Damp Surveys Ltd

I had a damp patch coming through from a rotten door sill that appeared mid-way through the sale of my flat, and wanted an independent survey (having heard bad things about free surveys associated with damp-proofing companies). Simon was excellent: during his visit he explained very clearly the extent of my damp problem (which turned out to be quite minor) and advised on exactly what work I needed to ask for from my local repairmen. The final report was also very clear and comprehensive. I would definitely use him again for any damp issues in the future.

As requested, my review will be in Italian. È con grande piacere che inserisco il mio commento sul servizio che abbiamo ricevuto dal sig Hichens. La sua perizia è stata condotta con grande competenza e professionalità. A questo vanno aggiunte la cortesia e la disponibilità del sig Hichens, pronto a dare risposte e ulteriori chiarimenti. Siamo rimasti molto soddisfatti.

Simon was extremely thorough. His assessment was clear and in contrast to free survey's by specialist companies looking for work, his recommendations were cost effective and aimed at solving the root issues. He was busy which meant he took a little time to reply at times, but this didn't impact my appreciation for the work he did.

I had some damp issues in my leasehold basement flat which I wanted an opinion on having had major disruption from a previous leak 2.5yrs ago. Since then I have been anxious (probably overly anxious) about signs of any damp. Simon was punctual (arrived early), was polite and very professional. He was extremely thorough - much more so than a surveyor I had employed previously. He climbed through windows and up onto a parapet to fully investigate the damp issues. He offered simple solutions to the problems identified and even changed the fan operating time on the extractor fans in my bathrooms to better deal with condensation. Whilst Simon came to me via a structural engineering company, the survey was very competitively priced compared with a company I had used previously. I would definitely use Simon again and recommend him to anyone seeking a thorough damp survey.

I couldn't be happier with the service which Simon Hichens provided. Having recently purchased our first property knowing for well there was a case of damp in some of the walls we were incredibly nervous about cost and the further implications of this. Following a multitude of quotes from damp companies all of which were adamant our house was suffering from a case of Rising Damp (which would have cost us a reasonable sum in remedial work, ranging from £1000 - £5400) we turned to dampsurveys.com to get an independent and accurate representation of what we would need to do. Simon was incredibly polite and explained everything he was doing at each step. Using a selection of different equipment and techniques he was quick to point out he didn't believe it was rising damp and provided evidence why (explained further in the detailed document following the survey). Each area was inspected thoroughly and suggestions were offered throughout as to how we could improve the situation. We couldn't be happier with the service offered and would highly recommend any home owner panicking about damp to use Simon and Dampsurveys.com first. The money spent was worth every penny and in the future if we were to move contacting them for their services would be at the top of our agenda.

I cannot recommend Simon enough. He is extremely professional, thorough and knowledgeable on all matters relating to damp. Overall a fantastic service.

Simon came round to address a case of lower-ground floor damp. He was able to fit our appointment in at short notice and, upon arrival, proceeded to spend 2-hours reviewing the property from top to bottom, focusing on the lower-ground floor issue while also providing recommendations around the house. Using his array of gadgets Simon left no stone unturned. Upon completion, we received a rich-in-detail final report outlining clear recommendations. Simon’s upfront fee means he provides agnostic feedback with no hidden agenda, we couldn't recommend him enough.

To a long-term North American owner of a flat in London to be told I had rising damp is probably the equivalent of being told you have a malignancy by a health professional! Not to worry - Simon to the rescue with his doctors bag full of instruments and sample bottles A fully two hours later I was relieved to know that there was no rising damp but had a host of simple remedies to the damp and mould in my flat. Simon was considerate, polite and thorough. He even went to the neighbours and had a scan of their flat! The icing on the cake was a coherent explanation of Brexit. And oh if he would fix that too!

We had a full structural survey carried out on a house we were buying which stated we needed to spend over £15,000 in damp proofing courses due to rising damp. We asked Simon for a second opinion. He swiftly located the cause of the damp to a leaking pipe in the basement which was repaired by a local plumber for under £200. He also wrote an extensive report which clearly stated how to dry out the walls, what we would need for this and time frames. The report incorporated the rest of the house and made clear recommendations for improving ventilation, as well as drawing our attention to areas which may need some attention in the future. He is a very qualified professional (Chemist, Damp Surveyor...the list goes on) who is down to earth, trustworthy and offered clear guidance throughout. He went above and beyond to help us within a short time frame and took time out of his evening to explain it all over the phone. He also confirmed we do not have rising damp and so damp proofing courses would be unnecessary. We have and will continue to recommend him to anyone who needs help with damp issues.

Our flat buyer's survey indicated a possible damp problem. Simon talked me through the possible problems and procedures, did the survey and gave a very quick and careful report which enabled us to decide that any damp problem was minor and not worth holding up the purchase. He took the time to be sure we fully understood our options.