Independent pre-purchase and mortgage surveys from PCA-qualified, commission-free surveyors, with a clear written report you can negotiate with. Covering the Cotswold villages, Oxford and Henley-on-Thames and across Oxfordshire.
Book a surveyIf your homebuyer report or lender has flagged damp, timber decay or woodworm on a Oxfordshire property, you will usually be asked for a specialist report before the mortgage can proceed.
We provide those surveys every day. Our surveyors aren't paid commission, so their only job is to tell you accurately what is wrong, what it will take to fix and what it should cost.
Older and listed Oxfordshire properties often come with historic damp and woodworm. A specialist survey separates old, inactive problems from ones that need work, so you don't pay for unnecessary treatment or overlook a real defect.
Oxfordshire is full of historic buildings: Cotswold limestone cottages, ironstone houses around Banbury, timber-framed and thatched properties, and Georgian and Victorian townhouses in Oxford, Henley and Abingdon. Many are listed or in conservation areas, built with lime mortars and solid stone walls that need breathable, sympathetic treatments rather than impermeable modern materials.
Riverside towns along the Thames, including Henley, Wallingford, Abingdon and parts of Oxford, sit on low-lying ground with high water tables and flood risk, which puts cellars and ground floors under moisture pressure.
Limestone cottages and thatched houses around Burford, Chipping Norton and Witney that need breathable, lime-compatible repairs.
Georgian and Victorian townhouses, college buildings and riverside homes, many listed, in a city with a long history of flooding from the Thames and Cherwell.
Period riverside properties on low-lying ground, where damp cellars and flood damage are common.
A general building survey rarely lifts floorboards or tests walls in detail. Our specialist survey does. Using calibrated damp meters, hygrometers and moisture readings, and lifting floorboards where access allows, we check for rising, penetrating and lateral damp, condensation, dry rot, wet rot, woodworm and below-ground defects.
You receive a written report setting out what we found, the cause, the work recommended and a costed quotation. That gives you the facts to renegotiate your offer, ask the seller to carry out work before completion, or simply buy with confidence.
Sellers can commission a survey before listing, so any issues can be dealt with and a guarantee transferred to the buyer, which helps sales go through smoothly.
A PCA-qualified, commission-free surveyor visits your Oxfordshire property, investigates with calibrated equipment and identifies the cause.
You receive a clear written report explaining what we found and what we recommend, with a fixed quotation and no hidden extras.
Our own trained team carries out the work, protecting your home, keeping dust down and leaving everything clean.
You receive a written guarantee, which can be protected by an Insurance Backed Guarantee for a single premium.
We survey properties across Oxfordshire, with Henley, Abingdon, Wallingford and Oxford among the areas we visit most. We regularly work in Oxford, Henley-on-Thames, Thame, Faringdon, Witney and Bicester, and throughout Oxford, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, West Oxfordshire and Cherwell.
Towns and areas we cover in Oxfordshire
One recent example of our damp & timber surveys work in Oxfordshire: Damp proofing at Old Rose Cottage, Abingdon.
Find out more about our damp & timber surveys service.
Book a survey
If you’ve noticed any of these issues, arranging a professional survey is the best way to identify the cause and prevent further damage.
We understand purchases run to tight timescales and aim to arrange surveys promptly, with the written report sent soon after. Call us to check current availability.
Our surveyors are qualified to Property Care Association standards, and our reports are written in the format lenders expect from a specialist PCA company.
Yes. We need access to the property, so we arrange the appointment with the seller or their estate agent on your behalf.
The fee depends on the size of the property and what needs inspecting. Contact us with the address and we will confirm the cost before booking.
Yes. Much of our Oxfordshire work is on listed limestone, ironstone and timber-framed buildings. We use breathable, lime-compatible materials and fix causes such as raised ground levels and failed rainwater goods before considering anything invasive.
We visit Henley, Abingdon, Wallingford and Oxford most often, and cover the rest of the county on request. Call us to check your area.
We survey properties across Oxfordshire, with Henley, Abingdon, Wallingford and Oxford among the areas we visit most. Towns we visit regularly include Oxford, Henley-on-Thames, Thame, Faringdon, Witney, Bicester, Burford and Carterton. If yours isn't listed, give us a call and we'll confirm.
Also in Oxfordshire
Our other specialist services for Oxfordshire homes, landlords and businesses.
Rising damp, penetrating damp and damp proof courses. Most common around Oxford and Henley-on-Thames.
Dry rot, wet rot and woodworm. Most common around the Cotswold villages and Oxford.
Basement damp proofing, tanking and conversions. Most common around Oxford and Henley-on-Thames.
Black mould, streaming windows and ventilation. Most common around Didcot & Thame and Banbury.
Wall tie replacement and crack stitching. Most common around Banbury and Didcot & Thame.
Leaks, floods and burst pipes. Most common around Oxford and Henley-on-Thames.
Client testimonials
We bought a house that had a basement but was in need of some work. Right from the start we received a professional service. The work was carried out in a timely manner and there were no hidden surprises!
Live just outside Oxfordshire? We cover the neighbouring counties too.
Find the right service / 1 minute
Tell us what you’re seeing and we’ll point you to the right treatment. Four quick questions.
From our offices in Thames Ditton and Esher, our surveyors cover London and the surrounding counties, providing fast response times for residential and commercial properties alike.
We regularly work with:
Whether your property requires a damp survey, timber inspection or basement waterproofing system, our experienced team is ready to help.
Our certifications reflect our commitment to the highest standards of work and quality.
Why Tapco
Established in 1971
Choosing Tapco HomeDry means choosing a company with a proven history of protecting properties across the South East.
We believe every property deserves an individual assessment. That’s why our recommendations are based on what your building genuinely needs, not unnecessary treatments.
Tapco (Preservation) Ltd is an Introducer Appointed Representative (Financial Services Register No. 423558) of Phoenix Financial Consultants Limited (Phoenix). Phoenix is a credit broker, not a lender. Phoenix is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 539195), and offers finance from its panel of lenders. All finance subject to status and credit checks.
