Damp Surveys Ltd
4.9(133)Sydenham, Lewisham, LondonGet directions
Damp Surveys Ltd
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Damp Surveys Ltd provide independent damp surveys across London, with a focus on understanding the underlying causes of damp and offering practical recommendations. Based in Sydenham, they also offer a follow-up visit to support their survey service.
Customers consistently praise Damp Surveys Ltd for thorough, methodical surveys, clear evidence-based explanations and detailed reports. Their professional, friendly approach and useful follow-up advice are frequently valued, particularly when helping people understand damp, mould, condensation, leaks and ventilation problems.
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4.9
Damp Surveys Ltd provides thorough, independent damp surveys with clear, evidence-based explanations and practical recommendations. Reviews frequently mention identifying the true causes of damp, mould, condensation, leaks and ventilation problems, often helping people avoid unnecessary and costly damp-proofing work. Simon and the team are described as professional, friendly and methodical, with detailed reports, useful follow-up advice and a reassuring approach, although a small number of reviews raise concerns about delayed or unanswered follow-up communication.
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I had some damp issues in my kitchen and I was worried I had a leak in my roof - I am so glad I had Simon over to check the issue. It turned out it wasn’t the roof and there were relatively straightforward fixes for the problem. He also went through all other damp related issues at my property and provided very practical and to-the- point advice to mitigate the issues. I can strongly recommend Simon to anyone who has damp problems in their property - he is very knowledgable, uses technology effectively and explains the issues in a clear and solution focussed manner.
As a private person it was difficult having a survey recorded in my home, but Simon has been very accommodating with my concerns and requests. The visit was interesting and helpful. Thank you Simon for your advice and responding to my many emails!
Ich möchte diese Bewertung gerne auf Deutsch verfassen, da mir das bei diesem doch recht komplexen Thema leichter fällt als auf Englisch. Schon vor dem Kauf unseres Hauses hat uns das RICS Level 3 Gutachten große Sorgen bereitet. Es wurden unter anderem eindringende Feuchtigkeit, eine angeblich defekte Hohlraumdämmung und eine fehlende Horizontalsperre festgestellt. Auf Empfehlung unseres Hausmaklers ließen wir die Feuchtigkeit von einer Firma begutachten, die Sanierungsarbeiten für mindestens £3.500 empfahl. Zum Glück entschieden wir uns nach dem Hauskauf noch für ein UNABHÄNGIGES Gutachten von Damp Surveys - rückblickend eine der besten Entscheidungen überhaupt. Simon und sein Team waren von Anfang an freundlich, professionell und zuverlässig. Die Kommunikation war ausgezeichnet und wir hatten jederzeit das Gefühl, eine ehrliche und objektive Einschätzung zu erhalten. Simon und Rob nahmen sich viel Zeit für eine gründliche Untersuchung und erklärte alle Zusammenhänge verständlich, anstatt vorschnell teure Maßnahmen zu empfehlen. Dabei stellte sich schnell heraus, dass unser Haus gar keine Hohlwände besitzt und die angeblich defekte Hohlraumdämmung somit gar nicht existieren konnte. Außerdem konnte Simon die vorhandene Horizontalsperre nachweisen und bestätigte, dass es keinerlei Hinweise auf aufsteigende Feuchtigkeit gab. Damit widerlegte er die teuren Sanierungsvorschläge vollständig. Statt unnötiger Arbeiten zeigte er die tatsächlichen Ursachen unserer Probleme auf. Der muffige Geruch in den Küchenschränken wurde beispielsweise durch Kondensation verursacht, und auch andere Auffälligkeiten konnte er nachvollziehbar erklären. Statt kostspieliger Sanierungen erhielten wir praktische, wissenschaftlich fundierte Empfehlungen zur Belüftung, Feuchtigkeitskontrolle und Schimmelprävention. Dieses Gutachten hat uns vermutlich mehrere tausend Pfund an unnötigen Sanierungskosten erspart. Noch wichtiger war aber die Sicherheit, endlich zu wissen, woran wir wirklich sind. Wer einen unabhängigen, ehrlichen und äußerst kompetenten Sachverständigen für Feuchtigkeitsprobleme sucht, ist bei Simon und dem gesamten Team von Damp Surveys genau richtig. Vielen Dank für die hervorragende Arbeit - wir würden uns jederzeit wieder für Damp Surveys entscheiden!
If you believe you have a damp problem or, as in my case, an inscrutable surveyor was reporting a damp problem, you must seek Simon's help. Not only is Simon one of the most straight-talking people I know, but as an authorized expert witness he operates with the upmost of integrity. I live in Australia and was selling my house in South London. You can imagine my anxiety when a surveyor reported a rising damp problem. The reported costs were astronomical and my buyer was spooked and on the verge of pulling out of the sale. I enlisted Simon's help and within a couple of weeks he'd prepared a report -based on real sensor data- and photos which proved beyond doubt that the house was not suffering from rising damp. As a result, the buyer was re-assured and proceeded to completion. I whole-heartedly recommend a chat with Simon about any damp related issue!
