RICS Level 2 Survey in Embsay with Eastby

Built for properties in reasonable condition and put together with conventional methods, a RICS Level 2 Survey, formerly the HomeBuyer Report, gives a detailed read on a home’s condition. It picks out defects and issues that could affect value or need repair. We inspect all accessible parts of the property, including the roof space where it is safe and reachable, along with walls, floors, windows, doors and permanent fixtures. Our surveyors then set it out in plain English, using a traffic light rating system so the condition of the home is easy to take in at a glance.

In Embsay with Eastby, that type of survey is especially useful because so much of the local housing stock is older and built in traditional ways. Many homes here use local gritstone and limestone, and some date back to the 17th century. Those buildings can bring their own headaches, from damp to worn historic roof coverings, and a qualified surveyor will spot them. We also include a market valuation and insurance reconstruction cost, so you get a fuller sense of the property’s worth and the risks attached to it.

For most homes in Embsay with Eastby, we would point you towards a Level 2 survey, including the terraced houses that make up much of the village core, the semi-detached homes from the 1920s and 1930s spread beyond Main Road and Pasture Road, and the newer detached houses on modern developments. That said, if the property is listed, in poor condition, or built in a non-standard way, we may advise a RICS Level 3 Building Survey instead. It is the better fit for complex or historic properties.

Embsay with Eastby has a wide spread of property types, and each brings its own quirks and possible defects. There are 24 listed buildings recorded in the National Heritage List for England, among them the Grade II listed Embsay Kirk from the 1780s, the historic Manor House, and the Elm Tree Inn. A lot of these older buildings were put up in local stone, and dry-stone walls are a common sight across the area. The move from traditional cobble-built walls to quarried gritstone and limestone took place during the 18th century, so construction methods differ quite a bit depending on the age of the property.

Because older stone homes are so common here, our surveyors often come across the same problems again and again. Damp is one of the most frequent, especially in solid stone walls where moisture can get in more readily than in modern cavity wall builds. We look for rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation, and we note anything that could be feeding the problem, such as poor ventilation, damaged damp proof courses or drainage that is not doing its job around the edge of the property. Haw Bank quarry has historically supplied quality limestone too, which has shaped the local building materials.

Roofs need close attention as well, and many of the older homes still have slate or stone slate coverings that can suffer from slipped tiles, failing pointing or general structural wear over time. Our inspectors look carefully at the roof structure, checking for water staining, compromised rafters, and any deterioration in leadwork around chimneys and valleys. We also inspect flashings and look out for signs of earlier repairs that may point to a recurring issue. Homes near Embsay Crag and Eastby Crag can be more exposed to the weather because of their higher positions on the slopes of Barden Moor.

Older electrical and plumbing systems can be a real concern, because many homes in Embsay still have original wiring and pipework that falls short of current safety standards. We check consumer units, the type and condition of visible wiring in accessible areas, and the plumbing system, including pipework and fittings. Anything outdated or potentially hazardous is clearly marked in our report. Timber defects such as rot or woodworm can also affect older structural elements, especially where damp or poor ventilation has been present for years.

Recent years have brought a fair amount of new development to Embsay with Eastby, with homes available from several builders, including Barratt Homes. The Hawks View development on Shires Lane offers contemporary two, three, four, and five-bedroom homes, with exterior stonework, high thermal insulation and solar PV panels. These properties sit around two miles from Skipton, beside sports fields on the edge of the village, and are bordered by open fields and countryside along the southern boundary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Barratt Homes also lists properties in the area from £205,000 to £417,000.

New build homes usually need less maintenance than older ones, but a Level 2 survey still has real value because it can pick up defects or issues that have cropped up since construction. Even a brand-new property can have problems with build quality, fittings or finishes that a professional survey will uncover. Our surveyors know modern construction methods well and can flag snagging issues that need dealing with before the warranty runs out. If you want it, we can also carry out a snagging survey alongside the standard Level 2 assessment.

The village has grown as a commuter base, so many buyers work in Skipton or travel further to Leeds or Bradford. That pattern shapes demand, and modern family homes are especially popular. When we survey new build homes in the area, we look closely at the standard of recent workmanship, how well the insulation and ventilation systems are performing, and any issues tied to the relatively recent construction methods used.