Chartered Surveyor in Farnham
Farnham is one of Surrey's best-preserved Georgian market towns, with a substantial listed-building core, surrounding Victorian and Edwardian terraces, and large inter-war and post-war estates in Rowledge, Wrecclesham and Upper Hale.
What we typically inspect in Farnham
Central Farnham has one of the most complete Georgian streetscapes in the South East - Castle Street, Downing Street and West Street are dominated by listed Georgian townhouses, many with later Victorian shopfronts. Surrounding suburbs are heavily Victorian and Edwardian terraces, then 1930s and post-war semis. Rowledge, Wrecclesham and Upper Hale add later-20th-century estates.
Common defects we find in Farnham
- Soft Farnham red brickwork pointed with hard cement mortar - spalling and trapped moisture.
- Listed-building alterations carried out without consent - relevant for valuation and onward sale.
- Sash window decay and lead flashing failures on Georgian elevations.
- Chalk and Lower Greensand interface - variable bearing on northern fringe properties.
- Inter-war chimney movement and chimney breast removals without proper support.
- Penetrating damp through historic solid-wall construction.
Listed buildings
Many central Farnham properties are Grade II listed - a Level 3 with specific listed-building experience is the right report.
Conservation area
The whole town centre is a conservation area with Article 4 directions - relevant for any flagged alterations.
Red Book on period homes
We provide Red Book valuations on Farnham listed property for matrimonial, probate and tax purposes - comparable evidence requires care.
Surveys in Farnham - common questions
- Do you cover the whole of Farnham?
- Yes. We carry out RICS Level 2 and Level 3 surveys, Red Book valuations and new-build snagging right across Farnham and the surrounding postcodes.
- Which RICS survey level is right for a Farnham property?
- For most older or altered homes in Farnham we recommend the RICS Level 3 Building Survey. For modern, conventional houses in good order, a Level 2 Home Survey is usually sufficient. We're happy to advise on the right level before you instruct.
- How quickly can you survey a property in Farnham?
- We typically attend Farnham instructions within 5-7 working days and issue the report 3-5 working days after inspection.
- Are you MRICS and RICS-regulated?
- Yes. Oliver James Surveyors is a RICS-regulated firm led by Oliver, holding professional indemnity insurance and reporting to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' Rules of Conduct and Red Book Global Standards.
What our clients say
"Very grateful to Oliver for his advice with a stressful business rates dispute involving my father. His guidance helped us achieve an excellent outcome. Highly recommended."
"Oliver made a very thorough inspection of the flat we aim to purchase and gave us a very in-depth report that pointed to issues that we didn't know. It was a pleasure to deal with him and we highly recommend him."
"My partner and I recently used Oliver for a L3 survey and he was brilliant. The level of detail in the report was excellent, and easy to understand. Oliver was really easy to communicate with, and we found the price to be very reasonable. I'd have no hesitation using Oliver again in the future, and highly recommend him to anyone looking to get a survey done."
Speak to a Chartered Surveyor about your Farnham property.
A short, no-obligation conversation is usually enough for us to recommend the right level of report and provide a fixed-fee quote.