If you've noticed damp in your property, I'd definitely suggest speaking to Simon before committing to any work. We had two damp-proofing companies come out to inspect our house and neither correctly identified the cause of the problem. Both recommended installing a damp proof course in our basement, with quotes ranging from £5,000 to £10,000. It turned out the real issue was drainage problems — a blocked pipe and some leaking pipework were allowing water to get underneath the floorboards. The damp proof course they suggested wouldn't have solved anything, and our floorboards would have continued to rot. Simon took a very thorough and methodical approach and was able to identify the source quite quickly. He didn't jump to conclusions or try to sell us a particular solution. He simply investigated the issue, explained what he was finding, and told us what needed fixing. It was an education watching him work through the possible causes. We learned a lot about how damp behaves in older properties and feel much more confident about looking after the house going forward. In the end, Simon saved us a significant amount of money by helping us avoid unnecessary work. Because he's independent, we felt we could trust his advice. In contrast, the other companies seemed focused on selling their own services. I would highly recommend Simon to anyone trying to get to the bottom of a damp problem rather than just being sold a treatment.
Simon came to survey our house a week ago, after three other professionals had tried to find the issues without success. We knew immediately that Simon was knowledgable, experienced and practical. He asked us lots of questions to explore all possible causes of our damp issues (wet rot), and has given us clear advice on how to resolve the issues. We are so pleased we opted to book in Simon - we also liked his approach of sharing knowledge and avoiding costly and unnecessary works that are often recommended. The AI tool on his website was actually great too - it gave an initial diagnosis which Simon confirmed in person and gave the follow up advice and assessment. Would highly recommend.
Simon visited our property to assess long-standing issues, which previous owners had attempted to address with no success. His survey was extremely thorough, and he offered very clear information as to why the issues we are facing exist and are ongoing, with clear, tangible solutions to manage them. He is clearly an expert in his field and we feel we are in very good hands. The approach Simon recommends is based in aiming for a long term resolution to the overall issue rather than symptom management (which had been lacking in previous attempts to fix the problem). He has been nothing but helpful in helping us implement this. Six months in and he has been available for email support to give us further guidance. We are confident that the solutions he is offering will resolve the problem and would recommend Simon's services without hesitation.
Many thanks to Simon and the Damp Survey team for the diligent review we received. Simon worked methodologically through various different hypotheses and tirelessly verified his findings through data and extensive review. We have a clear set of recommendations that are supported by Simon's extensive knowledge on the topic. I'd highly recommend him.
Some excellent advice we hadn't thought of before, will post an update in future tk see where we get to!
Thankyou so much to Simon for his incredibly informative and helpful visit and follow up video and subsequent notes. Simon is exceptionally knowledgable and has given me peace of mind, saved me thousands of pounds in unnecessary damp proofing and given me the knowledge I need to implement the next steps to ensure my home is damp proofed PROPERLY -and at a fraction of the cost that I had estimated. Don’t let damp proof ‘contractors’ frighten you with eye watering costs for unnecessary works - ensure you employ the knowledge of a damp ‘specialist’ to get to the root of your damp related issues. Simon comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Very helpful, responded quickly to my inquries and allayed the fears of the tennants. Thanks Simon!
I had an excellent experience with this damp surveyor company from start to finish. The booking process was quick and smooth, and the team were polite and professional throughout — I dealt with Aran, who was very helpful. Cory carried out the survey and was extremely thorough, taking the time to assess everything carefully. I was impressed by how quickly I received the report — it arrived the very next day. As an independent company, their report felt unbiased and trustworthy. It was well written, detailed, and easy to understand, with clear recommendations for the work required along with approximate costs for each item. Overall, a highly professional and efficient service that I would definitely recommend.
The statements are total untrue I’ve been damp proofing for 30 years and I’ve use traditional techniques and over 20000 customers I’ve had three people had to call me back surveyors don’t actually do the work we do good luck
Such a professional, thorough and practical survey and series of recommendations. Really efficient, punctual, courteous.
Couldn't recommend Simon more, he was brilliant. Very professional, extremely knowledgable probably saved us tens of thousands of pounds which would have been spent on repairing/replacing our roof. If you have a damp problem definitely speak to Simon!
Exceptionally professional, helpful, and insightful. I have used these services more than once and have every time always been absolutely satisfied with their feedback, reports and suggestions. I would highly recommended their services.
Simon did a great job. He was easy to schedule time with and then sent a very detailed follow up email. The video was also excellent! Would highly recommend
Simon came to my property and did a thorough review of the damp issues making a series of measurement. Simon gave detailed causes of the damp and how best to remedy each cause with practical solutions. We found Simon to be thorough and professional; we would recommend his services.
I moved into a property beset with mould and condensation problems. I had little understanding of the issues and how to solve it. After Simon's visit I have a full understanding and armed with his detailed advice, feel confident to tackle the problem. Simon is punctual, friendly and efficient. He has a wealth of knowledge, which he is keen his clients also understand, so he takes time to explain clearly. He also videos as he works so you can watch again, in case you miss or forget something. He thoroughly investigates each area using meters and thermal imaging, even checking the external walls and my flat roof. The suggestions made were clear, detailed and manageable. The best advice I’ve paid for. Absolutely worth it for his brilliant independent advice and the confidence and understanding I gained, and a clear action plan. Thank you Simon!
Timewasters. Took quite a bit of time to fill in their request form as detailed as possible, which includes a drop down option for ‘Buyer’, and attaching and sending further information and data/videos over email. Only to receive an email back stating: ‘ Thank you for your enquiry. Simon tends to deal with owners, sellers and freeholders, rather than buyers, these day due to our long lead times and the increased liabilities. We’re sorry we can’t help.’
Simon carried out a damp survey on my property and the process was thorough, professional, and well explained. He provided constructive, practical solutions rather than generic advice, and these recommendations have now been implemented. It is still early to judge the long-term results, but it was agreed that a reassessment in around six months will give a more accurate picture, so we will ask him to help us on this also given his excellent service. Suffice to say a very good experience overall so far. David Evans
Simon visit was really enlightening and we can now slowly work on making our house damp free following all of his advice.
