RICS-qualified surveyors, detailed property reports
Our surveyors carry out detailed building inspections across Londonderry, from homes near Limavady Road to newer plots on Upper Galliagh Road and Springtown Road. A full building survey suits older masonry houses, larger family homes, and properties with unusual layouts or visible defects. It gives you a much clearer picture than a brief inspection, which matters in a market where home.co.uk records show an overall average asking price of £288,239 and a median of £240,000.
We inspect the roof, walls, floors, services, drainage, damp, timber and visible external areas, then set out the defects in plain English. Our report explains what needs attention now, what may cost more later, and which items need a specialist opinion. For a detached home priced at £437,937 on home.co.uk, that level of detail can shape your offer. For a semi-detached property at £194,273 or a flat at £119,817, it can stop a small fault becoming a costly repair after completion.
£288,239
Overall average asking price
£240,000
Median asking price
£119,817
Flats
£194,273
Semi-detached homes
£437,937
Detached homes
Using listing data from home.co.uk and property data from homedata.co.uk
A building survey is the deepest level of inspection we provide, and it is designed to expose defects that a quick visit will miss. Our surveyors examine the roof structure, chimney stacks, walls, floors, windows, internal finishes, loft space and any accessible cellar or roof void. We also look closely at damp staining, timber decay, cracking, roof coverings, drainage runs and boundary issues where these affect the property.
On site, the inspection usually takes 3-4 hours, depending on size, age and access. That extra time matters on a house off Buncrana Road or a larger detached place in Coshquin, because hidden defects often sit behind cosmetic repairs. Once the visit is complete, we compile the report and send it in 5-10 working days, with clear findings and practical next steps.
Londonderry has a wide spread of homes, and that variety is exactly why a building survey earns its keep. The city includes older houses, newer estates, apartments, and larger detached homes, so construction methods can change street by street. A property on Limavady Road may need a very different level of scrutiny from a house on Upper Galliagh Road, where many homes are part of a newer residential scheme. When the structure, age and finish vary so much, small defects can hide in plain sight.
New build activity is strong across the area, but new does not mean problem free. The Cashel in Coshquin, for example, is planned for over 3,000 new social, affordable and private homes, with Phase 1 aiming for 800 homes west of Buncrana Road between Whitehouse Road and Benview Estate. Cherrydene on Limavady Road has Phase 2 homes, including two semi-detached properties and nine detached homes, and it is NHBC Registered. Even in these settings, our surveyors can pick up snagging, drainage issues, finish defects and settlement signs before they become bigger disputes.
Older and mixed-age schemes also need close attention. Springtown Road has a development between 42 and 44 Springtown Road and to the west of St. Eithne's Park, Derrymore, with 259 affordable homes and a community centre, while Upper Galliagh Road includes 480 new residential units, 343 two-storey houses and 137 apartments. Newbuildings adds another layer, with 161 dwellings on land south of Gortinure Road and east of Silverbrook Park and Primity Crescent. That spread of housing stock means our building survey team keeps an eye on different construction types, from detached chalet bungalows to townhouses and apartments.
A few local addresses tell the story clearly. Linen Grove on Drumahoe Road is marketed as new homes with 3-4 bedrooms, Stoney Manor on Woodside Road is coming soon, and Tirbracken Road has one home available. Barleyfields from Taggart Homes features The Granary house type. Each of those homes can present different issues depending on the build stage, materials used and how well the site has been finished.
Damp is one of the faults we see most often, especially where maintenance has slipped or an older roof has begun to fail. Water ingress can show up as stained ceilings, decayed timbers, blown plaster or mildew around cold corners, and the real cause is not always the visible patch. In homes near roads such as Limavady Road, Buncrana Road or Drumahoe Road, our surveyors often trace the issue back to gutters, flashings, roof coverings or poor ventilation rather than the interior finish.
Movement and wear can present in different ways across the city. Newer homes on Upper Galliagh Road may have minor shrinkage cracks or finish defects, while older houses can show historic settlement, patch repairs or failed pointing. We also come across outdated electrics, tired plumbing, blocked drains, rotten fascias and timber decay where exposure and age have done their work. Those defects are not rare. They are exactly why a detailed inspection matters.
Start with a quote request through our building survey page. We take the property details, the address and the type of home so we can match the inspection to the building.
Our team allocates an experienced surveyor with the right local knowledge. A house on Springtown Road needs a different eye from an apartment on Upper Galliagh Road, so the brief matters.
We carry out the on-site inspection over around 3-4 hours, depending on size and access. During that visit we check the visible structure, roof space, services, damp, timber and defect patterns.
After the inspection, we compile the findings into a clear report. The document sets out condition ratings, defect severity, repair priorities and any areas that need specialist follow-up.
You usually receive the report in 5-10 working days. That gives you time to review the findings before exchange, renegotiate if needed, or ask for extra opinions on technical items.
If the report flags movement, drainage failure or major damp, we explain the next step. That may mean a structural engineer, a roofer, an electrician or a drainage specialist, depending on the fault we find.
