Academy Remedial Surveyors Limited

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!