My wife discovered Damp Surveys via the Which Magazine trusted traders service. Our first attempt to contact was made when Simon was elsewhere on job, so I visited the website and discovered an AI consultant which was surprisingly human in terms of seeking clarification from me and responding in detail to my information. The AI was very thorough and generated a substantial report. However, we soon contacted DS Ltd and were offered an appointment. Simon arrived punctually and proceeded with his examination of our large kitchen which has numerous signs of damp, both black and white mould. Simon very systematically inspected all of these manifestations and gave me an extremely clear and detailed account of what was going on with the moisture level in our kitchen and also how that related to other parts of the house, especially "wet" rooms. He was fastidious in his examination of the relevant parts of the property and gave us clear recommendations on how to proceed. His findings were actually very good news as we had been imagining rising damp and damp penetration from outside but it was all arising from the internal moisture level that we were generating in the house. As a result we have purchased a 20 litre dehumidifier which, although placed in the kitchen, will draw moisture from every part of the house as long as doors can be left open! We were astonished at the amount of moisture this device extracted over 2 nights (some 20 hours). We do have extractor fans in critical places, but these clearly do not deal sufficiently well with the atmospheric moisture in the kitchen. Final note: I strongly recommend Simon's services. Prior to his visit he recommended our purchasing 2 hygrometers (moisture measurers) which come with an APP to install on a phone. These track both humidity (dew point) and temperature in a room which are critical factors for Simon to work with. I can now also continue to track both dew point and temperature in the relevant rooms. The devices' batteries can be replaced.
A great experience with Damp Surveys Ltd. A very professional experience from first enquiry to delivery of the report. Simon clearly explained the background science behind his findings and recommendations, in a way I found very helpful. Impressed all round.
I had the pleasure of appointing Simon Hichens from Damp Surveys Ltd to carry out our home survey, and I can honestly say the experience was outstanding. Simon’s professionalism and expertise shone through from the very beginning. His attention to detail was simply fabulous — every aspect of the rising damp survey was carried out with precision and care, leaving no stone unturned. What impressed me most was the quality of his work and the clarity of his explanations. Simon took the time to walk me through his findings, making sure I understood the issues and the recommended solutions. His thoroughness gave me complete confidence in the results, and his approachable manner made the whole process stress-free. If you’re looking for someone who combines technical excellence with genuine dedication to customer service, I cannot recommend Simon Hichens at Damp Surveys Ltd highly enough. He sets the bar for quality and professionalism in his field. His expertise and suggestions to remedy any problems are worth every penny. A rare professional knowledge and standard of work to rely on in these times. A lovely , trustworthy human being also.
Excellent experience with Simon from Damp Surveys, very knowledgeable and provided a complete list of any issues along with remediation advice. Would highly recommend, he is clearly an expert in his field.
Simon demonstrated a significant amount of experience in dampness and has given us the reassurance that rising damp was not the problem in our flat. He has provided us with some very valuable advice on how to control condensation. We have no hesitation in recommending him.
Really outstanding service. Has potentially saved me a lot of money, and identified the root cause of the issue. Simon is very knowledgeable and took time to make sure I understood the multiple issues contributing to the damp in my property, and suggested a number of solutions, all of which have a rough estimate of cost. The service is worth every penny.
I had a damp survey in November 2023. On the day Simon seemed friendly and knowledgable but as my damp problems developed it became clear that much of the advice he gave was not correct. I was also really disappointed that he didn't seem to really properly acknowledge the mistakes that he made (which were not minor things). For one of the issues it became clear around a year after the date of the survey that he had completely misdiagnosed one of my damp issues and had given me incorrect advice. He didn't even respond to my email pointing this out. He was previously very slow to reply to my emails but this last one has gone unanswered for months now and at this point I don't have the motivation to keep chasing him.
Friendly, helpful and professional service provided by a clear expert. He sought to provide simple and cost-effective solutions. Appointment did not feel rushed, and he comprehensively answered every question I had. Would certainly use again. Highly recommend.
Very happy to recommend Damp Surveys LTD. Simon diagnosed the cause of damp patches on the walls in my property and gave me recommendations to resolve them. Helpful website, videos and other tools alongside the report.
I'm so glad I came across Damp Surveys. Simon's survey has been extremely helpful. We've spent +2 yrs with a damp patch on our spare bedroom wall. With multiple builders, roofers and gutter specialists giving us differing opinions on root causes. The survey has given us clarity that the damp is from hygroscopic salts. We thought we may have structural issues or penetrating damp that would cost us ££££ to fix. Thankfully we now have a cost effective solution that we can apply ourselves. The survey has given us peace of mind and enabled us to resolve the issue. If you're experiencing damp issues I'd highly recommend Damp survey's services. Thank you again.
Simon provided a thorough and professional service. He's very knowledgeable and his report will be invaluable moving forward as we will have to negotiate with the company next door to us. He scoured the house from top to bottom and even fixed our extractor fan which we didn't know was broken. Highly recommended! UPDATE: we had to get a follow up report and Simon once again provided a comprehensive and prompt report. Thank you!
I thoroughly recommend Simon to anyone seeking an independent and expert analysis of any damp issues. He visited our property and provided us with a comprehensive report, including cost-effective recommendations on how to control humidity and improve ventilation. He is passionate about helping homeowners understand the root cause of their damp problems.
