Professional Surveying Services in West London

Twickenham Surveyors offers a full range of RICS-accredited surveying services for residential and commercial property across Richmond, Kingston, and surrounding areas.

Building Surveys & Homebuyer Reports

Twickenham Surveyors provides comprehensive RICS building surveys and homebuyers surveys for residential property throughout West London. Our chartered building surveyors conduct thorough inspections to identify structural issues, defects, damp problems, and maintenance requirements.

RICS Level 2 Homebuyer Survey

Previously known as a Homebuyer Report, the RICS Level 2 survey is our most popular service. It's ideal for conventional properties in reasonable condition, typically built within the last 100 years using standard construction methods.

What's included in a Level 2 Survey:

Thorough inspection of readily accessible areas
Traffic light condition ratings (1-3) for easy understanding
Identification of urgent defects and potential problems
Advice on repairs and ongoing maintenance
Market valuation (if required)
Insurance rebuild cost assessment

Typical cost: £450-£800 depending on property value and size

Turnaround: 48-72 hours from inspection

Best for: Standard houses and flats built after 1900, properties in reasonable condition

Before and after property renovation showing importance of building surveys

Why You Need a Building Survey

A building survey from Twickenham Surveyors can save you thousands of pounds. Our surveys have helped clients negotiate purchase price reductions, budget for necessary repairs, and avoid purchasing properties with serious structural issues. Don't rely on the mortgage valuation alone - it's not designed to identify defects.

RICS Level 3 Building Survey

The RICS Level 3 survey is our most comprehensive inspection service. It provides an in-depth analysis of the property's construction and condition, making it essential for older properties, buildings in poor condition, or if you're planning significant alterations.

What's included in a Level 3 Building Survey:

Extensive inspection of all accessible areas
Detailed descriptions of construction methods and materials
Comprehensive assessment of structural issues and defects
Investigation of damp, timber defects, and subsidence
Detailed repair recommendations with cost assessments
Analysis of alterations and building works
Advice on ongoing maintenance and future issues
Optional market valuation

Typical cost: £700-£1,500 depending on property size and complexity

Turnaround: 3-5 working days from inspection

When you need a Level 3 Survey:

Properties built before 1900 (Victorian, Georgian, Edwardian)
Buildings in poor or dilapidated condition
Properties of unusual construction
Buildings that have been significantly altered or extended
If you're planning major renovation or refurbishment
Large, complex, or high-value properties
Properties with known defects or concerns

Pro tip: For Victorian and Edwardian properties in Twickenham and Richmond, we always recommend a Level 3 survey. These period homes have unique construction characteristics that require specialist knowledge to assess properly.

Professional RICS Valuations

RICS chartered surveyor providing professional property valuation service

Twickenham Surveyors provides RICS Red Book valuations for residential and commercial property across West London. Our RICS Registered Valuers offer independent, professional valuations for various purposes.

Purchase Valuations

Independent market valuations to help you make informed decisions when buying property. Useful when you want an impartial professional opinion on value, separate from estate agent valuations.

Typical fee: £300-£600

Probate Valuations

Formal valuations for inheritance tax and probate purposes. We provide HMRC-compliant valuations with supporting documentation for estate administration.

Typical fee: £350-£700

Matrimonial Valuations

Impartial valuations for divorce proceedings and financial settlements. We act as single joint experts or for individual parties, providing expert witness support if required.

Typical fee: £400-£800

Tax & Accounting

Capital gains tax, stamp duty, and accounting valuations for commercial and investment property. RICS Red Book compliant for audit and tax purposes.

Typical fee: £400-£900

Why Choose Our Valuation Services?

Our valuers are RICS Registered Valuers with extensive knowledge of West London property markets. We provide detailed valuation reports that comply with RICS Red Book standards, supported by comprehensive comparable evidence and market analysis. All our valuations are backed by professional indemnity insurance.

Party Wall Surveying Services

Twickenham Surveyors specialises in party wall matters throughout West London, where terraced and semi-detached properties are common. We provide expert party wall surveying services under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.

