Local Independent RICS-qualified surveys and valuations across Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands. Clear, professional reports delivered within 5 working days.
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Every property is different. We offer three levels of RICS survey to suit the age, condition and complexity of the property you are buying.
All surveys carried out by a RICS-qualified surveyor. Prices include VAT. Final fee confirmed on enquiry.
RICS surveys use a standardised three-tier condition rating system. Every element of the property is assessed and assigned one of the following ratings.
A straightforward process from start to finish. Most surveys are completed and reported within one week of instruction.
Use the calculator above or call us directly for a tailored fee.
Confirm your booking. Terms of Engagement issued promptly.
We liaise directly with the estate agent or vendor.
Thorough 2–4 hour on-site inspection of the full property.
Environmental data, comparables and risk records collated.
Detailed report emailed within 5 working days of inspection.
Independent RICS-qualified valuations prepared to RICS Red Book Global Standards — accepted by HMRC, courts, lenders and solicitors.
Independent market valuation for estate administration and HMRC purposes. Required by solicitors and executors.
Impartial valuations for asset division in separation proceedings. Accepted by courts and family solicitors.
Historic or current valuations to establish gain for HMRC tax assessment purposes.
Independent second opinion on value before committing to buy or sell.
RICS valuation required when repaying a Help to Buy equity loan to Homes England.
RICS valuation required to purchase additional shares in a shared ownership property.
RICS Red Book Compliant
RICS Red Book CompliantFinal fee confirmed on enquiry. All valuations RICS Red Book compliant.
Based in Telford, covering Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands. No referral fees, no hidden costs — just independent professional advice.
Midshire Surveyors operates across the three counties from a base in Telford, taking instructions in all major towns and rural areas throughout Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands. If you are unsure whether your property falls within our area, call us and we will confirm.
Counties covered — Shropshire, Staffordshire & The Midlands
Years of local property market experience
Working day report turnaround from inspection
Regulated firm and registered valuer
Midshire Surveyors is an independent chartered surveying practice founded and run by an MRICS-qualified surveyor with over 15 years of post-qualification experience in residential and commercial property across Shropshire and the wider Midlands region. The principal is also a RICS Registered Valuer, meaning all valuations produced by the practice comply with the RICS Red Book Global Valuation Standards.
Prior to establishing Midshire Surveyors, our surveyor gained extensive experience within established surveying practices in the region, including DCB Professional Services and Michael Paul Consultancy. That background spans residential surveys at Level 2 and Level 3, Red Book valuations for mortgage, matrimonial, probate and tax purposes, and commercial property work across a broad range of building types and tenures.
Midshire Surveyors is based in Telford and operates across Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands within a 35-mile radius. Every survey and valuation is carried out personally by the same MRICS-qualified surveyor, ensuring a consistent standard of inspection and report quality on every instruction. There are no subcontracted or panel surveyors: the person who inspects your property writes your report.
The practice operates independently of any estate agency, mortgage lender or referral network, so the advice you receive is entirely impartial. If you would like to discuss a property before instructing a survey, our surveyor is available to speak by telephone and will give you a straightforward assessment of which level of survey is appropriate for your circumstances and budget.
The following guide covers defects most commonly encountered during residential surveys across Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands.
Properties built before 1919 were typically constructed with solid masonry walls - brick or sandstone - with no cavity to interrupt moisture passage. They are susceptible to penetrating damp when pointing deteriorates, render cracks, or rainwater goods fail. Misdiagnosis is extremely common: electronic damp meters frequently return false positive readings due to hygroscopic salt contamination. Correct remediation is almost always external - repointing in breathable lime mortar, repair of render, and rectification of gutters and downpipes. Injected chemical DPCs are rarely appropriate.
Original mild steel wall ties from the 1930s to 1970s are now at or beyond their design life. Corrosion causes characteristic horizontal cracking at regular intervals on the external leaf - typically every five or six courses. In advanced cases the outer leaf can bow outward as the tie connection fails entirely. Remediation involves drilling through the outer leaf and installing stainless steel replacement ties. A specialist borescope survey can establish the extent of failure before work is commissioned.