We have a few patches of what appear to be damp. Previously I have asked advice from builders, all of whom have come up with different ideas and have suggested different costly solutions. Given that none of them have agreed on a diagnosis or solution, I decided to seek the advice of an expert, and to pay for a damp survey from Damp Surveys Ltd, reasoning that the fee was a good investment in relation to the amount I might otherwise pay on a "repair" that was of no use. Simon visited, conducted a careful investigation of the house, interested not only the state of the walls but also our use of the property - do we use the extractor fan when cooking, how do we dry clothes, etc. Afterwards, he sent a long and detailed report, with recommendations which focused not on costly building work, but on ventilation and condensation. Yes, we're going to install new extractor fans and buy some dehumidifiers, and yes we intend to be more careful about how we dry clothes etc. But these costs are minor compared to the amounts we might have ended up paying. We feel this damp survey was a really good investment in the maintenance of our property, and it has set our minds at ease.
Simon from Damp Surveys Ltd came to our home after we'd been quoted over £2,000 by a damp proofing company to have a problem in our passage way fixed, but leaving us with additional work and costs to have skirting tiles refitted. Simon explained in great detail that the problem wasn't caused by rising damp, but by hygroscopic salts seeping out of the plaster due to humidity. He talked us through how we could overcome the problem at a fraction of the cost we had been quoted. His fee saved us a great deal of money and unnecessary upheaval and we would strongly recommend him.
Simon visited the house and produced an incredibly thorough report, including a video walk-through of the damp issues and the steps we needed to take to address them. Being able to trust that you're getting good information is so important when you're dealing with a technical problem beyond your own expertise, and Simon's rare level of professionalism put my mind at rest right from the start. Communication was candid and crystal clear throughout. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Damp Surveys Ltd.
Simon was excellent, really knew his stuff. we reached out to Simon as we had previously had two damp surveys where they recommended £50k+ of work, tanking the entire basement where it turns out it is really a ventilation issue. His use of data and evidence to get to the root causes has saved us a lot of money. Thanks Simon!
An excellent service. Simon is thorough, professional and relies on science and data rather than the take a guess approach of many trades people. I was pleased with the solutions and would highly recommend the service to others.
Simon came to look at our property after we had some damp appear in the upstairs flat, and mould in the downstairs flat. We’d been recommended by a builder to have the render on our house removed and replaced as it had some cracks, at a cost of over £30k for the whole property. Upon Simon surveying the property, he concluded the damp patches were a result of salts in a chimney breast and poor ventilation in some areas, which can both be remedied at a much lower cost! This was a huge relief. I’m very glad we paid for this independent survey, and would highly recommend it in any case where you are being proposed a solution by builders or damp proofing companies to damp costing thousands. Not only might you avoid expensive and unnecessary work, but you have the peace of mind that what you are doing is actually the right thing.
Excellent service. Seeing evidence of damp and mould can be very unsettling but speaking with Simon helped us to understand the problem, the likely causes and the potential solutions. In particular we benefited from a better understanding of how different bits of the house interact with one another mechanically (from a temperature and damp perspective). Excellent advice and input in person at the site visit and subsequently in the excellent report and updated data analysis.
I highly recommend Damp Surveys Ltd. Simon is extremely knowledgeable and thorough, with a vast range of experience. I received a report which gave results of their analysis and recommendations of how to fix and help my damp and mould problem. A great company!
I highly recommend Damp Surveys Ltd. Their methodology is precise, thorough and authoritative, which helped me to understand the causes of the damp in my property and the necessary steps I needed to take in order to remedy it. Damp Surveys Ltd provided a detailed and thorough report which gave the results of their analysis and subsequent recommendations. I felt I was guided by someone with great knowledge and experience. It is worth every penny.
I had discovered mould along one wall in my ground floor flat. After initially searching for specialist builders and damp proofing companies I found excellent reviews for Damp Surveys, and arranged a site visit and survey. The survey was done to the agreed schedule and budget. Simon was careful, considerate and helpful throughout the visit. He went above and beyond what I'd expected, fixing a couple of problems there and then. Communication was clear and consistent prior to the visit, during the visit and afterwards. Emails were answered promptly. With the help, advice and very detailed report I received, I'm able to manage the situation myself and currently have no signs of damp or mould at all. I would highly recommend Damp Surveys. Excellent value for money – an investment even.
Simon provided a very prompt and detailed assessment of our damp wall (house bombed during the war). After having spent many months trying to figure out the cause of our damp and receiving various quotes for works to be carried out it was great to finally find someone who was independent and had the extensive required to identify the root causes of our problem. Simon has likely saved us tens of thousands of pounds and we are so glad to have found him!
Simon completed a damp survey for us after the buyers of our property had a damp quote completed and was asking us to take 16K off of the asking price of our flat. Simon was able to present the flaws in this quote, as well as identify the root causes of the minor damp in our property and offer easy and cheap remedial actions to fix the issue. He fixed some of our ventilation issues during the survey and took the time to explain things to us clearly. He provided a thorough survey which our buyers have accepted and we can continue our sale without damp issues being a factor in pricing. It was the best money we have spent during our house sale and I will confidently recommend Simon to provide a trustworthy survey.
