How Much Does a Damp Survey Cost in Sussex & Kent?
If you've found a damp patch, a musty smell or mould that keeps coming back, one of the first questions is what it'll cost to get someone out to look at it. Search online and you'll find everything from "free damp survey" to surveys costing a few hundred pounds. So what's the difference, and what should you actually be paying for?
Here's a straight answer from a local damp and timber firm that surveys homes across East Sussex, West Sussex and Kent every week.
What a damp survey is for
A damp survey isn't about selling you a treatment. It's about finding the cause. Rising damp, penetrating damp, condensation, plumbing leaks and bridged damp-proof courses can all look much the same on a wall: tide marks, flaking paint, blown plaster, black mould. Treat the wrong cause and you can spend thousands and still have the problem.
A proper survey should leave you knowing:
what is causing the damp, and how confident the surveyor is about it
where it's coming from, backed by moisture readings and photographs
what needs doing, and what doesn't
what the work will cost, in writing
We cover this in more detail in What a damp survey should tell you.
"Free" damp surveys: what's the catch?
Free surveys are common, and some are carried out honestly. But someone has to pay for the surveyor's time, travel and fuel. When the visit is free, that cost is usually recovered through the work they recommend. That doesn't make every free survey a bad one, but it is worth knowing how the incentives work.
Things to watch for with any survey, free or paid:
A diagnosis made in minutes, often from a single moisture meter reading on the wall surface. Meters used on plaster can be misleading, especially where salts are present. See our guide to moisture meter readings.
No written findings, just a verbal "you've got rising damp" and a price.
Chemical injection recommended by default, without first checking ground levels, render, gutters or leaks.
Pressure to book on the day.
If you can't see the evidence for the diagnosis, ask for it.
What a paid survey should include
When you pay for a survey, you're paying for time and evidence, not a sales visit. At Renovani, our survey is a fixed £50 and includes:
an on-site inspection of accessible affected areas
moisture readings where appropriate
photographs of what we find
written findings that explain the likely cause
practical recommendations, including simple fixes where they'll do the job
a clear, itemised quotation if specialist work is needed
The £50 is deducted from the cost of any Renovani work you go ahead with. If the answer turns out to be better ventilation, clearing a gutter or lowering a flowerbed against the wall, we'll tell you. You're under no obligation to use us.
Why we charge for surveys
We charge a small fixed fee because it lets us do the job properly. It covers travel, inspection time, testing, photographs and writing up the report, so there's no pressure on us to sell you something to cover the visit. It also means you get written evidence you can keep, compare against other quotes, or show a landlord, buyer or insurer.
When is a survey worth it?
Book a survey if you have:
tide marks or salt staining low down on ground-floor walls
damp that gets worse after heavy rain
mould that comes back after cleaning
soft, springy or sunken floors, or signs of timber decay
a damp cellar or basement you'd like to use
a mortgage or homebuyer report that flags "damp" or "timber" and asks for a specialist opinion
If it's just condensation on windows on cold mornings, you may not need a survey yet. Start with our guide on how to reduce condensation on windows. If it keeps getting worse, get it checked.
Damp surveys across Sussex and Kent
We're based in Polegate and survey homes across Eastbourne, Hastings, St Leonards, Bexhill, Battle, Rye, Hailsham, Seaford, Lewes, Brighton & Hove and Tunbridge Wells, plus the surrounding parts of East Sussex, West Sussex and Kent. As a BIOKIL Approved Contractor, qualifying treatments we install can carry manufacturer-backed protection, subject to system and registration terms.
Book your £50 damp survey
If you'd like a clear answer about what's going on in your property, book your £50 survey or call 01424 863146. You'll get honest findings, written recommendations and a fixed price before any work starts, and the £50 comes off the job if you go ahead.
