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Academy Remedial Surveyors Limited
Opening Hours
Today -
- Monday 09:00–17:00
- Tuesday 09:00–17:00
- Wednesday 09:00–17:00
- Thursday 09:00–17:00
- Friday 09:00–17:00
- Saturday - Closed
- Sunday - Closed
About
We are Independent Damp and Timber Surveyors specialising in all matters relating to rising damp. penetrating damp, condensation, woodworm, wet rot, dry rot basement waterproofing and cavity wall tie condition.
We do NOT use call centres.
We are NOT contractors who carry out work meaning we have no financial interest in looking for work to meet sales targets.
We DO charge for surveys because that's all we do - Surveying.
Our mission and objective is to inspect, diagnose and provide opinion of problems reported by others or, to inspect for pre-sale purposes to determine if any problems actually exist.
We are employed by both the private and commercial sector however the largest proportion of our work is for Homebuyers after receiving the Homebuyers Building Survey report which normally recommends a damp and timber survey even only as a precaution.
Existing homeowners also find our services invaluable.
What we do
Damp proofing and timber preservation services
- Condensation and humidification control
Surveyors
- Damp proofing surveyors
- Timber preservation surveyors
- Water proofing surveyors
More Services
- legal report for landlord and tenant disputes
- surveys
- survey
My work
Customer reviews
Why you can trust these reviews
All reviews are verified as being genuine and a true customer of this trader.
How can we be so sure?
100% of the reviews we publish have been through our stringent moderation process.
4.9
115 reviews
Recommended
Recommended
by 98% of customers
Sort by
Professional and friendly
Customer Service
Quality
Value
Ray visited and undertook a damp survey for me on the outside of my house. The subsequent report was very fast and comprehensive. He was professional, friendly and approachable, have no hesitation in recommending Ray's services to anyone.
Customer in
, work completed
Recommended
Older Property Purchase
Customer Service
Quality
Value
I was required by my proposed mortgage lender to obtain a wood decay survey by a PCA member on an 1800 home I wanted to buy. Ray visited the property within a week of requesting his services. His report was quick and thorough and gave me peace of mind to proceed with the purchase. It was easy to read and gave common sense advice about managing damp caused by condensation in an older property. He gave me an idea of costs involved in future wear and tear repairs and so I have a good idea of what I need to budget. Happily nothing was needed to be done and no wood decay was detected. I now await the mortgage company's surveyors response and Ray is very happy to talk with them if required.
Customer in West Sussex
, work completed
Recommended
The best of the best!!
Customer Service
Quality
Value
I’m a home seller and today finally received my buyer’s lender’s reply approving his mortgage application. We wouldn’t have got this without Rays invaluable service and help. On Fri 24Oct my buyer’s lender said they find “dry rot” at my property hence “unsuitable for lending”, to reconsider they want a Timber Report with 10-year indemnity backed guarantee transferable to the buyer. I was shocked as I only have timber decay on my external balcony which does not seem to be dry rot. I spent the weekend urgently searching online and luckily found Ray, thanks to these reviews. I left urgent message on their website on Sunday and received Jenny’s call on Monday (around 9am), she fully understood my needs and helped me booked an urgent appointment on Wednesday(29Oct). Ray came punctually and after parking the car, the first thing he said is he would be very very surprised to find the dry rot for a property of this kind - and he was right! After a thorough inspection of the flat, the balcony timber decay is indeed a common wet rot, not the dry rot! Ray even sent me the report same day. The lender was difficult and came back 2 days later still asking for “10-year indemnity backed guarantee”, Ray then immediately wrote an email clearly explaining his report diagnosed the issue being only common wet rot which doesn’t require specialist works hence such guarantees not applicable. I can’t thank Ray and Jenny enough for the professionalism and super quick response and everything
Customer in Greater London
, work completed
Recommended
Great and Professional Service
Customer Service
Quality
Value
Ray did a damp survey for me on my flat that I am renting. It was very comprehensive and professional with lots of really sensible, good advice for dealing with an older property. He has been very helpful and responsive to my calls - even phoning me from holiday when I needed some reassurance ! So welcome in what has been a stressful situation. Would highly recommend.