Excellent service, Simon talked us through our issues and concerns in a high level of detail, and was very knowledgable. He was immediately practically helpful, and we are already experiencing the benefit of his advice with much reduced damp problems. The report is very high quality. Also great value, thanks very much! Matt
This review has been posted months after receiving Mr Hichens' report (apologies). I think this is partly because it has taken some time to really appreciate the significance of his visit and analysis. There were a number of issues in my property, all of which Simon identified and for which he suggested cost-effective solutions. However, the main benefit of a "Simon visit" is that - you will inevitably start to think like him! I am now slightly obsessive about drainage, ventilation, data loggers, cracks and repairs. For example, my cellar space which was dingy and damp has had more airbricks installed and is now airy and well-lit; and the worrying patch of damp on one of the beams has completely dried out. For another example, I've attached a photo of an external gully which was in poor condition with a visible crack, and another photo showing how it looked after a plasterer sorted it out. I've gone beyond Simon's recommendations but to date have spent less than £2,000 and that includes the cost of Simon's survey which was only a few hundred pounds. I consider that commissioning this damp survey represented an excellent investment, and have pleasure in recommending Simon's company. Not only will you avoid wasting money on unnecessary work, but I promise you will learn LOADS about damp (and possibly develop quite a fond and respectful relationship with it..!!)
The survey provided by Simon was adequate, if rather generic - I felt I already understood most of the content from an hour or two of online research. As I had specific questions that needed answering (and which were made clear before/during the survey), I followed up on the report via email and was told I would have answers in a week or so. Two months later and I still have not heard anything, despite many emails and phone calls, all of which have been ignored. Simon himself was very pleasant during the survey, but the generic content of the report and extremely poor communication afterwards have been immensely disappointing.
I can't recommend Damp Surveys Ltd enough. Simon was professional, knowledgeable and courteous. He indentified the root causes of our damp various damp issues and even solved the main one during his visit. He was generous with time and advice, including offering thoughts to our neighbour about their issues.
Simon provided us with some really helpful advice and saved us thousands of pounds on unnecessary damp proofing as was quoted by another survey we had. He even helped improve our bathroom fans while here.
Excellent service, you receive everything promised and advertised on the website. It's immediately obvious when speaking to Simon how knowledgable he is on this subject and his experience and advise now help us get a handle on our mould issue. Highly recommend if you want to get to the root cause of your issue and have a plan to combat it.
Simon gave us a very thorough survey of the problem we had raised. In addition he checked through the house to look at all other rooms and guage if there is any other problem. Since that time, we have received an excellent very full report. I am impressed with the service we received, and would have no hesitation recommending him.
Overall, we were extremely happy with the outcomes of the survey. Highly recommended!
Having a damp survey completed by Simon has been a game changer. We had suffered from a smell of damp for several months, it was unpleasant and troubling but there was no sign of damp until some black mould appeared around the front door. Simon came and investigated what might be causing the damp. He was thorough, interested, keen to explain and gave us lots of good advice while he was with us and in the damp report with which he followed up. Following his advice has solved the damp problem in my home. The damp smell has gone and I could not be happier. I do not hesitate to wholeheartedly recommend Simon and Damp Surveys.
Great service from Simon, extremely knowledgeable and friendly - saved us £10,000 which we had been quoted for damp work. Great tips to remedy our damp issues with some small interventions that we can do ourselves. Already seeing a noticeable difference.
Simon surveyed our house which had some underlying damp issues in several areas. Through the data loggers and site survey he was able to identify causes of damp (in our case condensation) and gave us some easy steps to fix the issues. We saved so much money on unnecessary treatments and understand a lot more about how to avoid the issues in the future.
I was a big fan of Simon's service, he did a great job. Top guy, very professional, thorough work and saved me lots of money. Even though his work was outstanding, his 'son' (who we will not name for legal reasons) was highly incompetent. Fortunately though he doesn't work for Simon.
Simon did a thorough and professional and objective damp survey of our basement flat followed-up with a comprehensible prognosis as well as a list including breakdown costs (some as little as £20 -£40) to treat each damp-related issue that we can tackle on our own or with the help of a painter or builder. Cannot recommend highly enough.
If you’re hesitating due to the £400 survey price tag, don’t! You’ll save far far more than this! Saved me around £4k Thorough, comprehensive damp report by Simon (a patient and knowledgeable man). Was quoted around £5k by Kenwood for remedial works. Simon took time to explore and explain to me the cause of my issues. The works he recommended were around £500. My only regret is that I didn’t discover him years ago when have had previous problems with damp !
We had damp issues since the purchase of our property and have recently been considering an extension. I came across very positive reviews for Damp Surveys along with what I believed to be a very honest and sincere response when I queried about a survey. After meeting Simon, he was able to very quickly reassure me that I was doing the right thing before any extensive work. His explanations were very clear and made complete sense. At the end of his visit I no longer required to spend thousands of pounds to damp proof my basement, it just needed better ventilation. I would highly recommend Simon to anyone who have any concerns around damp issues in their property.
Simon is extremely methodical and highly experienced. I was very happy with the survey and the follow up report is exactly what I wanted; precise, detailed and easy to digest. Highly recommened services.
Simon's report on the damp in my house was extremely detailed and helpful. A lot of the remedies he suggested worked immediately and were very cost effective. He was very good at explaining the science behind the issues in the house. He has saved me spending thousands of pounds on damp proofing course treatments that would not be needed.
Simon did a damp survey for me. He is very knowledgeable and provided so may tips and advice to resolve damp issues. Simon also provided a very thorough report. So happy I used this company.
