Independent pre-purchase and mortgage surveys from PCA-qualified, commission-free surveyors, with a clear written report you can negotiate with. Covering Kensington & Chelsea, Islington & Camden and Greenwich & Lewisham and across London.
Book a surveyIf your homebuyer report or lender has flagged damp, timber decay or woodworm on a London 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.
London's property market moves quickly, and lenders frequently ask for a specialist damp and timber report on period flats and houses. We regularly survey properties for buyers across the capital, often within tight exchange timescales, and our reports give clear costs you can negotiate with.
London's housing stock is dominated by Victorian and Edwardian terraces, Georgian townhouses and mansion blocks, many now split into flats. Most were built with solid brick walls and original slate or bitumen damp proof courses that are now well over a century old. Raised pavements and garden levels, lower ground floors and shared party walls all make damp more likely, and conversions often introduce new kitchens and bathrooms without enough ventilation.
Much of London sits on London Clay, which holds water and swells and shrinks with the seasons, while areas close to the Thames and its lost tributaries have high water tables. That combination puts constant moisture pressure on lower ground floors, vaults and basements, and is why so many London basement projects need a properly designed waterproofing system.
Stucco-fronted townhouses and mansion blocks with lower ground floors and vaults under the pavement, where basement waterproofing and damp to front lightwells are everyday problems.
Georgian and early Victorian terraces, often listed and split into flats, where lime-compatible damp treatments and leaks between flats need careful diagnosis.
Georgian and Victorian houses on sloping ground near the river, where earth banked against rear walls and old suspended timber floors lead to damp and rot.
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 London 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 are in London every day, travelling in from our Thames Ditton office in south-west London. We regularly work in Bromley, Acton, Balham, Battersea, Biggin Hill and Blackheath, and throughout Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham, Wandsworth, Lambeth and Southwark.
Towns and areas we cover in London
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 London work is in flats, maisonettes and lower ground floor conversions. We can liaise with managing agents and freeholders where the cause of a problem sits in a communal part of the building or a neighbouring flat.
Yes. Our teams work in central London every week and plan for parking suspensions, congestion charge zones and restricted access, so you don't have to.
Our surveyors are in London every day, travelling in from our Thames Ditton office in south-west London. Towns we visit regularly include Bromley, Acton, Balham, Battersea, Biggin Hill, Blackheath, East Ham and Hammersmith. If yours isn't listed, give us a call and we'll confirm.
Also in London
Our other specialist services for London homes, landlords and businesses.
Rising damp, penetrating damp and damp proof courses. Most common around Kensington & Chelsea and Richmond & Barnes.
Dry rot, wet rot and woodworm. Most common around Greenwich & Lewisham and Kensington & Chelsea.
Basement damp proofing, tanking and conversions. Most common around Kensington & Chelsea and Richmond & Barnes.
Black mould, streaming windows and ventilation. Most common around Hackney and Kensington & Chelsea.
Wall tie replacement and crack stitching. Most common around Wandsworth & Clapham and Croydon & Bromley.
Leaks, floods and burst pipes. Most common around Richmond & Barnes and Kensington & Chelsea.
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 London? 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.