Much of Telford's housing stock dates from the Development Corporation era. Original bitumen sarking felt has a design life of 25 to 30 years and beyond this becomes brittle, eventually allowing water ingress. A related issue is cold roof condensation - warm air rising into the cold roof void deposits moisture on rafters and felt, causing wet rot to structural timbers without adequate ventilation. Felt failure typically requires recovery or full replacement of the roof covering.
Japanese knotweed is more prevalent in Telford than many comparable towns due to ground clearance during new town development. Most mortgage lenders require a professional management plan where knotweed is within seven metres of a habitable structure. Where identified it is recorded as Condition Rating 3. Treatment plans involve herbicide application over two to five growing seasons, costing from £1,500 to £5,000. Insurance-backed guarantees are accepted by most lenders.
Telford contains a higher than average proportion of non-traditional construction from post-war prefabricated housing programmes. Common types include BISF steel-framed houses, Airey precast concrete panel houses, Wimpey No-Fines concrete, and Laing Easiform. Many were designated defective under the Housing Defects Act 1984. The critical issue is mortgage availability - some types remain unmortgageable without specialist PRC repair schemes. Construction type identification is part of every Level 2 and Level 3 survey.
Parts of Shropshire and Staffordshire sit above former mining areas. Shrinkable clay subsoils across the West Midlands cause seasonal foundation movement, particularly near mature trees. Progressive cracking that is tapered, passes through bricks rather than mortar joints, and shows ongoing movement is treated very differently from stable historic repairs. Where conclusive assessment is not possible from visual inspection, a structural engineer's report is recommended.
Traditional felt flat roofs on extensions, garages, and post-war bungalows have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. Felt becomes brittle with thermal cycling, joints open at laps and upstands, and water tracks under the covering before appearing as internal dampness. Modern EPDM rubber and GRP alternatives have design lives of 20 to 25 years or more. Where a felt flat roof is more than 10 to 12 years old, replacement should be budgeted for even without active leaking.
Chimney stacks are among the most exposed elements of any building and a consistently common source of water ingress. Most properties retain original stacks even where fireplaces are blocked. Common defects include failed lead flashings, failed pointing, eroded flaunching, and missing cowls on disused flues. Stacks are inspected with binoculars from ground level. Where inaccessible elements cannot be assessed a specialist chimney camera survey may be recommended.
A Level 2 HomeBuyer Report is suitable for most standard properties built after 1930 in reasonable condition. It provides a clear condition rating for every accessible element of the property. A Level 3 Building Survey is a more detailed inspection appropriate for older properties, those of unusual construction, or where significant works are planned. It includes a more thorough examination including roof spaces, subfloor areas where accessible, and a detailed commentary on construction methods and materials.
A Level 2 HomeBuyer Report typically takes 2–3 hours on site depending on the size and condition of the property. A Level 3 Building Survey usually takes 3–5 hours. The written report is prepared following the inspection and delivered within 5 working days.
Yes. If significant defects are found before exchange of contracts, the survey report provides independent evidence to support a price reduction or request for remedial works by the seller. Condition Rating 2 and 3 findings are commonly used in renegotiation. Your surveyor can talk you through the findings and their significance once you have reviewed the report.
A mortgage valuation is carried out solely for the lender's purposes to confirm the property is adequate security for the loan. It is not a survey and does not assess the condition of the property. You should always commission an independent survey to protect your own interests before purchasing. The cost of a survey is small compared to the potential cost of unknown defects.
Your survey report will be delivered by email within 5 working days of the inspection. Once you have reviewed the report your surveyor is available by telephone to discuss the findings, explain any technical points, and advise on next steps.
We cover Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands from our base in Telford. This includes all major towns and rural areas across the three counties. If you are unsure whether your property falls within our operating area please call us on 01952 450980 and we will confirm.
Tell us about the property and we will come back with a tailored fee — no obligation.
Professional Survey Service
All surveys and valuations are carried out by a RICS-qualified surveyor in full compliance with RICS professional standards and Red Book Global Valuation Standards.