RICS Level 2 Survey in Staplehurst

Our RICS Level 2 Survey gives you a detailed visual inspection of every accessible part of the home you are thinking of buying. We check the walls, roof, floors, doors and windows for damp, rot, subsidence and structural movement. We also assess the property's construction materials and building methods, which matters in Staplehurst, where the housing ranges from Wealden Hall Houses with distinctive timber frames to modern brick-built homes on new estates. Our surveyors look closely at the point where old and new construction meet, because defects often show up there first.

In the report, defects are graded with traffic light ratings, red for urgent issues needing immediate attention, amber for defects that call for later repair, and green for satisfactory condition. We also set out what sort of specialist follow-up may be needed, for example asbestos identification in pre-1999 properties or further investigation into possible movement in older buildings built with traditional methods. Where we find a defect, we explain the issue itself, why it has happened and what it could mean for your ownership of the property.

Buyers in Staplehurst need to take the local housing stock seriously. The village has 111 listed buildings, from the Grade I structure to many Grade II properties with red brick and weatherboard facades. A Level 2 survey suits most homes, but our surveyors will tell you if a Level 3 survey would be the better choice, especially for historic buildings or anything with non-traditional construction. The Conservation Area, designated in 1987, includes two separate character areas, the busy High Street commercial centre and the quieter area around the church, each with its own architectural feel.

We inspect the main structural parts of the property, including load-bearing walls and foundations, roof coverings and chimneys, windows and doors and how well they operate, damp and rot in both solid and cavity wall construction, visible electrical and plumbing installations, plus boundary walls and any outbuildings. If you are buying a flat, we also review the condition of any shared areas. We note any obvious breaches of building regulations that could affect your mortgage or a future sale.

• Structural walls and foundations
• Roof covering and chimneys
• Windows and doors
• Damp and rot assessment
• Electrical and plumbing visible elements
• Boundary walls and outbuildings

For a village of this size, Staplehurst has an unusually varied architectural heritage. The Conservation Area, designated in 1987, covers two distinct character areas, the bustling High Street with its commercial buildings and the quieter setting around the church. Across the village you will see Wealden Hall Houses from the medieval period, Victorian terraces with bay windows, Edwardian detached homes and later twentieth-century housing developments. Properties such as Staplehurst Manor, also known as Bly Court Manor, a Grade II listed timber-framed building dating to the late 16th century, show the kind of historic construction our surveyors are trained to assess.

Traditional Kentish building methods are still easy to spot in the village centre. Timber-framed buildings with red brick in stretcher bond are common, and some older houses have weatherboarding to the upper floors. One High Street example has a late 18th or early 19th century facade, with red brick in stretcher bond, red and grey brick in English bond at ground-floor level, and weatherboarding on the first floor. Because so many historic buildings remain, some properties still contain lead pipes, galvanised steel plumbing and old electrical systems, all of which our surveyors record in their reports. These older methods need careful assessment, because they may fall short of modern building regulations even if they complied when first built.

The newer schemes in Staplehurst reflect modern construction methods. At Capstone Oaks, Taylor Wimpey is offering three-bedroom semi-detached homes from £399,995, three-bedroom detached homes from £443,500, and four-bedroom detached homes from £474,500. Orbit Homes is marketing Shared Ownership homes at The Meadows in 2, 3, and 4 bedroom layouts. Tipples Field has just 4 four and five-bedroom homes from £895,000, a short walk from the village centre. These homes often need less extensive investigation, but our Level 2 inspection still looks for common new-build defects such as failed sealant, poor ventilation and snagging items that should be dealt with before the warranty period runs out.

Weald Clay Formation under the area brings its own set of issues for owners. Clay soil expands and contracts as moisture levels change, and that movement can affect foundations, especially in older homes with shallow traditional footings. Our surveyors know the signs, diagonal cracking around door and window openings, doors that stop closing properly and uneven floors among them. In places such as Marden Road, where surface water flooding has been noted, we give extra attention to drainage and ground conditions.