Customer in Surrey
, work completed
Recommended
Fast, professional and reliable survey - highly recommended
Customer Service
Quality
Value
We have used Academy Remedial Surveyors twice. They have provided a very professional and reliable service. The instruction was performed fairly quickly. The assessment provided a lot of context to the findings and the recommendations were fairly straight forward and realistic. The report was delivered very promptly. Highly recommended.
Customer in Greater London
, work completed
Recommended
Thorough, Fast, Independent and Helpful
Customer Service
Quality
Value
Academy Remedial Surveyors are extremely professional and also very friendly and helpful. They went over and above to provide a survey for me in the format my lenders wanted and in an extremely timely fashion making things easier for me. They are highly qualified and experienced and because they are independent surveyors you know they will only advise you to do what really needs to be addressed. I can highly recommend this company. Ty Jeffries
Customer in East Sussex
, work completed
Recommended
FIRST CLASS SERVICE
Customer Service
Quality
Value
I needed a surveyor to diagnose the damp issue in the cellar in our old Victorian house and a rear room which has mould. The cellar is only used for storage, if that!, I had been told there was damp issue in the cellar and required tanking, etc, significant works and cost. Ray Baker presented his report and gave me options for the cellar which were professional and truthful. He was not like other tradesmen looking to do expensive work. His report was unbiased and independent and presented options which clearly gave common sense approach; he identified both necessary and unnecessary work. I would definitely recommend this company, Ray Baker for his knowledge, experience, truthfulness and common sense. For the rear room he gave me clear/concise instructions which specifically addressed the problem. It was a huge relief for me and saved me unnecessary expense when he reassured me that the remedial works required in the cellar and rear room were sufficient to fix the problem in the long-term. I would also say the service was both prompt and efficient and the survey booked and report done in a timely manner. Both Ray and Jenny in the office were responsive, which is what is required in this busy and expensive business landscape.
Customer in Greater London
, work completed
Recommended
Highly professional and competent
Customer Service
Quality
Value
We needed a surveyor to figure out a damp issue in our Victorian house that had completely foxed our builder. Ray’s level of experience and knowledge inspired confidence from the start. It was a huge relief when he reassured us that the remedial works our builder had already done were sufficient to fix the problem in the long-term. I wonder if a surveyor attached to a contractor would have given the same advice? We would thoroughly recommend him to give an independent, unbiased opinion.
Customer in Berkshire
, work completed
Recommended
Great service!
Customer Service
Quality
Value
We’re first-time buyers, and our mortgage lender requested that we get a Timber & Damp Survey completed at our ground-floor conversion flat before they would proceed with the mortgage offer. I read online that independent surveyors are the best way to go as they are not associated with a company that tries to tell you about issues to sell you work, and I came across Academy Remedial Surveyors. Their glowing customer reviews attracted me, and better yet, the quotation was reasonable compared to others I’d had. Not only that, but the service I received from both Jenny and Ray was very professional from start to finish. The survey was booked in that same week, and the report was sent to us earlier than the end of the given time frame, which was much appreciated, as we were nervous it might tell us something awful! Luckily, it didn’t, but the report was comprehensive and advised us of areas in the property to keep an eye on moving forward, which we’re grateful for, being new to all this. I would not hesitate to recommend AR Surveyors to anyone buying a property and would certainly use their services again. Thank you!
Customer in Greater London
, work completed
Recommended
Sensible and thorough
Customer Service
Quality
Value
Ray was prompt to come out, quick at delivering his written report, and thorough and sensible in his advice on some localised dry rot we had found. I'm so glad we got him rather than one of the companies who have a vested interest in telling you that huge amounts of work need to be done, by them.
Customer in Greater London
, work completed
Recommended
Super quick and informative
Customer Service
Quality
Value
Ray got in fast and provided his report on the same day as the inspection. A thorough report with a solid explanation of all damp concepts that were easy to understand. Can recommend!
Customer in Greater London
, work completed
Recommended
Damp inspection
Customer Service
Quality
Value
Mr Baker arrived a s planned. He was clear in his explanation and provided a useful commentary during the inspection. It was a limited area inspection (at my request) and this process took about 25 minutes. I was happy with the description and advice during the visit and the post-visit report is clear and as thorough as it can be without an intrusive inspection. It gives me the information I need on which to act to remedy the damp intrusions.
