Home Buyers Survey in Dalston

Should I get a HomeBuyer Report, Building Survey or Full Structural Survey on a house in Dalston and which one is cheaper?

The Full Structural Survey has a new name called a Building Survey and is basically the same the same.

If the Dalston property is a flat or maisonette, or is 100 or more years old, or has been substantially modified, or is built of unusual materials, RICS advise the cheaper HomeBuyer Report.

If you are thinking about whether to do any significant alterations, RICS advise you book a Building Survey. This survey is less cheap but it will give exhaustive analysis of the Dalston property's state of repair in addition to advice on structural defects as well as maintenance options .

For more details get a Dalston Homebuyers Survey Quote online or call us 0800 038 6667 to speak to our survey team.

A local builder mentioned subsidence could be an issue. How could this affect the property, and what subsidence-related matters will the Chartered Surveyor review?

Subsidence refers to the movement of a home and its foundations. Subsidence is sometimes referred to as settlement, but this is incorrect. Settlement usually occurs in more modern homes, and is rarely a cause for concern. Their weight can cause the ground beneath the foundations to compact, this should quickly settle. Many homes in Dalston are erected with a variety of materials, each with a different shrinkage rate.

New cracks wider than 3mm to the bricks or render outside the property, or cracks which were stable, but are showing signs of fresh movement, may indicate subsidence. In some cases, the presence of organic material, which begins to rot, can also destabilise the structure. This will cause the soil beneath and around the foundations to collapse.

Restoration work cannot begin until the original source of the movement is found. Removing or even pruning the tree(s) causing subsidence may be enough to halt any further movement. Existing trees must be well managed, and new trees should be planted at a safe distance from the exterior walls of the property. Beech and sycamore trees, for example, should be planted at least 15m from a property. In some more serious situations, underpinning may be necessary. As an alternative to underpinning, piling, or mini-piling, uses concrete or steel poles that are driven down into more stable soil, to stop further movement. If the surveyor cannot give you a conclusive diagnosis, they will recommend that you engage the services of a structural engineer.

Does a local surveyor advise on the safety of the gas mains supply?

Your RICS chartered surveyor will locate and visually inspect the accessible parts of the gas system. A surveyor will want to inspect the mains gas installation at the property, in addition to gas affiliated fixtures for example - prefabricated flues. The gas fittings won't be taken off. Most people are aware that gas is potentially unsafe, should you have any worries about gas, contact a gas safe engineer.

What consequence does clay soil have on a house's foundations? What should we expect a Building Survey to include?

Clay soil can create a number of issues for home owners, with compression of layers of the sub-soil and consolidation, or the change in volume of soil resulting from water loss being relatively common. In Dalston's relatively mild climate, the variations in volume which clay soil experiences will be barely noticeable, but extended dry or wet spells may well impact the soil's stability and affecting the property itself., such as sticking window frames. There is a real benefit in booking a Dalston surveyor to carry out your HomeBuyer Report, familiar with local soil composition, and who has witnessed the effects first-hand. In some more extreme cases, the building foundations may need extra support, but this can be costly.