Best Chartered Surveyors in Cambridgeshire

What does a surveyor look for during a house survey in Cambridgeshire?

A Chartered Surveyor in Cambridgeshire will carry out a property survey and keep a close eye on issues that crop up repeatedly in the county’s unique mix of historic market towns, low-lying Fens and expanding science-park suburbs.

What a surveyor will check will depend on which level survey you choose, but typically a surveyor will inspect:

• All major internal features – walls, ceilings, floors, joinery and fixed fittings.
• Signs of damp or mould – rising damp is common in older brick terraces and cottages because many sit close to the water-table or lack damp-proof courses.
• Insulation & energy efficiency, many Victorian and pre-war homes around Cambridge, Ely and St Neots have solid walls and single glazing; the survey highlights upgrade options such as internal insulation or secondary glazing.
• Foundations & structural movement, the city itself is built on shrink-swell clay, while the surrounding Fens rest on compressible peat. Surveyors look for tell-tale cracking, sticking windows or sloping floors that can indicate subsidence or settlement.
• Timber condition: Timber-framed cottages and thatched roofs in villages like Burwell or Hemingford Grey need detailed checks for rot, wood-boring insects and moisture ingress.
• Services (visual inspections of electrics, gas, drainage), ensuring installations meet current safety standards and flagging any outdated wiring or shared Victorian drains.
• Environmental risks such as flooding: parts of the Great Ouse, Nene and Cam valleys are in “medium” or “high” long-term flood-risk zones, so surveyors reference Environment Agency mapping and look for flood resilience measures. Contaminated land: former brickworks, airfields and agro-industrial sites can leave legacy contamination; desktop searches and, where necessary, sampling are recommended.
• Invasive or “dangerous” plants such as Japanese knotweed along rail embankments and waterways, giant hogweed on disturbed ground.
• Permanent outbuildings and external features like barns, detached garages, garden studios and boundary walls, including roof structure, damp proofing and asbestos-cement cladding where present.

Your surveyor will produce a detailed written report explaining:

• Condition ratings for every element (green / amber / red).
• Photographic evidence of defects and maintenance priorities.
• For Level 2 and Level 3 surveys: costed repair guidance or recommendations for specialist follow-up.
• Location insights, from conservation-area rules in villages like Grantchester to new-build warranties on developments at Northstowe.
• Optional market valuation (often at extra cost).

Getting a survey can help you make an informed decision about your house purchase and can also give you the opportunity to negotiate on price if issues are uncovered.

What is the difference between a surveyor and a Chartered Surveyor?

In Cambridgeshire you’ll encounter a wide spectrum of property-inspection professionals, from general surveyors who offer focused services to fully qualified Chartered Surveyors who handle complex historic homes in Ely, barn conversions in the Fens and modern extensions around Cambridge’s science parks.

Here’s how they differ:

Qualifications

• Surveyor: May hold a vocational certificate or degree, but there is no single mandatory standard.
• Chartered Surveyor: Must follow a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) pathway, pass the demanding Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) and use the letters MRICS or FRICS.

Professional regulation

• Surveyor: Not automatically overseen by a governing body.
• Chartered Surveyor: Regulated by RICS and bound by its Code of Conduct, continuing-professional-development rules and strict requirements for professional-indemnity insurance.

Scope of work

• Surveyor: Often provides limited condition reports or niche inspections such as new-build snagging.
• Chartered Surveyor: Qualified to deliver full Building Surveys, HomeBuyer Reports, valuations, expert-witness statements and specialist advice on issues common to Cambridgeshire such as clay shrinkage around Cambridge, peat settlement in the Fens or conservation-area restrictions in villages like Grantchester.

Accountability and redress

• Surveyor: Complaints are handled privately and depend on the individual’s own processes.
• Chartered Surveyor: If problems arise, you can escalate your case through RICS’s independent complaints and dispute-resolution scheme, giving extra peace of mind.

All Cambridgeshire surveyors on reallymoving are RICS-regulated and credit-checked to ensure a quality service.

What are the types of house survey you can get in Cambridgeshire?

There are three main types of RICS surveys:

RICS Level 1 (Condition Report)

A snapshot of a property’s overall health.

• Clear “traffic-light” ratings for each element (green / amber / red).
• No advice on repairs and no market valuation.
• Best for new build homes on modern estates around places such as Cambourne or Northstowe, where serious defects are unlikely.
• Costs from £300-£700.

RICS Level 2 (Homebuyers Survey)

The most popular mid-range survey.

• Everything in Level 1 plus written advice on urgent or significant defects, damp readings, insulation levels and repair priorities.
• Optional valuation and reinstatement cost.
• Suits conventional housing in reasonable condition such as Victorian terraces in Cambridge, 1930s semis in St Ives, or post-war family homes in Ely.
• Costs on average £498.95.

RICS Level 3 (Building Survey)

Full structural assessment.

• A detailed description of construction, hidden defects, probable causes and remedial options, often with budget estimates.
• Essential for older, extended or unusual properties: thatched cottages in villages like Hemingford Grey, timber-frame barns converted on Fenland peat, or any house showing signs of movement on Cambridge’s clay.
• Costs on average £661.29.

How long a house survey takes will depend on the level of survey you get and the size and complexity of your property. The time frame may vary, but you typically receive the report within a few days to a week after the inspection is completed.

How can I find a trusted surveyor in Cambridgeshire?

You can use reallymoving to compare quotes from RICS-accredited surveyors who work across Cambridgeshire. Just tell us a few details about the property you’re buying or selling and you’ll receive up to five instant quotes from Chartered Surveyors.

All surveyors on the reallymoving panel are credit-checked and regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), so you can be confident they meet strict professional standards.

To make sure you choose the right surveyor for a Cambridgeshire home:

1. Read local testimonials and reviews
2. Look for consistent praise on clarity of advice, speed of reporting and knowledge of issues that crop up in the county
3. Check that fees are transparent
4. Trustworthy firms will give a clear breakdown of costs up front and explain any extras (for example, drone roof inspections for thatched village houses or separate radon tests in southern parts of the county).
5. Assess communication style
6. A good surveyor will keep you updated from booking to report delivery so your purchase stays on schedule. Fast, clear responses are especially valuable if the chain is moving quickly.

Selecting a surveyor who understands local building types and ground conditions can save you money and stress later.