Customer in Hertfordshire
, work completed
Recommended
Honest and professional
Customer Service
Quality
Value
I recently used Ray’s services for my new house. My surveyor suspected that we had a rising damp issue in the house due to meter readings and suggested that I commission a damp specialist. Ray made himself available very quickly and produced a comprehensive report. He suggested that the issue we had was was not related to rising damp issues and gave me evidence for that. Unlike other damp specialists that offer damp proofing services he has no financial motivation to convince you to spend a fortune on something that you don’t need. Instead he is giving an independent and professional advice. Finally and due to some unrelated issues that we had I asked him to come again and take a look on another matter and came immediately. Great service and honest professional!
Customer in Greater London
, work completed
Recommended
Fast and informative damp and timber survey
Customer Service
Quality
Value
We contacted AR Surveyors to follow up on a recommendation in our building survey to review elevated moisture readings in a property for purchase. Within a week, the company had organised access to the property with the estate agent, attended the property, explained the main findings over the phone, delivered a written report, and answered some follow-up questions. The report itself contained detailed and helpful information relating to the short-term and longer-term maintenance of the property. The surveyor was kind enough to comment on some relevant sentences from the building survey. Overall, the conclusions seemed well reasoned and the recommendations make sense. I am very happy with the services provided by AR Surveyors.
Customer in Surrey
, work completed
Recommended
Good Survey and well explained on phone
Customer Service
Quality
Value
As an ex asbestos surveyor, I have a reasonable eye for building reports. The report was thorough and contained the key info I needed to proceed with my purchase. Ray also explained it on the phone to me very patiently, even though I was having a slight technical issue with getting my computer to cooperate while I was working on it. Would recommend.
Customer in Monmouthshire
, work completed
Recommended
Damp & Timber survey and ongoing advice
Customer Service
Quality
Value
In the process of buying our flat we hired AR Surveyors to conduct a Damp & Timber survey which was efficient and thorough with lots of recommendations and information. Since buying the flat we have gone back to them a couple of times for further advice on how to tackle certain damp related issues which they have been incredibly helpful with and pointed us in the right direction. Invaluable support for first time buyers, navigating the challenges of renovating a Victorian flat.
Customer in Greater London
, work completed
Recommended
Professional and speedy
Customer Service
Quality
Value
Very helpful at point of enquiry, excellent service (report) and just as helpful post-survey to discuss all findings in detail. Survey was completed on a Saturday and report was shared on the Monday, even though it was a bank holiday - excellent all round.
Customer in Hertfordshire
, work completed
Recommended
Ray is a reliable and trusted damp surveyor
Customer Service
Quality
Value
I cannot recommend AR Surveyors and Ray enough. Firstly, I have used Ray’s services for four properties over the last few years (as a portfolio landlord) and I have found his work to be accurate, reliable and realistic. Ray does not recommend traders and this ensures an unbiased assessment of any damp, mould, condensation concerns you may have. If you are purchasing an older property and there are any concerns with respect to damp or mould, I would highly recommend contacting Ray for an honest assessment. Many other firms offer “free” assessments, wherein which they would attend your property to ultimately tell you your DPC has failed and you need a new one and charge you upwards of £10k to needlessly chemically inject your walls. This is such commonplace and requires some regulation, but I have been lucky enough to come across AR and Ray who have been able to save me huge amounts of money. In my first property, the survey noted some damp and we contacted a “free” service who told us the usual and then we contacted Ray who identified it was an issue with the guttering causing penetrating damp, which was a far cheaper remediation than what the other service offered. In addition, Ray and Jenny at the office have always been available for follow up questions and clarifications. Not to mention their reliability and quality, their service is absolutely invaluable. Hope this helps anyone out there!
Customer in Greater London
, work completed
Recommended
Ray saved our house purchase!
Customer Service
Quality
Value
Having had our mortgage offer expire just before exchange, we were under immense pressure to get a new mortgage offer in place. The new lender asked for a timber and damp survey which was inconvenient and had the potential to hold up the process quite a lot. I explained to AR and they turned our survey round very quickly, our new offer was sorted asap and contracts exchanged. Everything was easy to organise with AR and payment and communication was nice and straightforward. Thank you!