I don't normally like to make these kind of recommendations but in this instance, I am confident another customer would receive the same level of professionalism, courtesy and problem-solving that we received. Simon Hichens from Damp Surveys attended our Victorian property and quickly identifed the cause of a long standing problem of damp patches in two upper rooms. He proposed a course of action to manage the problem that had previously, and at some cost to us, defeated various roofers and builders. Simon's knowledge and enthusiasm for his work is immediately apparent and in our case the proposed solution fortunately not expensive. If only we had consulted such a specialist at an earlier stage!
Simon is very knowledgeable and undertook a thorough inspection of our property, explaining everything as he went. He then sent through a detailed report with recommendations. Very happy with the service.
When i discovered damp in my cellar, & a damp patch on my lounge wall, people were recommending all the ususal damp proofing companies. Other people were warning me about the damp proofing industy's " reputation". So i decided to really look into this subject. All i can say, is that before you jump into very expensive damp proofing which only masks the problem in alot of cases, check out an independent damp surveyor. It is a one off fee, so there is no vested interest in convincing you to have all sorts of treatments. An independent surveyor gets to the root of the problem, in my case i had two different probems, none of which are caused by rising damp! I first thought it was all caused by one issue. Not only was the survey informative,it was interesting too! I also got advice on how to repair certain areas, and the fixes were quite simple. I cannot recommend Damp Surveys Ltd highly enough. Simon was very friendly, sending me a detailed report & recommendations. When you see damp, don't automatically assume it's rising damp & have an expensive course of damp treatment. First port of call- Independent damp surveyor!
Absolutely delighted with the service Simon provided. The whole concept of taking a thoughtful, thorough, investigative approach to damp issues makes so much sense. Our flat had had a damp proof course injected 20 years ago, before we bought it. Rather than simply proceeding with having a new damp course injected we were keen to establish why there was a damp patch appearing in the flat. Simon identified the issues which we are now proceeding with redressing. Strongly recommend+++
Simon was very helpful and reassuring, providing a clear plan of next steps when we had damp and black mould in our home. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
I would definitely recommend anyone who has been told that their property has damp to get in touch with Simon to get honest and practical advice that will surely save you a heck of a lot of money. We found him to be extremely knowledgeable and passionate in his area of expertise and his advice was easy to follow.
Good communication and professional expertise. They offered to go round the property the week later to check something, without extra charge.
We have a serious damp problem - I had two plumbers who took up floorboards and concluded that there was no leak, it was rainwater and rising damp... Simon Hitchens came and provided a comprehensive overview not only of the damp problem, (which was caused by a leak), but of the overall shortcomings of the house in terms of moisture, ventilation, condensation etc. His report was easy to read (even if the science is beyond me), and full of tips and recommendations, many of which are easy and cheap to implement. I really liked Simon's approach while he was here: friendly, professional, explaining what he was doing and why... His report gave me grounds for contacting Homeserve, with whom I have a contract covering the central heating's pipework, with a solid reason for asking them to investigate the cause of the leak and damp. Highly recommend Damp Surveys also for what is clearly a high quality piece of work where there's no worry about being influenced to commit to expensive but unnecessary work.
Simon was extremely knowledgeable and found the source of the damp very quickly. He explained everything in a way which was easy to comprehend and clearly has a passion for what he does. A true professional - highly recommended.
Damp Surveys Ltd did a fantastic job of identifying the root causes of the damp in my property, saving me 000s in unnecessary chemical injection treatment. Simon was professional, knowledgeable and friendly.
Simon was brilliant! He's clearly extremely knowledgeable, and took time to carry out a detailed survey of the property. His reported was clear and easy to follow. Unlike other companies we've asked to look at the property, he wasn't trying to push a product and sell us something we didn't need. Would definitely recommend Damp Surveys Ltd.
Very professional and friendly service. Quick responses given by phone or by email. Simon carried out a comprehensive report clearly detailing simple measures to be taken to remediate damp problems in our flat. I would highly recommend using his services.
Simon came to review a damp patch in our bedroom but he also did a thorough review of the whole house. His recommendations were sensible and easy to implement. Simon was also friendly and approachable and made the whole experience interesting.
Simon was prompt, very professional and is very pleasant man. He explained everything he was doing and the reason why. He wasted no time in hunting down where our damp was coming from…. In an internal cupboard under the stairs with no water in the vicinity….a real puzzle. Simon located a leak on the other side of our kitchen…what a relief. Immediate verbal advice given and taken. Within 3 days we had an extensive very informative report. We would highly recommend Simon.
Hello, Simon was great, really helpful, insightful and was very professional. We have been using all the imformation and recommendations he has made for us and it's really extremely benficial.
I would thoroughly recommend Damp Surveys Ltd. Simon was extremely knowledgeable, thorough, honest and personable. He found historical mistakes at our property which would never occurred had they known what he does and was great with recommendations for remedial measures.
Simon's services were as professional and thorough as they could possibly be. He took a lot of time to look at possible causes for damp (and fixed some minor ones in the process). He takes an approach balancing risk and reward of different measures, which I really appreciate. I can only recommend to hire him to have a look at any possible issue you might have with damp, as he is not trying to sell you a specific solution. The report itself is very detailed and is helping me as a record to go back to when I have other tradespeople around. The support post-report is also very good, he did not simply stop communication because the commercial obligation has been fulfilled. Highest marks for this service.
Simon has a vast amount of knowledge and experience with damp issues. He thoroughly tested every room (and even under the ground floor!) for damp and provided sound advice for addressing the source of every issue. He saved us money by advising against certain “improvements” recommended by damp companies we’d had to the house, and provided simple and zero-cost solutions instead. If you only go the assessment of a self-interested damp company, you are at their mercy because you won’t know if the suggested improvement (for their profit) is actually necessary. After Simon conducted his survey, we found out that the damp company’s quote was for unnecessary work. He saved us hundreds.
