Independent pre-purchase and mortgage surveys from PCA-qualified, commission-free surveyors, with a clear written report you can negotiate with. Covering Brighton & Hove, Chichester and Lewes and across Sussex.
Book a surveyIf your homebuyer report or lender has flagged damp, timber decay or woodworm on a Sussex 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.
Buyers of Sussex seafront flats, flint cottages and timber-framed houses often find their homebuyer report recommends a specialist survey. We can tell you whether there is a real problem, what it will cost to fix and whether a guarantee already exists.
Sussex combines Regency and Victorian seafront terraces in Brighton, Hove and Eastbourne with flint cottages on the Downs and tile-hung, timber-framed Wealden houses inland. Many of these older buildings were built with lime mortars and solid walls that need to breathe, and inappropriate cement renders or modern paints are a frequent cause of trapped damp.
The chalk of the South Downs is free-draining, but the clay of the Weald holds water, and coastal towns have lower ground floors and basements close to the water table. Properties on sloping sites often have earth banked against rear walls, which brings damp into rooms below ground level.
Regency and Victorian seafront terraces, many converted into flats, where wind-driven rain, salt air and tired render cause penetrating damp and condensation.
Georgian and medieval buildings, many listed, and low-lying areas around the harbour with a high water table.
Flint, brick and timber-framed buildings beside the Ouse, a town that knows the cost of flooding all too well.
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 Sussex 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 East and West Sussex regularly, from the Weald villages to the coast. We regularly work in Hastings, Gatwick, Ashurst, Battle, Bexhill-on-Sea and Copthorne, and throughout Brighton & Hove, Horsham, Crawley, Mid Sussex, Chichester and Arun.
Towns and areas we cover in Sussex
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. Wind-driven rain and salt air cause a lot of penetrating damp in seafront properties. We find where the water is getting in, from render and pointing to parapets and windows, and fix it at source.
Yes. Flint cottages and Wealden timber-framed houses need breathable materials and careful repairs rather than heavy-handed injection and hard plaster, and that is how we treat them.
Our surveyors cover East and West Sussex regularly, from the Weald villages to the coast. Towns we visit regularly include Hastings, Gatwick, Ashurst, Battle, Bexhill-on-Sea, Copthorne, Crawley and Crowborough. If yours isn't listed, give us a call and we'll confirm.
Also in Sussex
Our other specialist services for Sussex homes, landlords and businesses.
Rising damp, penetrating damp and damp proof courses. Most common around Brighton & Hove and Eastbourne.
Dry rot, wet rot and woodworm. Most common around Horsham and Brighton & Hove.
Basement damp proofing, tanking and conversions. Most common around Crawley & Haywards Heath and Horsham.
Black mould, streaming windows and ventilation. Most common around Worthing and Brighton & Hove.
Wall tie replacement and crack stitching. Most common around Eastbourne and Crawley & Haywards Heath.
Leaks, floods and burst pipes. Most common around Lewes and Chichester.
Client testimonials
My wife discovered rising damp in our basement. Not knowing the first thing about damp proofing we called out the experts, Tapco Homedry. Tapco alleviated our concerns over the phone and arranged a date to solve the problem at our convenience. Thankfully we found it and thank you Tapco for fixing it.
Live just outside Sussex? 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.
