FAQs About Surveying in Romford
Our dedicated Compare My Move team have done all the hard work for you, researching everything you need to know about surveying in Romford. Our data revealed that the most popular property survey in Romford is a homebuyers survey, with most users requiring them for semi-detached properties.
Our research also discovered that subsidence is often an issue for Romford residents due to its proximity to the densely packed city of London. There is also a slight risk of Japanese Knotweed, increasing the importance of property surveys in this particular area.
What are the Most Popular Surveys in Romford?
Compare My Move’s data shows that 73% of our Romford users required a property surveyor to organise a Homebuyers Survey, making it the most popular type of survey in the area. The remaining 27% required the more thorough Building Survey. As Rofmord’s housing development increased in the Victorian era and even more so in the 1930s, a building survey may be better suited to many of the properties.
Existing houses are in more demand than new-builds, proving the importance of arranging a building survey. However, there are many new developments in Romford that may require a snagging list or homebuyers survey instead, depending on their age. Our data revealed that semi-detached owners are more prone to organising homebuyer surveys in Romford.
Whilst flat owners were the least likely to arrange a property survey, those who did were more likely to organise a homebuyers survey. For terrace houses in Romford, 23.78% of users required a homebuyers survey whilst only 8.74% needed a building survey. Detached homeowners were also more inclined to organise a homebuyers survey.
What Types of Historical Architecture Does Romford Have?
If you’re searching for your new home in Romford, it would be wise to learn about the architecture in the area and the types of properties on offer. One of the earliest expansions for the town was in the 1840s where 200 cottages were built and over 200 acres of a new suburban area. Romford’s housing development greatly increased during the Victorian period, with many traditional terrace houses still lining the streets today.
Only 14 miles from London, Romford has continued to thrive with many new developments expanding the town centre such as modern tower blocks and 2 riverside quarters. In Outer London, existing properties like the traditional Victorian properties were very popular in January 2020, with 3,484 homes sold. There was considerably less interest in new builds with only 179 homes sold.
There are 11 conservation areas in the Borough of Havering, with Romford containing only 1. It was created to protect the historic market place but also contains a number of residential streets. There are also 9 listed buildings in Romford, all of which would require a specialist Listed Building Survey if bought.
No matter what property you intend to purchase, it would be wise to hire a verified chartered surveyor to assess the building and ensure there is no hidden damage or structural issues. If you’re considering buying a home over 80 years of age, a building survey would be best suited. Those looking for newer properties would be best suited to a homebuyers survey.
| Listed Buildings | 9 |
| Conservation Areas | 1 |
| New Build Sales* | 179 |
| Existing Property Sales* | 3,484 |
*Based on data for January 2020 for Outer London
Is Subsidence an Issue in Romford?
Subsidence occurs when the ground beneath a building shrinks or collapses, creating a highly unbalanced foundation. This can greatly affect a property’s structural safety as well as its value, making it quite difficult to sell homes that have been affected by subsidence. When viewing Geobear’s UK Subsidence Map, you can see that Romford is a ‘hotspot’ for subsidence due to it being a large London town.
There are a number of factors that can increase the risk of subsidence, including clay soil, mining and landfill sites. However, Romford’s major issue will likely be it’s proximity to London’s centre. When an area of land is as densely-packed as London and Romford, the amount of properties built there adds pressure onto the ground, weakening it and causing it to sink.
Another contributor to Romford’s subsidence issue could be the clay soil used as a foundation. Romford has previously been labelled as a Hazard Level E for clay soil, which is the most hazardous type of soil within the scale. Hazard Level E means that the soil is highly prone to shrinking and swelling which can move the foundation of a building. Homeowners with properties built on top of this type of clay soil should be wary of the foundations during extreme changes in temperature or when renovating, as it adds pressure onto the ground.
Do not underestimate the importance of organising a property survey before purchasing a house as it will highlight any minor or major issues with its condition. A homebuyers survey and building survey will both be able to highlight if there are any signs of subsidence. However, a building survey will be a much more thorough report and will assess the condition of the building’s structure and foundations. As Romford has a high risk of subsidence, it’s even more vital that you hire a property surveyor you can trust.
Is Japanese Knotweed a Concern in Romford?
Japanese Knotweed is a dreaded phrase for many homeowners as it’s one of the UK’s most dangerous plants. Japanese knotweed or Fallopia japonica, can grow up to 10cm per day and can force its way through concrete and a property’s foundations, causing major cracks and even subsidence.
According to the UK Japanese Knotweed Heat Map, there are a few pockets of Romford that are infested with the plant but, overall, it doesn’t seem to be a major concern for homeowners. However, if your property resides in one of these ‘hotspots’ or you suspect it contains Japanese Knotweed, then it would be wise to hire a property surveyor who can assess the situation and advise you on what steps to take next.
There are 31 occurrences of the dangerous plant within 4km of the centre of Romford, proving how important it is to have a surveyor inspect your home. If you encounter the plant within your land, it will be up to you to take the necessary steps to remove it. However, you should not try removing it yourself but instead hire a professional, otherwise, you could make the situation far worse.
If a property has Japanese Knotweed, it’s vital that you become aware of it before committing to the purchase. It can cost around £3,000 to remove this plant and you will have to have it reviewed every 5 years to ensure it’s dead.