Our report is written to help you make a decision, not to overwhelm you with jargon. Each section explains the condition of a part of the property, such as the roof, walls, floors, windows, drainage and services. We also note visible defects, likely causes and the level of urgency, so you can separate routine maintenance from work that needs action before you buy. If the property sits on a site like Cherrydene on Limavady Road or a new plot at Newbuildings, that clarity can be especially useful when the build is still settling.
Condition ratings are there to show how serious a fault may be. A minor crack, a loose tile or worn sealant might need monitoring, while damp staining, failed gutters or roof spread may need prompt work and a closer specialist look. Cost estimates, where relevant, help you understand the likely repair burden, although some defects need a contractor to price properly after the survey. That approach is useful on larger houses too, including detached homes valued around £437,937, where a hidden defect can have a much bigger financial effect.
Buyers often use the report to renegotiate or to ask for repairs before completion. If the survey shows defects at a flat on Upper Galliagh Road, a semi-detached home on Drumahoe Road, or a detached property in Coshquin, your solicitor can use the findings in the wider purchase discussion. Our building survey team also explains when a specialist report is needed, such as a structural engineer for movement, a roofer for a failed covering, or an electrician for ageing wiring. That way, you are not guessing at the next move.
A building survey is the right call for pre-1930 homes, listed buildings, timber-framed properties and anything with obvious wear or past alterations. It is also sensible when a house has been extended, converted or changed without a clear paper trail, because hidden junctions often hold the real defect. A place on Woodside Road, a terrace off Limavady Road, or a long-held family home in Derry can all benefit from this level of scrutiny.
New build buyers should not rule it out either. A property at The Cashel, Cherrydene, Linen Grove or Barleyfields may be brand new, but that does not prevent snagging, drainage errors, finish problems or access issues in the loft and roof void. Where a development is large, like the 480 units planned on Upper Galliagh Road or the 259 affordable homes on Springtown Road, our surveyors still look for defects that affect everyday use. New does not remove risk. It just changes the kind of risk we look for.
Our building survey checks the visible structure of the property, including the roof, walls, floors, windows, loft space, damp patterns, timber condition, drainage and services. We also look at defects that may affect value or safety, then explain them in plain English. If a fault needs a specialist opinion, we point that out clearly so you know what to do next.
A mortgage valuation is mainly for the lender. It looks at value and basic suitability, but it does not tell you much about the physical condition of the home. Our building survey is much more detailed and is designed to help you understand the property before you commit.
Most inspections take around 3-4 hours on site, though larger or more complex homes can take longer. After the visit, we usually deliver the report in 5-10 working days. That timing gives you a proper window to review the findings before the purchase moves ahead.
Building survey prices in Londonderry start from £400. The final fee depends on the size, age and type of property, plus access and how much detail the inspection needs. A detached home on a larger plot will usually take more time than a smaller flat, so the fee can change accordingly.
Yes, it often can. If we find roof repairs, damp, movement or failed drainage, you can raise those findings with the seller or your solicitor. The report gives you evidence, which is far stronger than a verbal concern.
We still recommend a survey for new homes, especially on large local schemes such as The Cashel, Cherrydene or Upper Galliagh Road. NHBC registration and new construction do not remove the risk of snagging, settlement or poor finishing. A building survey can pick up defects before you complete.
We explain the issue, the likely cause and the next specialist step. That may mean a structural engineer, a damp expert, a roofer or an electrician, depending on the defect. You then have a clearer route to follow instead of trying to diagnose the problem yourself.
Yes, and those are exactly the properties where a building survey is often most useful. Older houses, converted layouts and homes with extensions can hide defects at joins, roof junctions and floor level changes. Our surveyors look for those weak points and set out the findings in a practical report.
Our building survey prices in Londonderry start from £400, with the final fee shaped by the property itself. A compact flat near Upper Galliagh Road will usually be simpler to inspect than a detached house in Coshquin, and a larger home often means more roof space, more external walls and more time on site. Age also matters, because older properties usually need a closer look at timber, damp proofing, roof structure and past repairs.
The kind of property has a big effect too. A semi-detached home priced around £194,273 on home.co.uk may still hide problems in a loft conversion, an older extension or a boundary wall, while a detached home at £437,937 can involve more rooms, more services and more exterior surfaces. On the lower end, home.co.uk shows flats at £119,817, but a flat can still need a detailed inspection if there is leakage, poor ventilation or signs of cracking in the block. We price the survey around the work involved, not just the postcode.
Turnaround is usually 5-10 working days after inspection, and the report is included in the fee. You get clear findings, condition ratings, defect notes and follow-up advice without having to chase multiple contractors before you know what is wrong. If you are buying on Limavady Road, Buncrana Road, Springtown Road or one of the newer plots in Newbuildings, that timing helps you keep momentum while still making a proper decision. A building survey should give you facts before exchange, not guesses after completion.
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RICS-qualified surveyors, detailed property reports
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Homemove is a trading name of HM Haus Group Ltd (Company No. 13873779, registered in England & Wales). Homemove Mortgages Ltd (Company No. 15947693) is an Appointed Representative of TMG Direct Limited, trading as TMG Mortgage Network, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 786245). Homemove Mortgages Ltd is entered on the FCA Register as an Appointed Representative (FRN 1022429). You can check registrations at NewRegister or by calling 0800 111 6768.
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