Getting a damp survey done with Damp Surveys Ltd was fantastic and very professional. Simon and Jane were very accommodating and managed to fit in a survey on a property we were purchasing at short notice in amongst a very busy schedule. Simon's technical knowledge was invaluable to diagnosing the root cause of the damp. He took the time to explain the problem, respond to any follow up questions and included a full breakdown of the remedial actions necessary to keep the property dry and mould free, including an estimated cost which was incredibly helpful during negotiations with the seller. This breakdown was very comprehensive and not only included the more invasive, expensive actions required, but also minor and free actions that would help contribute to maintaining a damp-free property. I would 100% recommend to anyone concerned about damp in their property for an impartial, incredibly informed and very professional survey and report.
Simon clearly proved to be an expect in his damp survey work. He spared no time and effort to explain the damp problem in our house and is clearly really enthusiastic and knowledgeable damp surveyor. He was punctual and detailed in his work, while giving clear and practical advice on how to go about solving out our damp problem. On the top, he is excellent value from money. I searched The Which magazine recommended damp surveyors, who all are charging considerably more than Simon. I only whished knowing Simon before going from pillar to post in trying to solve our damp problem. Well done Simon and THANK YOU.
Simon is the type of professional you'd like to have taking care of you. His enthusiasm and interest in his field comes across clearly. I further observed the following: - Clear and responsive communication - Commitment to investigate and explain root causes - Professional demeanor - Good attention to detail - Detailed damp and timber report with specific recommendations (rather than some standard cookie-cutter language) Wouldn't hesitate to recommend or hire Simon again.
Very professional, helpful and thorough. It was exactly what I had hoped for, and set out issues and options, and we were able to get the problems we had fixed.
We were staggered at the level of detail in Simon’s report, which left no stone unturned. Simon was a delight to deal with and we found the cost surprisingly reasonable, particularly once we received the very lengthy report with numerous photos and suggestions. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Simon to anyone considering looking for expert advice on all damp issues.
Simon was brilliant, very professional, really knowledgeable and massively helpful. In the process of the survey he was so incredibly thorough, for example taking apart and checking our extractor fans and their potential, and actually got one performing much better. He also lent us a humidity sensor, set it up for us and explained how to share the readings with him so he could have the most accurate data. Simon managed to get the final report to us quicker than expected as he knew we needed it done speedily. The report was very detailed, with great advice around how to improve our property and get the best performance going forward. Would strongly recommend. Friendly, helpful and great to work with. Thank you.
Simon produced a detailed damp & timber report with pictures and recommendations very quickly after he visited the property. And Jane was really helpful, answering all our questions promptly. Highly recommend Damp Surveys Ltd for a thorough report on your property, and great customer service.
Simon and Jane from damp surveys were both brilliant and I would recommend them to anyone. Simon was so prompt to help speed up our buying process, he shared his findings with me a simplistic and supportive manner and was a true professional. Jane was also brilliant in the booking process. Thank you both for your efforts.
Thorough and proffessional. Promptly rang me after the survey to give he a de-brief prior to sending his report through, which was very helpful!
Simon was great, very knowledgeable and gave good advice. Fantastic communication and managed to fit me in at short notice. Highly recommended.
We always recommend Simon at Damp surveys. His reports are very useful; he establishes the cause of the 'damp' or condensation, humidity, water ingress. Most 'damp' companies run a damp meter and recommend water proof render in the walls, damaging the house and pushing the problem elsewhere. Simon's details information prevents damaging old properties unnecessarily and help you understand what is causing the problems so you can deal with it cheaply and effectively. His reports are worth every penny and save fortunes in the end. Don't go anywhere else for your 'damp' report!
Simon from Damp Surveys did a survey on our lower-ground floor flat, in a 100-year old terrace. His survey was thorough and detailed, and reassuringly he said there was only minor damp caused by condensation. He also suggested remedial actions, with an estimated cost for the works involved. This was all very useful - it was reassuring that the condition of the flat was not bad, and it was also reassuring that remedial works could be done quite cheaply. He also offered to speak to our prospective buyers, and they were reassured after a conversation with him. So I recommend Damp Surveys - if you have any kind of problem with damp, this survey will be money well-spent.
Simon provided an excellent and comprehensive report on our house and saved us a lot of money on a suspiciously expensive cure for our nonexistent rising damp. He also provided us with verbal and anecdotal advice and suggestions which was highly useful. Highly recommended
Simon is professional, efficient and a pleasure to deal with – going above and above. I cannot recommend his services highly enough.
Simon provided us with a comprehensive, independent and expert report which proved that proved that we do not in fact have rising damp in our home. This has been previously raised by a company who also provided the solution, so hence were biased. This saved us somewhere in the region of £7,000-£10,000 of unnecessary work. Simon was also very friendly, knowledgeable and COVID secure (wore a mask, kept 2m away). I would definitely recommend before spending large amounts of work on damp proofing homes.
Simon is a passionate expert about what he does, a passion which has likely saved me thousands of pounds in damp proofing that I wouldn’t have needed. The £300 fee will likely save you a lot more down the line - don’t go for a ‘free’ survey from a damp proofing company - they’ll almost certainly over diagnose, either cynically or because they are not experts.
