Independent pre-purchase and mortgage surveys from PCA-qualified, commission-free surveyors, with a clear written report you can negotiate with. Covering Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells and the Kent countryside and across Kent.
Book a surveyIf your homebuyer report or lender has flagged damp, timber decay or woodworm on a Kent 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.
Whether you are buying a Victorian terrace in Tunbridge Wells or a converted oast house in the countryside, a specialist survey tells you exactly what condition the timber and walls are in, and what any repairs will cost.
Kent's character comes from its oast houses, weatherboarded and tile-hung cottages, Kentish ragstone churches and farmhouses, alongside Victorian terraces in the Medway towns and handsome Regency and Victorian villas in Tunbridge Wells. Older buildings built with ragstone, soft brick and lime mortar need breathable repairs to avoid trapping moisture.
North Kent sits largely on chalk and London Clay, while the Weald in the south is clay that holds water. Low-lying areas along the Medway and Thames estuary have high water tables, and clay soils that shrink and swell can contribute to cracking in masonry.
Period houses and Wealden cottages, many in conservation areas, which need breathable, sympathetic damp and timber treatments.
Regency and Victorian villas and terraces, where ageing damp proof courses and penetrating damp in stuccoed walls are frequent findings.
Oast houses, weatherboarded cottages and ragstone farmhouses, where wet rot and woodworm follow wherever water gets into the frame.
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 Kent 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.
Our surveyors cover west and mid Kent regularly, including Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and the Medway towns. We regularly work in Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Dartford, Cowden and East Malling, and throughout Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge & Malling, Maidstone, Dartford and Gravesham.
Towns and areas we cover in Kent
One recent example of our damp & timber surveys work in Kent: Oast house, Hollingbourne.
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. We have treated oast houses, weatherboarded cottages and ragstone farmhouses across Kent, including an oast house in Hollingbourne, using methods that suit traditional construction.
We cover west and mid Kent regularly, including Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Maidstone, Dartford and the Medway towns. Call us to check further afield.
Our surveyors cover west and mid Kent regularly, including Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and the Medway towns. Towns we visit regularly include Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Dartford, Cowden, East Malling, Gravesend and Halstead. If yours isn't listed, give us a call and we'll confirm.
Also in Kent
Our other specialist services for Kent homes, landlords and businesses.
Rising damp, penetrating damp and damp proof courses. Most common around Maidstone and the Medway towns.
Dry rot, wet rot and woodworm. Most common around Sevenoaks and the Kent countryside.
Basement damp proofing, tanking and conversions. Most common around the Medway towns and Maidstone.
Black mould, streaming windows and ventilation. Most common around Dartford & Gravesend and the Medway towns.
Wall tie replacement and crack stitching. Most common around Dartford & Gravesend and Tunbridge Wells.
Leaks, floods and burst pipes. Most common around Maidstone and Tonbridge.
Client testimonials
Professional and experienced staff with a vast knowledge and skill set. I commissioned Tapco to complete some damp proofing work, and they discovered other issues that required rectifying during the process. Tapco were equipped and experienced enough to professionally make good all issues in a timely manner and at a competitive price.
Live just outside Kent? 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.
