RICS Level 2 Survey in Willingdon and Jevington

Buying in Willingdon and Jevington is rarely straightforward. Homes here span very different building periods, from pre-Victorian cottages to brand-new Barratt Homes developments, and each age brings its own familiar defects. In the conservation areas of Willingdon Village and Jevington Village, our inspectors regularly find issues in older homes where traditional brick and flint construction can conceal problems that only an experienced eye is likely to pick up. The chalk geology found in the higher ground near the South Downs usually gives good foundation conditions, but the lower-lying parts with clay, silt, and sand deposits can be prone to shrink-swell movement that affects stability, especially where large trees are drawing moisture from the ground.

Much of the housing market in Willingdon and Jevington is made up of properties built between 1919 and 1980. These cavity-wall homes often show the same age-related faults, deteriorating roof coverings, failed damp-proof courses, and older electrical systems that may not meet current regulations. Through our Level 2 Surveys, we focus directly on those risks and set them out with a clear red-amber-green rating system, so it is easier to separate urgent defects from matters that can be watched over time. Local stock also tends towards larger houses, with 38.3% detached and 33.4% semi-detached, so we are often inspecting bigger roof spaces, multiple storeys, and more complicated rooflines, which is where defects commonly turn up.

Some of the lower parts of the parish are affected by flood risk from the Willingdon Stream and other minor watercourses. It is not on the scale seen in coastal locations, but surface water flooding can still lead to serious damp problems that gradually affect walls and foundations. Our surveyors look for staining, signs of previous flooding, and damp penetration that could point to current trouble or a clear vulnerability. With that, and the general age of much of the local housing stock, a professional RICS Level 2 Survey is a sensible step for anyone buying in Willingdon and Jevington.

Across the parish, 8,020 residents live in 3,369 households, which says plenty about the steady pull of this part of East Sussex. Many buyers commute to Eastbourne, Brighton, or London, so having reliable information on a property's condition matters before taking on what will usually be a major financial commitment in the local market.

At The Hedgerows, Barratt Homes is building new 2, 3, and 4-bedroom homes on BN20 9LU, with prices from £349,995 to £539,995. Even with NHBC warranty cover in place, a RICS Level 2 Survey can still pick up snagging items, construction defects, and less obvious issues that are easy to miss without trained inspection. Our surveyors know modern construction methods and regularly identify concerns with insulation, ventilation, and compliance with building regulations. On relatively new homes, a Level 2 Survey still gives useful protection against hidden defects.

The same applies at The Nurseries by David Wilson Homes on Wannock Road, BN20 9SP, where 3 and 4-bedroom homes are priced from £439,995 to £629,995. These properties benefit from current building regulations, but that does not mean they are free of faults. As part of our Level 2 Survey, we assess windows, doors, kitchen installations, and finishing details that often need attention in newbuild homes. Finding those points before completion gives you the chance to raise them with the developer instead of paying for the work yourself later. We often see inadequate sealing around windows, poor ventilation in roof spaces, and minor finishing defects that should fall under warranty cover.

NHBC cover, or another structural warranty, is useful, but it is not the same as an independent RICS Level 2 Survey before completion. That independent view can be especially important with newbuild homes, where it may become harder to get the developer to deal with rectification requests once the purchase has gone through. Our survey also gives you a written record of any issues, which can help support later warranty claims.

Across Willingdon and Jevington, a few defects appear repeatedly in our inspections, and damp is high on that list. Rising damp is common in Victorian and Edwardian homes that either never had modern damp-proof courses or now have failed barrier systems. Penetrating damp also turns up regularly, often caused by defective gutters, broken tiles, or damaged render, particularly through the wet winter months seen in East Sussex. We use moisture meters alongside visual inspection to judge the extent of the problem and recommend the right next steps. Homes in lower-lying areas near the Willingdon Stream are often more vulnerable because groundwater levels are higher there.

Roof defects account for a large share of what we report in Willingdon and Jevington. On properties more than 50 years old, we regularly find cracked or slipped tiles, worn ridge tiles, and failed lead flashings around chimneys and valleys. Inside, there may be water staining on ceilings or that unmistakable damp smell that suggests leaks have happened before, or are still happening. Timber problems come up as well, especially woodworm, common furniture beetle, and wet or dry rot in roof timbers and window frames, all of which are regularly found in period homes across the parish. In older properties with traditional timber frame construction, common furniture beetle is particularly prevalent.

Homes built before the 1980s often need attention to their electrical and plumbing systems if they are to meet current safety expectations. We look at consumer units, wiring, and socket outlets, and we flag anything that should be checked further by a qualified electrician. Older plumbing can be just as important, especially where galvanized steel pipes are still in place and may be nearing the end of their useful life. Where it is appropriate, our reports recommend further inspection by specialist contractors, so you have a clearer idea of likely costs before committing to the purchase.

Structural movement is another issue we come across in parish surveys, although it is not always severe. Properties on clay soils may be affected by subsidence or heave linked to shrink-swell movement, and the risk can increase where trees stand close to the building. Our surveyors are trained to spot the usual indicators, cracking patterns, problems with door and window operation, and distortion in structural elements. If those signs raise concern, we recommend a further assessment by a structural engineer.