RICS Level 2 Survey in Wickhambreaux

Our RICS Level 2 Survey gives you a clear picture of a property's condition, flagging defects or other issues that could affect value or need attention. We inspect all accessible parts of the building, from the roof, walls and floors to windows and doors, and we also comment on the visible condition of services such as plumbing, electrical and heating systems. We work methodically and follow RICS standards closely, so no accessible area is missed.

In Wickhambreaux, where many homes predate 1919 and there are numerous listed buildings within the Conservation Area, we pay close attention to the sort of defects that tend to come with period property. That means looking for damp, both rising and penetrating damp, checking traditional roof structures, inspecting timber for rot or woodworm, and reviewing older electrical and plumbing installations that may fall short of current regulations. We often find that Victorian and Edwardian houses here still retain original wiring, which can raise real safety concerns.

We also include a careful assessment of value, set against market conditions in Wickhambreaux and the wider Canterbury area. Our report is written in plain English and points out urgent defects that need immediate action, alongside items that may call for maintenance or renovation later on. To make things easier to follow, we use a traffic light rating system so you can see what matters most at a glance.

Lower-lying parts of the village call for extra care because of the River Stour. We look for flood resilience measures and for any visible evidence of past water damage. Ground conditions matter here too, as clay deposits in the area can affect foundations, especially in older homes with traditional footings.

• Visual inspection of all accessible areas
• Assessment of construction defects
• Evaluation of damp and timber problems
• Check of services and installations
• Market value assessment
• Advice on repairs and maintenance
• Flood risk assessment
• Foundation and subsidence evaluation

Wickhambreaux sits within a designated Conservation Area, so many properties come with special planning controls and restrictions. If you are thinking of buying a listed building or a home inside the Conservation Area, we assess how that status could shape your renovation plans and your longer-term maintenance responsibilities. We have seen plenty of properties along The Street and The Green with listed status, and any proposed alterations need careful thought.

The geology around Wickhambreaux includes clay deposits from the Thanet Formation and Seaford Chalk Formation, and that can create shrink-swell risks where properties have shallower foundations. It is especially relevant to older buildings with traditional footings. Our inspectors watch for signs of subsidence or movement that may point to foundation trouble, particularly after spells of extreme weather. The superficial deposits of River Terrace Deposits of sand and gravel overlying the bedrock make the ground conditions more complex again.

Traditional Kent construction is common in Wickhambreaux. We regularly inspect homes built with solid brick walls, Kentish ragstone, and timber framing with render, and each of those needs the right kind of assessment. Our team brings local knowledge to every survey in the village, including an understanding of how these materials behave in the local climate and the defects we most often see with each type.

Homes close to the River Stour need a closer look on flood risk. We have surveyed low-lying properties that flooded in the past, so our reports cover flood resilience measures, damp-proofing, and any visible signs of earlier water ingress or damage in detail. With medium to high flood risk from the river, buyers should treat this as a key point.

• Conservation Area restrictions
• Listed building considerations
• Traditional construction methods
• Local geology and ground conditions
• Flood risk from River Stour

Across Wickhambreaux, a few issues come up again and again in our surveys. Damp is one of the main ones, especially in the older properties that make up much of the village, where modern damp-proof courses are often missing or have failed with age. We have inspected many cottages where rising damp had already damaged internal plasterwork and skirting boards, leaving professional remedial work necessary.

Roofs are another common concern. Many Wickhambreaux properties still have traditional slate or clay tile coverings that are past their expected lifespan, and we regularly note slipped tiles, perished flashing and failing leadwork during inspections. Roof structures here are often quite intricate too, with multiple valleys and penetrations that need careful checking. Leadwork around chimneys and roof windows is a frequent weak point.

Foundations in this area can be affected by the local ground. The clay deposits beneath much of Wickhambreaux are prone to shrink-swell movement, particularly during drought or after heavy rainfall. Homes built before modern building regulations may sit on shallow traditional footings, which leaves them more vulnerable to that movement. We have identified properties with signs of structural movement that appear to tie in with those ground conditions.

Older houses in the village often need work to their electrical and plumbing systems. We still come across original wiring from the mid-20th century or earlier in many homes, and it does not meet current safety standards. Lead or galvanised steel water pipes also still turn up, bringing possible water quality and pressure problems with them. Our surveys flag these issues and recommend further checks by qualified electricians and plumbers.