We received a rapid response to our online enquiry and Simon was able to fit us in at short notice. He conducted an extremely thorough survey, the results of which he talked through with us as soon as he had finished. The report we subsequently received was comprehensive and clear and its recommendations made total sense and will undoubtedly save us money over the usual survey by numbers. We have no hesitation in recommending his services.
Very professional, expert knowledge, with a thorough inspection report that was turned around extremely quickly. Highly recommended!
Highly recommend Simon and Damp Surveys, very professional and thorough service, gets to the root of the problem and provides in depth and impartial advice on how remedy it.
One couldn't ask for more. Simon is excellent at what he does. Worth every penny.
Simon provided a thorough survey which gives me all the information I need to incorporate the appropriate damp mitigation measures in my upcoming renovations.
Simon was great. The report was very helpful and informative and any follow up questions had been answered promptly. Perfect service!
Simon provided very professional, practical and easy to understand advice. He is clearly very knowledgeable and focused on solutions which are suitable for the problem at hand and the building's age and construction (in our case Victorian). His advice was also cost-effective and did not involve unnecessary and unsuitable treatments. Really impressive.
I was very impressed by Simon's service. Booking was quick and efficient. He took a tailored approach to the survey and took into account specific requests that I'd made, having unearthed in a general RICS survey and was willing to go beyond the normal course of a survey and look under the floorboards. He gave me a call as soon as he completed the survey to talk through the findings verbally before turning round the detailed written survey with helpful recommendations on remediation and measures in just a few days. Would highly recommend, well worth it.
I was really impressed with the survey we received. Simon was thorough and even attempted to make some repairs on extractor fans that were contributing to our damp during the survey visit. Would definitely recommend!
Damp Surveys are extremely knowledgeable and experienced. Simon visited our property to survey a persistent damp problem. He soon found the cause and at no extra charge carried out remedial works himself. I have no hesitation in recommending Damp Surveys Ltd.
Super responsive and professional, really appreciate the peace of mind we received during a house purchase
We'd had quotes on having damp proofing courses to fix a bit of damp in the hall. After getting Simon to come round and inspect the root cause we found it was a ventilation problem. He gave us a really simple plan to fix the problems and saved us a lot of cash and time on unnecessary building work. Couldn't recommend enough!
Simon provided a comprehensive service including answering a number of queries I had after the survey. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
Simon was thoroughly professional and a delight to deal with. He clearly knows his subject deeply, was extremely thorough in his approach, and gave advice that was easy to understand and act on. The whole damp issue was daunting, but Simon was able to restore peace of mind very quickly. I have no hesitation in recommending him.
Simon was great! He was friendly, thorough in his investigations and provides a good detailed report. Highly recommended!
Excellent experience, extremely helpful, competent and very knowledgeable . Would highly recommend this company.
Very pleased with the professionalism and reliability of the survey. The diagnosis of the issues were supported by evidence and the proposed solutions were useful and much cheaper than we were expecting.
Simon is great to work with. He responds quickly to emails, clearly knows his stuff and produced a detailed report very quickly. He's independent so won't try to point you at contractors, etc. Highly recommend.
Highly recommended (in fact we have recommended to our friends!) - prompt to reply, courteous and clearly very expert. We recently bought a house and damp was flagged in the survey. Before purchasing we got a 'free' quote from a damp company to remedy it and they quoted £2k, whereas Simon was able to advise us on much more straightforward and cheaper measures to remedy and monitor the issues we have (with a total cost of just £120). Definitely the best place to start if you have damp as it could save you lots of money compared to getting advice from a contractor who is aiming to win work.
I cannot recommend Simon enough! I got in contact with him after receiving my homebuyers report which identified damp as a possible issue on a property I was looking to buy. I wanted someone who was independent and could give me honest advice on issues and potential costs - and he did just that. Utterly efficient and professional, he came back to me quickly after I left an initial message and then visited the property a couple of days later. I am grateful to have his written report for future reference.
Gave very prompt response to my enquiry though the website after a building survey on a purchase recommended a separate damp survey, managed to visit the purchase property and deliver the report before we expected. Professional service throughout, with a reassuring report with helpful guidance and advice. Would recommend.
Simon provided a highly professional and thorough service. We were impressed with his perseverance to look at all the different angles of our damp issue and thankful for the logical way he approached it. The report we received was detailed and gave us a clear way forward. He was also conscious of social distancing whilst performing his role for which we are grateful. His work has resolved a long running issue which many others could not fathom.
Simon was really helpful, explained everything and gave us a clear idea of how we could manage our damp. Would highly recommend.
After we had damp contractors to give us quotes to our alleged damp problem (lots of mould on back of walls) with quotes for a damp course treatment ranging from £2k to £8k leaving us utterly confused, my husband got in touch with Simon to give us some independent advice. Simon promptly arranged a visit and came to see us wearing appropriate PPE and with up to date equipment and carried out a full thorough investigation to assess what was going on. He soon concluded that we did not have rising damp and our issues were to do with excessive internal moisture and poor ventilation. He gave us a complete report with detailed advice and recommendations to resolve the root cause of the problems. Simon has saved us a small fortune and we are very thankful for his sage advice. I would highly recommend his affordable service!
Extremely polite and very knowledgable about the whole situation. During the covid pandemic Simon wore PPE and kept to the strict social distancing which put myself and the family at ease. The report was clear and the turn around was very quick. I would highly recommend.
Location
Sydenham, Lewisham, London, SE26 Get directions
Opening times
- Monday9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- SaturdayClosed
- SundayClosed
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