The Party Wall Act protects both building owners and adjoining owners when building works affect shared walls, boundaries, or involve excavation near neighbouring properties. Common scenarios requiring party wall procedures include:

Loft conversions affecting party walls
Rear and side extensions
Basement conversions and excavations
Structural alterations to party walls
New walls built on or astride boundaries
Underpinning near neighbouring property
Cutting into party walls for beams or damp proof courses

Our Party Wall Services

For Building Owners

If you're planning building works, we can:

Advise on Party Wall Act requirements
Prepare and serve party wall notices
Act as your appointed surveyor (Agreed Surveyor)
Prepare schedules of condition
Draft party wall awards
Oversee building works compliance

Typical fee: £800-£1,500 per award

For Adjoining Owners

If you've received a party wall notice, we can:

Explain your rights and obligations
Act as your appointed surveyor
Inspect and document existing conditions
Negotiate protective provisions in awards
Monitor works and inspect for damage
Resolve disputes through the Third Surveyor

Cost: Usually paid by building owner

Why Use Twickenham Surveyors for Party Wall Matters?

Our years' experience with party wall matters in West London means we understand local property construction and common issues in Richmond, Twickenham, and Kingston. We work to resolve party wall matters efficiently, minimising delays to your project while protecting all parties' interests. Our professional, diplomatic approach helps maintain good neighbourly relations throughout the process.

Expert Witness Services

Twickenham Surveyors provides expert witness services for property disputes, litigation, and tribunal cases throughout England and Wales.

Expert witness surveying services for property disputes and litigation

Our chartered surveyors have extensive experience providing expert witness reports and giving evidence in court proceedings. We act as independent experts, providing impartial professional opinions on building-related disputes.

Types of Cases We Handle

Building defects and disrepair claims
Professional negligence (architects, builders, surveyors)
Boundary disputes
Right to light disputes
Party wall disputes
Subsidence and structural damage claims

Landlord and tenant dilapidations
Contract disputes
Insurance claims (subsidence, fire, flood damage)
Defective works and breach of contract
Planning and building regulation disputes
Leasehold disputes and service charges

Our Expert Witness Process

We provide comprehensive expert witness services including:

Initial assessment and advice on the strength of your case
Site inspections and evidence gathering
Expert reports complying with CPR Part 35 and relevant protocols
Without prejudice meetings with opposing experts
Court attendance to give oral evidence
Single joint expert appointments where appropriate

Why Choose Our Expert Witness Services?

Our chartered building surveyors have over 20 years of experience providing expert evidence in County Courts, High Court, and First-Tier Tribunals. We're experienced in working with solicitors, barristers, and other professionals. Our reports are detailed, well-reasoned, and stand up to cross-examination. We understand both the technical and legal aspects of property disputes.

Fees: Typically charged at hourly rates of £150-£250 plus VAT, depending on complexity. We provide detailed fee estimates upfront.

Commercial Dilapidations Services

Twickenham Surveyors provides specialist dilapidations advice for commercial landlords and tenants. Our chartered building surveyors help resolve lease-end obligations efficiently and cost-effectively.

Commercial property dilapidations surveying and lease-end obligations

For Landlords

Protect your commercial property investment with our landlord dilapidations services:

Interim schedules - During the lease to ensure tenants maintain the property
Terminal schedules - Detailed schedules of dilapidations at lease end
Diminution valuations - Assessing the reduction in property value due to disrepair
Cost assessments - Detailed estimates of repair and reinstatement costs
Negotiations - Representing your interests in settlement discussions
Litigation support - Expert witness services if disputes proceed to court

We help maximise your dilapidations recovery while ensuring claims comply with the Dilapidations Protocol and relevant case law.

For Tenants

Minimise your lease-end liabilities with our tenant dilapidations advice:

Pre-lease advice - Assessing repair obligations before signing
Exit strategies - Planning for lease end well in advance
Schedule responses - Challenging unreasonable or inflated claims
Scott schedules - Detailed item-by-item analysis of claims
Negotiation support - Achieving cost-effective settlements
Diminution arguments - Reducing claims based on actual loss

Our experience shows landlords' initial claims are often significantly reduced through proper negotiation and technical challenges.

