RICS Level 2 Survey in Tregony with Cuby

Properties in Tregony with Cuby bring a few quirks that we know well. The parish still has plenty of older buildings made from traditional Cornish materials, cob, granite and slatestone rubble among them. Those building methods give the area its character, though they also bring problems that need a trained eye. We know the difference between what tends to crop up in a 200-year-old cottage and what is more likely in a 1970s detached house.

Cornwall’s mining past adds another layer of risk for buyers. Beneath Tregony, old tin and copper workings can leave the ground unstable, which may lead to subsidence or, in rarer cases, sudden collapse. There is also mundic block, a concrete made with mining waste and often found in homes built between the late 19th century and the 1950s, and it can break down over time. Where visible, our Level 2 Survey looks at those area-specific issues.

Down in the valley bottom, the River Fal brings its own concerns. Homes in the lower-lying parts of the parish can face riverine flood risk, especially after heavy rain. Tregony itself sits a little higher on the east bank, yet the old navigation of the Fal as far as Tregony port shows how important the river has long been to the area. We pick up flood-related factors at every inspection.

Growth is on the cards here too, with Acorn Blue proposing a 56-dwelling scheme on land east of The Glebe. It includes 30 affordable dwellings and 25 open market homes, ranging from one-bedroom flats to five-bedroom houses. Buying into that development? Our survey can flag snagging issues and any construction defects that builders ought to put right before completion.

Tregony with Cuby has a housing stock that mirrors its role as a traditional Cornish village with newer growth around the edges. The conservation area around Fore Street is packed with period properties, and many cottages there date from the 18th or 19th century. Thick solid stone walls, flagstone floors and original timber windows are common, and each needs its own sort of maintenance.

Sales evidence around the village shows a fair spread of values. Homes on Cuby Road have sold for around £420,000, with Trewell House reaching that figure in October 2023 and Chyvounder selling for £435,000 in June 2022. Fore Street also sees movement from time to time, with 1 Fore Street selling in March 2024 and 3 Little Court in September 2024, which points to steady interest in the village.

This Acorn Blue proposal is the biggest expansion Tregony has seen for several years. Once built, those homes will broaden the choice in Tregony with Cuby, from starter flats to family houses. Our survey team knows the local stock well and can assess a traditional cottage just as carefully as a brand-new home.

We see the same issues again and again in this part of Cornwall. Damp is one of the most common, especially in older cob and stone cottages. Solid stone walls do not have modern damp-proof courses, and the sea fogs that reach inland Cornwall can make moisture penetration worse. Rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation all turn up regularly in period homes across the parish. Where it helps, our inspectors use moisture meters and thermal imaging to pick up problems that might not be obvious to the naked eye.

Roof defects also feature heavily in our surveys. With older homes, normal wear can leave broken or missing slates, tired flashings and leaks that are hard to spot from inside. Where it is safe to do so, our inspectors get into the roof space and examine the parts that could mean costly repairs or replacement later. Delabole slate is durable, but it does become brittle with age and may crack under foot traffic or in frost conditions that are common in Cornwall winters.

Older homes in Tregony often have electrical and plumbing systems that fall short of current safety standards. Houses built before the 1970s can have outdated fuse boxes, poor earthing and pipework that may raise contamination risks. We set those concerns out in the report so you can arrange specialist checks before you complete. Many older properties also lack enough insulation, and we note that too because it affects comfort and energy efficiency.

Cornwall’s mining heritage means structural checks need particular care. Our surveyors look for subsidence, wall cracking or ground movement that might point to trouble from former mine workings beneath a property. Not every home is affected, but properties in historically mined areas should be examined closely. There is also mundic block concrete, often found in properties built between 1890 and 1950, which may need specialist testing if deterioration is suspected.