FAQs About Surveying in Coventry
Our team of experts work hard to answer all your questions about surveying in Coventry. Our data shows that the most popular survey type for Compare My Move Coventry users is a homebuyers survey for semi-detached homes.
Our research reveals that there’s a low to moderate risk of subsidence in Coventry, however, the city is one of the worst affected areas in the West Midlands for Japanese Knotweed. When buying a property in Coventry, a property surveyor will highlight any defects or damage before you commit to buying.
What are the Most Popular Surveys in Coventry?
Compare My Move’s data shows that the majority of buyers in Coventry require a homebuyers survey, with 75% of users needing one for their property purchase. The remaining 25% need a building survey for their purchase, with 13% needing the most in-depth survey for a semi-detached house.
Most of our Coventry movers needed a homebuyers survey for a semi-detached property followed closely by 26% of users needing the survey for a terraced property. This means that most semi-detached and terraced properties in Coventry were built less than 80 years ago, which makes sense as most of Coventry was rebuilt post-WW2.
There’s a much higher demand for the purchase of existing properties rather than new builds, which matches our data that only 4% of people needed a homebuyers survey for a flat. If you are buying a flat in Coventry, it’s essential to still have a property survey. Overall, the most popular property type to purchase in Coventry is a semi-detached property, with 41% of our users needing a mixture of a homebuyers survey and a building survey.
When you’re buying a house in Coventry, you shouldn’t underestimate the importance of hiring a property surveyor. If you’re buying an older property, typically built over 80 years ago, you will need a building survey. If you’re buying a fairly modern property that was built less than 80 years ago, you will need a homebuyers survey.
What Types of Historical Architecture Does Coventry Have?
The medieval city of Coventry boasts a rich history dating back to the 11th century. Much of Coventry’s city centre was destroyed during the Second World War with most of its medieval architecture ruined, this led to a redevelopment of the city in the 1950s and 1960s. Whatever type of property you’re buying in Coventry, you shouldn’t underestimate the importance of having a property survey.
The history of Coventry can be seen throughout the city with its varied property types. There are remains of its medieval past scattered around the city that were damaged during the war, working-class terraced houses in Chapelfields that highlight the industrial revolution and semi-detached properties in Earlsdon that represent the success of the motor car industry.
Coventry was once one of the wealthiest places in medieval England, although much of this was ruined by bombing, there are some remains around the city. Referred to as one of the “most impressive guildhalls surviving in England”, St Mary's Hall showcases Coventry’s beautiful medieval architecture. Older properties are more popular in Coventry, with 289 sales of existing properties in January 2020 and only 21 new builds.
Today Coventry is home to two universities, meaning there is a popular demand to turn homes and flats into student accommodation. There are also 16 conservation areas in Coventry and over 400 listed buildings. Although it’s unlikely you’ll be buying a listed building, you would need a specialist listed building survey before buying one.
| Listed Buildings | 400 |
| Conservation Areas | 16 |
| New Build Sales* | 21 |
| Existing Property Sales* | 289 |
Is Subsidence an Issue in Coventry?
Your property survey will highlight any risk or current threat of subsidence on the property you plan to buy. Subsidence occurs when the ground beneath a building sinks or collapses, taking part or all of the foundations with it. It may not always be visible to you, so that’s why it’s important you get a property surveyor to examine the house before you commit to buying a property.
According to a UK subsidence map, Coventry has a low to moderate risk of subsidence. Subsidence can occur if the land was once used for mining, with a higher risk of subsidence if a mine was shallow. Coventry has a rich coal mining history and The Coal Authority’s mine map shows how Coventry has a significant amount of past shallow coal mines.
Another cause of subsidence can be if a property was built on clay-rich soil. If a change occurs in the soil’s moisture, it can shrink or swell and cause subsidence. A distribution of shrink-swell clay map highlights Coventry as being affected by shrink/swell clay hazards, giving the city a Hazard Level D.
When you’re buying a house in Coventry, lookout for any signs of cracking on the property as this could be subsidence. If there are notable signs of cracking, a building survey will be more beneficial. If there are no clear signs of cracking, a homebuyers survey will be more suitable. Although, any risk of subsidence will be highlighted in both property surveys and you’ll be advised what to do by your surveyor if necessary.
Is Japanese Knotweed a Concern in Coventry?
Japanese Knotweed is an invasive plant that spreads rapidly in gardens and on homes. It is extremely difficult to get rid of and can devalue your home when it comes to selling. You shouldn’t remove it yourself as it is considered a controlled waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. It requires a specialist to remove Japanese Knotweed to avoid any damage to your property.
Coventry is one of the worst affected areas in the West Midlands for infestation of Japanese Knotweed. According to a study by Environet, Coventry has 23 infestations of Japanese knotweed recorded within a 4km radius. Environet’s Japanese Knotweed heatmap shows a high risk of the weed in Coventry. Whilst this sounds alarming, you can hire a specialist to remove and control the Japanese Knotweed.
If you’re buying a house in Coventry, you will need a property survey, even more so with the cities high risk of the plant. A property survey will highlight if there are signs of Japanese Knotweed before you commit to buying the house. A surveyor can also tell you if there is any trace of the plant on neighbouring grounds as well.