Understanding Dilapidations

Dilapidations refers to breaches of lease covenants relating to the repair, decoration, and reinstatement of commercial property. Most commercial leases require tenants to return premises in a specified condition, and failure to do so can result in substantial costs.

Common dilapidations issues include:

Failure to repair building structure, services, and fixtures
Inadequate decoration and maintenance
Unauthorised alterations requiring reinstatement
Compliance with repairing obligations and yielding-up covenants

Typical fees: £1,200-£3,500 for preparing or responding to schedules of dilapidations, depending on property size and complexity. We provide fixed fee quotes where possible.

Design & Project Management

Twickenham Surveyors provides comprehensive design and project management services for refurbishment, extensions, and building works across residential and commercial sectors in West London.

Undertaking building works can be daunting. Our chartered surveyors help you navigate the entire process, from initial concept through planning permission and building regulations to final completion. We act as your professional representative, managing contractors and ensuring works are completed on time, within budget, and to the required standard.

Our Project Management Services Include:

Feasibility studies - Assessing whether your proposals are viable
Planning advice - Guiding you through planning permission requirements
Building regulations - Ensuring compliance and managing approvals
Design development - Working with architects on practical solutions
Tender process - Obtaining and analysing competitive quotes
Contract administration - Managing building contracts (JCT)
Site inspections - Regular monitoring of works quality
Payment certification - Ensuring you only pay for completed work
Snagging - Identifying and resolving defects before completion
Final account - Agreeing final costs with contractors

Project management and construction site oversight by chartered surveyors

Projects We Manage

House extensions and renovations
Loft conversions
Basement conversions
Kitchen and bathroom refurbishments
Period property restoration
Commercial fit-outs and alterations
Structural repairs and underpinning
Damp and timber treatment works

Why Use a Surveyor for Project Management?

Many homeowners in Twickenham and Richmond undertake building works without professional oversight, leading to cost overruns, delays, and disputes with builders. Our project management service typically saves clients more than our fees through:

💰 Cost Control

We ensure you get competitive quotes and only pay for work that's been properly completed to specification.

⏱️ Time Management

We keep projects on schedule, coordinating trades and resolving issues before they cause delays.

🛠️ Quality Assurance

Regular inspections ensure works meet building regulations and good construction practices.

Fees: Typically 5-10% of project costs, or fixed fees for smaller projects. We provide detailed fee proposals based on your specific requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Services

Which survey do I need - Level 2 or Level 3? +

For most conventional properties in reasonable condition built after 1900, a Level 2 Homebuyer Survey is appropriate. However, we recommend a Level 3 Building Survey for properties built before 1900, those in poor condition, unusual construction, or if you're planning major alterations. If you're unsure, contact us and we'll advise which survey best suits your property needs based on age, type, and condition.

Do building survey costs vary depending on the property? +

Yes, costs vary depending on the type of property, its size, value, and location. A small flat will cost less than a large detached house. Properties in Twickenham, Richmond, and Kingston typically range from £450-£1,500 depending on these factors and the survey level. We provide free, no-obligation quotes tailored to your specific property.

Do I need to serve party wall notices for my extension? +

If your extension works involve a party wall (shared with a neighbour), excavation within 3-6 metres of an adjoining building's foundations, or building a new wall on the boundary, you'll likely need to serve party wall notices under the Party Wall Act 1996. Contact us for advice on whether your specific project requires party wall procedures - we can assess this quickly and guide you through the process.

What areas of West London do you cover? +

We cover all of West London and North Surrey from our Twickenham office. This includes Richmond, Kingston, Teddington, Hampton, Whitton, St Margarets, Isleworth, Hounslow, Brentford, Kew, Mortlake, Barnes, Chiswick, Putney, Wandsworth, Wimbledon, New Malden, Surbiton, Thames Ditton, Esher, and surrounding areas. Our local knowledge of these areas is one of our key strengths.

Are your fees tax deductible for commercial property? +

For commercial property and investment purposes, many of our surveying services may be tax deductible as business expenses. This typically includes dilapidations advice, commercial valuations, and project management fees. We recommend consulting your accountant for specific tax advice on your situation.

Need Professional Surveying Advice?

Contact Twickenham Surveyors today for expert advice and a free, no-obligation quote for our services.