Tony Swainston Building Surveyor

We asked Tony to undertake a Specific Defect survey regarding damp and condensation at our home. Tony spent 3 hours with us and carried out a comprehensive survey of the house and roof. During his visit he gave us clear and detailed information and advice to help fix the problems, and this was then laid out fully in a follow-up email. We found Tony to be very pleasant, approachable and knowledgeable, and his expertise has already proved invaluable regarding lifestyle issues affecting our home. He has also given us a clear way forward to carry out a number of works to improve the property. We feel the survey fees were money very well spent and we have no hesitation in recommending Tony's services.

I recently commissioned Tony's services based on other feedback on this site; we have condensation issues in our house (in the roof space and around window frames) and wanted advice on how to resolve it and to ensure that nothing more sinister was happening (such as faulty cavity wall insulation). Tony's communication was prompt and very helpful, and I joined him for much of his visit, making notes of his excellent advice and feedback. After his investigations of the house, we sat down to discuss his findings, which was immensely helpful and interesting (Tony is a lovely man, who has the fantastic ability to tailor his advice to your level of understanding). Tony also flagged a few issues with our house that weren't related to my initial query, which was really helpful (namely that our trusses in the loft hadn't been windbraced, which was a risk for 'racking' [falling over], and that our patio did not leave two bricks ['courses'] between the patio and damp proof coursing). This advice came from his expertise of surveying and helpfulness, at no point did he try to suggest/secure extra work for himself/other tradespeople. Following his visit, Tony provided an excellent summary report, outlining the lifestyle changes that would help with reducing moisture in the house, then providing helpful advice of physical measures that could be taken if these didn't work, how to look for/choose a tradesperson. I'm so pleased I chose Tony's services, and would definitely use him again.

I initially reached out to Tony to enquire about the cost of a defect report, as I have a leaking roof that neither my home insurer nor warranty provider would cover, despite the property being a new build. After I provided details about the issue and the type of property, Tony got back to me promptly. Using Google Maps, he assessed the situation and explained in detail that the roof appeared to be constructed with low-quality felt, which he identified as a potential warranty issue. He also outlined the likely excuses the warranty provider might use to avoid the claim and advised me on the best course of action. Tony generously shared his expertise and recommendations without asking for any payment upfront—something I deeply appreciate. His honesty and depth of knowledge immediately inspired trust, which is rare in any profession. His clear explanations were invaluable in helping me decide what to do next. I highly recommend his services.

Tony has performed two home condition surveys for me in North and South London. If I ever need future surveys performed, I will be asking Tony to do them, without a moment's hesitation. I have used surveyors prior to Tony but Tony is in a different league to them. He clearly has a passion for his work and where others would spend 2 hours inspecting a property, Tony will take 5-6 hours. No stone (to the extent is is relevant to the survey) will be left unturned. At the end of the survey, Tony offers a 30 minute debrief onsite to talk through any concerns he has identified, which is very helpful before the report itself is produced. Given Tony's detail focused nature, his reports are not produced overnight and take 5-10 working days but the end result is as detailed as can be but understandable by a layperson. Tony's willingness to assist does not end at the point the survey has been produced. In my case, having identified a potential issue, he contacted the relevant parties to investigate the issue further and followed up with the relevant authorities himself, saving me a job that would be difficult for a layperson. Tony's fees are reasonable considering the effort he goes to. I have been charged more for poorer quality reports by other surveyors. It is worth noting that my conveyancing solicitor (in business since the early 1980s) told me that Tony's reports are the best he has ever seen and has started to refer his clients to Tony for their survey needs.

Tony Swainston carried out a survey on the home we plan to sell. Tony’s work is exceptional. His knowledge of property condition, building, and areas related to building surveys, is encyclopaedic. His approach is thorough, measured, thoughtful and guided by careful research. Tony spent hours going over every bit of our house and garden. His use of technology is strong – he videos and talks through commentary which he later uses to refer to and interpret in greater depth. Tony’s attention to detail is second to none and the conclusions he comes to are informative and helpful. I know that the research he did away from our property was also thorough and effective. Tony spent a long time talking us through his findings. He has also since been a great help in answering questions subsequent to our arranging for some work to be done on our house as a result of his survey. The report is clear, well written and of great use. I showed a relevant section to our local council building control surveyor, who told me that Tony was evidently extremely expert in his area. It is without hesitation that I recommend Tony Swainston as a building surveyor. He is professional, committed, thorough and extremely generous with his knowledge.

