Compare Homebuyer Surveys in Kingston Upon Thames

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Used by over 750,000 movers in the UK
Used by over 750,000 movers in the UK
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Save up to 70% on the cost of moving

Moving House in Kingston Upon Thames? Save Up To 70% On Your RICS Level 2 Survey

Looking for a property survey in Kingston Upon Thames? We’ve helped over 1,000 homebuyers find a verified surveyor in the London borough over the last year.

When it comes to properties, the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames Council reported that there were 67,770 residential properties in the borough as of 2019. The majority of these homes (38.7%) are reportedly flats or maisonettes, with 27.5% and 20.5% of residential housing semi-detached houses and terraced houses respectively. Currently, the average price in the borough is £630,751. Whether you're buying a large historic house or a modern apartment, it's essential that you arrange a survey on the property prior to purchase.

Our dedicated team can connect you with up to 6 RICS registered property surveyors who are all put through a strict verification process prior to joining us. This way, you can be safe in the knowledge that you are being matched with the most professional property surveyors in Kingston Upon Thames.

Our Kingston Upon Thames Chartered Surveyors

    As seen in: BT

    FAQs About Surveying in Kingston

    Compare My Move has created this guide to understanding surveying in Kingston Upon Thames. We found that many homebuyers opted for a RICS Level 2 Survey, however for semi-detached properties, more buyers organised a RICS Level 3 Survey, which is often recommended for older properties. 

    Our research also revealed that the area has a significant amount of Japanese Knotweed, something your surveyor will be able to advise you on. Subsidence may also be a cause for concern, with older homes being more susceptible. Don’t forget you can save both time and money when hiring a surveyor via Compare My Move. 

    Compare My Move’s data shows that the most popular survey type for our users in Kingston Upon Thames is a RICS Level 2 Survey, despite the number of older properties in the area which would benefit from a RICS Level 3 Survey.

    Twice as many users opted for a RICS Level 2 Survey on a detached property as those who opted for a RICS Level 3 Survey, 10.14% and 5.80% respectively. For a terraced home, just 4.35% of users organised a RICS Level 3 Survey, whilst 20.29% hired a surveyor for a RICS Level 2 Survey.

    However, when it comes to semi-detached properties, our users were more likely to opt for a RICS Level 3 Survey (17.39%) than a RICS Level 2 Survey (15.94%). Flats had the least amount of surveys all round, with 10.14% of users having a RICS Level 2 Survey and 5.80% organising a Builders Survey.

    Popular Survey Types in Kingston
    Popular Survey Types in Kingston

    What Types of Historical Architecture Does Kingston Have?

    Kingston Upon Thames and the surrounding area is host to numerous architectural feats, including 161 listed buildings and 26 conservation areas. With its historic status as an important market town, port and river crossing, Kingston Old Town boasts All Saints Church and Market Place, which has one of the best preserved medieval street patterns in London. It also has some of the most diverse architecture, ranging from medieval to Georigian, Victorian, neo-Georgian and neo-Tudor styles.

    Richmond Road displays a range of late Victorian and Edwardian houses, with gabled fronts, bay windows and decorative brickwork. Locations such as St Andrews Square, one of the few remaining Victorian squares in South-West London, boast Victorian terraced houses and Gothic style architecture. It is these properties in particular that would benefit from a RICS Level 3 Survey.

    Residential housing in Kingston Upon Thames ranges from historical homes from the Edwardian, Victorian and Georgian eras, prefab housing and apartments of the 1960s and1970s and the modern, more luxurious apartments built in recent years. More modern homes are unlikely to need a RICS Level 3 Survey, but a home survey is still recommended for peace of mind.

    Many of the older homes have been converted into flats and maisonettes in recent years, modernised to meet today’s standards. With a property such as this, it is highly recommended that you organise a property survey to ensure the work completed on the property is sound and that no damage was caused to the structure of the building.

    Architecture Overview From Listed Buildings to Sales of New Buildings
    Listed Buildings161
    Conservation Areas26
    New Build Sales*7
    Existing Property Sales*118

    *Based on data for 2023

    Is Subsidence an Issue in Kingston?

    When the land beneath a building becomes unstable, this can cause the property to sink. This is known as subsidence and can be a significant issue for homeowners if left unchecked. It can not only devalue the house, but it can also make the building unsafe to enter.

    London is a particularly vulnerable area when it comes to the subsidence, with the highest shrink-swell clay hazard in the UK. This results in 1 in 50 houses suffering from subsidence in London.

    Moreover, older Victorian homes, such as those found in Kingston Upon Thames, were built with shallower foundations that homes built today, which can increase the risk of subsidence. Hiring a local surveyor to ensure subsidence is not a concern is highly recommended, especially for Kingston’s older or unconventional properties or properties in less than ideal condition.

    UK subsidence map taken from Geobear's website
    UK subsidence map taken from Geobear's website

    Is Japanese Knotweed a Concern in Kingston?

    Japanese Knotweed was first introduced to Britain in the 1800s as an ornamental plant, first at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew in London and then sold commercially. Today it is considered an aggressive pest due to the damage it can cause buildings and structures and dubbed “indisputably the UK’s most destructive and invasive plant” by the Environmental Agency.

    Knotweed is known for growing rapidly along waterways. An area like Kingston Upon Thames, where the Thames River travels through the borough for almost three miles, is certainly no exception.

    A heatmap of Japanese Knotweed by Environet revealed that Kingston Upon Thames shows a significant reading for infestations of the plant, with 83 occurrences within 4km. Your property surveyor will be able to tell you if Knotweed has been found on the property or in neighbouring grounds.

    Having Japanese Knotweed on your property can negatively impact the value of your home, with some lenders unwilling to approve a mortgage for homes where evidence of the plant is found. It is therefore paramount that you organise a property survey to ensure there are no infestations on the land of the property you are looking to buy in Kingston.

    UK Japanese Knotweed heatmap taken from Environet website
    UK Japanese Knotweed heatmap taken from Environet website