RICS Level 3 Survey in ST9

Our RICS Level 3 Survey gives a close, in-depth look at every visible and accessible part of the property. We check the walls, floors, ceilings and roof structure for structural integrity, and we look for signs of subsidence, damp, rot and timber defects. Windows, doors and fixtures are assessed too, along with the general maintenance needs of the building. In ST9, that matters a great deal, because many homes in the area are older and some hidden defects simply do not show up on a casual viewing.

Condition ratings come as part of the report, set out as urgent, serious and minor defects. We explain clearly what needs attention straight away and what can wait. Roof coverings, chimney stacks and pointing are common problem areas on older properties across ST9, where traditional brick construction is widespread. Extensions and alterations are also checked, so we can see whether they have been built properly and whether the main structure has stayed sound. Many homes in Tean and Upper Tean have been altered over the years, and we know the details that matter on these older buildings.

ST9 has a mining past, so our surveyors take subsidence or movement seriously where former coal working may be part of the story. Cracking in walls, sticking doors and windows, and uneven floors can all point towards ground movement. Not every property in ST9 is affected, but the risk makes a Level 3 Survey especially useful for buyers here. In higher-risk areas, we also recommend a Coal Authority mining report alongside our survey. We will look for visible signs of mining-related movement, while the mining report gives the firm record of what has happened beneath the site.

Parts of Staffordshire sit on clay soils, and that can lead to shrink-swell movement that affects foundations and structural walls. Our surveyors know the warning signs, from diagonal cracking running from doors and windows, to lifted skirtings and floors that slope in a way they should not. We explain whether movement appears active and what, if anything, needs further investigation. That local knowledge really matters in ST9, where clay ground conditions can affect homes whatever their age or construction type.

• Complete structural assessment
• Damp and timber analysis
• Roof and chimney inspection
• Mining subsidence check
• Electrical and plumbing observation
• Energy efficiency commentary

ST9 covers a wide mix of housing, from older terraced houses in villages such as Tean and Upper Tean to newer developments around Barlaston and Forsbrook. A lot of the area was built during periods of major housing growth, so the quality of construction can vary quite a bit. Older homes may have been extended or altered many times, and while some of that work is done well, other changes may fall short of current building regulations or weaken the original structure. We have seen everything across ST9, from carefully planned extensions to improvised conversions that were clearly done without proper planning or building control approval.

Older homes in ST9 are where our Level 3 Survey really comes into its own. Properties built before 1900 often use traditional construction methods that are very different from modern building practice. Solid walls rather than cavity walls, original timber frame elements, and roofing materials that are past their expected lifespan are all common on these houses. Our surveyors understand those building methods and can spot issues that a less detailed survey, or a standard mortgage valuation, would miss. Many of the villages around ST9 were built as miners' cottages, and we know the usual features and defects of that housing type.

Clay soil in parts of Staffordshire can also bring shrink-swell risk, with the ground expanding and contracting as moisture levels change. That movement can lead to subsidence or heave, affecting foundations and structural walls. Not every property in ST9 sits on clay, but the risk is still enough to make a thorough Level 3 Survey important when you are trying to understand the ground beneath a home. We look for signs such as diagonal cracking, uneven floors and doors that no longer close as they should. In many cases, we can tell whether movement looks historical and stable, or whether it may still be active and needs a structural engineer to take a look.

• Pre-1900 period properties
• Properties with significant alterations
• Homes in former mining areas
• Properties on clay ground
• Extended or converted buildings
• Listed buildings (where appropriate)