I was hoping to buy a quaint cottage that was over 150 years old, hence I needed to get a thorough survey done so that I knew just what I was letting myself in for. The nearest Which trusted trader was Tony, & luckily he was willing to travel to Cambridgeshire to do a survey; he carefully explained the various survey types & sent me examples of reports, to help me choose the right one. Tony also asked that I highlight any particular concerns I had about the cottage prior to his visit, so that he could check these out during the survey. On survey day, I met him on site for the last half hour, & he gave me a brief resume of his findings, showing me what he had found. The report was very thorough, with photos to help understand the defects found & also suggested remedial work – very helpful to ensure that one can confidently approach trades people. It also contained a lot of pre-researched information & maps, including historical & flood risk maps. Tony found a major problem with the property that I was totally unaware of, & he advised me how much it might cost to resolve; he was also happy to take my calls, once I had been able to research potential solutions, to help me make an informed decision whether to proceed with the purchase. Unfortunately, the quotes I obtained came in at top end of his estimates, so I had to make the difficult decision to withdraw from the purchase. Therefore, I’m back searching for my next home, and Tony can expect a call from me when I find it!

Tony Swainston provided a full survey on a house that needs some work. When he had finished examining the house, he spent two hours with us going through what he had found. We found this part of his service invaluable. Tony clearly knew his trade and provided many specific detailed pieces of advice which will be extremely helpful. He picked up defects but was equally clear about aspects of the house that did not need work (where, I suspect, some surveyors would be unduly cautious). His professionalism shone through.

Tony carried out a Home Condition Survey for us on a property in Basingstoke. Right from the start he was both professional and friendly, explaining clearly the different kinds of survey so that we could make the right choice. He wasn't the cheapest quote we had, but compared with the survey our purchasers had on our flat, Tony really gave value for money. He offered the chance to walk round the property with him for the last half-hour of his survey; as we live a long way off, this wasn't practicable, but he made an excellent video instead, pointing out in clear layman's terms all the things that would go in his report. The report was also excellent, crystal clear and well laid out according to an industry standard template. He has also been happy to discuss any matters arising both before and since sending out the report. Who could ask for anything more?

This is the second time I have used Tony's surveying services in the past 3 months. In both cases I found the report including suggestions to be very comprehensive with an excellent report provided. The photographs in the reports were very helpful and clarified the points made in the report very well. One key element of the report was the inclusion of suggestions where improvements could be made. Very helpful. Tony was easy to deal with, communication was excellent and I found him to be very helpful throughout the process. Tony also surveyed the house I was selling and this is how I got to meet him. This is where I could see his thoroughness first hand and immediately I thought he was the person to involve for a survey on the property I was buying.

I contacted Tony as a new buyer after concerns about the cracks and a leaky attic room window. Tony responded promptly and after sending the relevant information he required we set a date for the inspection. Tony arrived on time and I was put at ease by his professional but personable attitude. I walked around my home with Tony who explained everything in simple detail even drawing little diagrams for me to fully grasp the information. What I did like was that he was able to point out other defects that I hadn’t even noticed, including fire safety information and what was required to change our single bedroom window hinge to open as per building spec regulations for fire safety. Tony also looked at our attic room and came to the same conclusion as a builder as to why the window might be leaking. I expected a short synopsis for the report because we opted for the cheaper survey, however the email was very detailed and I know that if I had any addition questions, I could contact Tony. I would recommend Tony to family and friends and would use him again myself.

We chose Tony because of his excellent reviews on Which? and particularly because he offers the opportunity to join him at the end of his survey to talk through what he found. We were greatly impressed with his whole service. He was very knowledgeable. At the meeting he took the time to answer all our questions. Afterwards he answered questions we raised following receipt of his written report and indicated we could always contact him in the future with any further questions. We would 100% recommend him.

I called Tony in to investigate the issue of condensation forming in the loft in cold weather. He arrived punctually and started by inspecting the loft space, I was encouraged to take notes throughout the survey. When he finished we sat down and Tony explained what he had found, he also explained how condensation can occur in a house. He then detailed the likely causes and the possible remedies. Tony has provided us with an email report which details changes and actions that we can make to solve our problem also, should we need it a method to choose a good contractor. We were very happy with the service Tony provided and if the need ever arises, we wouldn't hesitate to use Tony again.

Tony was extremely thorough in his survey, which was followed by a detailed report, plus face to face discussions of his findings with advice on how to rectify any issues. His follow-up service with advice was also prompt and helpful. He may be more expensive than other surveyors but well worth the extra cost. I had confidence in everything he told me.

If you want to put your mind at rest and be reassured that your potential new home will be surveyed with a fine toothcomb then don't hesitate to commission a survey from Tony Swainston. He provides you with a detailed report and offers to meet with him at the property for a debriefing. I was not able to benefit from this opportunity but he was very amenable to discussing any issues on the phone afterwards. The only problem I had was that the report was some days later than anticipated due to what appear to have been exceptional circumstances. Nevertheless, he did provide me with a verbal summary of significant factors so that I could proceed to organise an additional investigation and to reassure me that there was nothing to warrant not proceeding with the sale.

Tony was a joy to work with - from early conversations to the survey itself, as well as being on hand to provide further information in follow up. He was the epitome of professionalism throughout - providing detailed written information, explaining things thoroughly and going as far as sketching things to visually explain what he meant! He is clearly very good at what he does and seems to genuinely enjoy it - an enthusiasm that you can’t help but admire. I would not hesitate to recommend Tony to anyone looking for a surveyor in the London area.