay for it. You get what you pay for with this type of service. Specialist damp companies charge a bigger fee for a reason, this reason is better advice and the correct diagnosis. By paying a large survey cost, you may end up saving thousands of pounds on unnecessary treatment (see our damp proof course myth page).
How do I book a damp and timber report?
Booking a damp and timber report will depend on how fast you want it carried out and what is required during the survey. We can normally get a damp and timber surveyor out within a couple of days after agreeing to a price over the phone or via email. Once you’ve given the go-ahead, our team will take it from there. We will contact estate agents or vendors on your behalf and arrange the inspection as soon as possible.
It’s as simple as that.
Do I need a damp and timber report?
Do I need a damp and timber report carried out? The question is, do you want to find expensive surprises once you’ve moved into a property? Damp or timber decay/infestation isn’t something to ignore or risk on. Treating something like dry rot in a property can run into the 10’s of thousands and even treating dampness can cost thousands of pounds.
Having a damp and timber report carried out can help reduce the price of purchase and can also determine if you buy a property. This is not to mention that the mortgage lender may make it a requirement before you can buy the house.
A damp and timber report is possibly one of the most important surveys you need when buying a property.