FAQs About Surveying in Kent
When it comes to moving house in Kent, the team at Compare My Move have done the research necessary to answer any questions you may have about the process. Our data revealed that Homebuyer surveys were most popular in the Kent area, mainly for terraced and semi-detached homes.
We found evidence of subsidence concerns in areas such as Canterbury and Ashford, both of which also have reported infestations of Japanese Knotweed. Enlisting the services of an expert surveyor will inform you if the property is stable and secure and not at risk from issues such as subsidence and Japanese Knotweed.
What are the Most Popular Surveys in Kent?
The most popular survey type in Kent was a Homebuyers survey for a terraced house, with 26.34% of our users opting for this type of survey for these homes. This was closely followed by those arranging a Homebuyers survey for a semi-detached home, at 24.39%.
Users choosing a building survey for the same types of property were far less, with 9.02% of our users opting for a building survey on a terraced property and 10.98% for a semi-detached property. What is worth noting is that many terraced properties especially exist from the Victorian era and would most likely benefit from a building survey due to their age and the updates and renovation which will have been made over the years to bring them up to a modern standard of living.
Meanwhile, detached properties made of 14.51% of Home Surveys arranged by our users in the country of Kent, with 7.93% having a building survey undertaken. Flats and apartments resulted in the least amount of surveys arranged by Compare My Move customers across the board, with 5.55% opting for a Homebuyers Survey and just 1.65% enlisting a surveyor for a Building Survey.
Undoubtedly Homebuyers surveys proved to be the most popular in the county of Kent, but this may not be the best type of survey for the property you are looking to buy. Many older properties or those which have had extensions and work undertaken on them will benefit from a full building survey, which gives a far more in-depth overview of the property, highlighting any areas of concern.
What Types of Historical Architecture Does Kent Have?
Kent is a county with a wealth of history and architectural interest. According to CPRE Kent, Kent is home to some 18,400 listed buildings, more than in any other county, and several thousand more unlisted but valuable historic buildings and structures.
The county has 435 Grade I listed buildings and 971 Grade II listed buildings across the thirteen districts which make up Kent County. These districts include Dover, Sevenoaks, Folkestone and Hythe (formerly Shepway), Thanet, Ashford, Dartford, Gravesham, Maidstone, Swale, Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells and the city of Canterbury.
Canterbury alone has 97 conservation areas, which include spaces of special architectural or historical interest. Across the county as a whole, combining the conservation areas in each district, Kent has 433 conservation areas.
When it comes to the types of housing available in the area, this ranges from large period homes to terraced properties and newer housing projects and city apartments. According to the UK house price index, “existing properties” proved far more popular with homebuyers across Kent with 1536 sales in January 2020 alone, compared to 151 “new build” purchases in the same time frame.
| Listed Buildings | 1,406 |
| Conservation Areas | 433 |
| New Build Sales* | 151 |
| Existing Property Sales* | 1536 |
*Based on data for January 2020
Is Subsidence an Issue in Kent?
Subsidence is a dreaded word for homebuyers and owners alike. This is the result of the ground beneath a property compressing or “sinking” which creates an unbalanced foundation for the home, leading to an array of problems. In worse case scenarios, a home can be deemed uninhabitable due to severe subsidence.
One of the main causes of subsidence is clay soil which is found throughout the UK. The clay soil shrinks, cracks and even shifts during changes in the weather. According to Geobear’s UK Subsidence Map, there is clear evidence of subsidence in areas such as Canterbury and Ashford, so ensuring you have a reliable surveyor to conduct the correct survey for a property is essential if you are looking to buy a home in these areas.
Areas such a Tonbridge also showed evidence of subsidence concerts, in addition to locations like Maidstone and Sevenoaks, albeit these concerns appeared to be far less of an issue than in Canterbury. Dover was also shown to have a small amount of subsidence. Regardless of how small the concern may be, for peace of mind, a comprehensive survey is recommended when buying a property in any of these locations within the county of Kent.
Is Japanese Knotweed a Concern in Kent?
Japanese Knotweed was first introduced to the UK as an ornamental plant for botanical gardens and was later sold commercially, however it is now considered a highly problematic plant and one you certainly don’t want to find on your property.
Japanese Knotweed can not only impact the stability of a property, it can also have a catastrophic effect on the value of your home. Japanese Knotweed can grow through concrete, property foundations, walls and drains, causing a host of problems for homeowners. Some lenders have even refused mortgages for properties with a large infestation of the plant.
Environet’s Japanese Knotweed Heatmap revealed that although Japanese Knotweed was not a major concern across the county of Kent as a whole, there were areas which Enviornet flagged as areas with infestations. These include areas such as Canterbury, which had 15 recorded cases of infestations within 4km. Ashford had 16 cases in a 4km radius and in Western Kent, Royal Tunbridge Wells had 37 infestations, one of the areas in the county with the highest amount of Japanese Knotweed cases reported. Meanwhile, areas such as Folkestone and Dover were shown to have just 12 and 5 cases respectfully, again with a 4km radius of the area.
When purchasing a property in Kent, ensure that you compare surveyors with Compare My Move and opt for a trusted surveyor who will be able to tell you if there is evidence of an infestation on or around the home.