Customer in Greater London
, work completed
Recommended
Not reliable
Customer Service
Quality
Value
We needed a damp survey but specifically we needed a survey to clarify if the property we wanted to buy had cavity wall insulation which the primary survey suggested it might have and was not recommended for the house given its elevated and exposed site. I contacted Ray and Jenny and asked if with his survey he could definitively tell me if the house had cavity wall insulation. Retrospectively I noted he phoned me to reassure me that yes he could categorically tell me if there was or wasn’t but didn’t respond in writing to my email. We got the report at a cost of £427 which was largely a formulaic report based on a proforma and regarding the specific question of whether there was cavity wall insulation, it stated‘ I cannot categorically confirm whether or not retro fit wall insulation is in-situ or not however if it had been installed I would expect to visually find installation “filled” drill holes through the external renders and face brickwork always associated with the installation which I found no obvious, readily seen or apparent evidence of. Albeit conjecture based upon that seen and noted and the results of my test procedures we can reasonably assume it has not been installed.’ I was naturally upset about this unhelpful and legally defensive report but as we were in a hurry to complete the sale we proceeded based on the advice of Mr Bakers survey. Today, on removing a vent we discovered cavity wall insulation beads. We are unhappy .. to understate the matter.
Customer in West Sussex
, work completed
Excellent!
Customer Service
Quality
Value
Easy and efficient. I contacted Academy Remedial Surveyors about a long-standing serious problem that previous surveyors failed to resolve or give adequate and honest explanations of. Ray has been a breath of fresh-air. Efficient, friendly, experienced and explaining things to me in plain-English on what is not a straight-forward issue. He has given me a comprehensive report and followed up with a phone call to discuss things. His recommendations seem to be the most cost-effective and efficient proposals. Time will tell but for the first time, I feel hopeful that the issue will finally be resolved.
Customer in Greater London
, work completed
Recommended
Great service
Customer Service
Quality
Value
Everything was really straightforward from start to finish. Jenny provided a quote, arranged payment and booked the timber and damp survey extremely quickly. Ray carried out the survey and was brilliant. He gave us helpful context and reassured us that the property was in good condition and didn't need any work doing. Using an independent surveyor gives extra reassurance that no work is being recommended unnecessarily. The survey was provided within a few days and clearly explained all the findings.
Customer in Greater London
, work completed
Recommended
First Class
Customer Service
Quality
Value
We’d been struggling for years to work out what had been causing the damp and mould in our flat.. Ray did a very comprehensive survey and gave us a very clear report with recommendations. Subsequently he advised as we m’implémenter his recommendations . Throughly recommended
Customer in Medway
, work completed
Recommended
Suggested only one solution, which is one we had already tried and had failed
Customer Service
Quality
Value
The surveyor attended our property as requested. I gave him a history of the problem (water ingress from the area around the outside chimney) and described some of the actions we have taken to try to remedy the issue (new chimney cowl, flaunching redone, outside wall repointed). I then left him alone to conduct his physical examination, which seemed cursory considering the brief time he spent on it (he was under no time pressure from us and could have spent as long as he liked on it). His subsequent report offered only a single suggestion for a remedy - applying a water repellant to the outside wall. We have already tried this but to no avail, although he didn't know this as I had failed to mention it (he hadn't asked either). When I asked via email whether he had any other ideas, all he could suggest was checking the repellant we had used (brand name Bostik, still within its guarantee period and, in any event, not the original cause of the problem). We expressed our dissatisfaction with the service as we expected a qualified surveyor whose website bears a stamp from the Property Care Association to have the necessary skills to be able to better identify where and/or how rainwater is penetrating the wall and to come up with reasonable solutions. Instead, we have been left no further forward and out of pocket. We requested a partial refund but have been denied.
Customer in Brighton and Hove
, work completed
Excellent, trusted advice
Customer Service
Quality
Value
Ray did a damp and timber inspection for us following a (wrong) issue flagged by a valuation survey. His excellent ardvice and experience disproved the false issues flagged, and indeed he held a call with the banks surveyor to talk them through why the issues raised were not an issue.
Customer in West Sussex
, work completed
Recommended