RICS Level 3 Building Survey in Chatham

Our Level 3 report is the most detailed visual inspection we provide. We look at all accessible parts of the property, including the loft, sub-floor voids, visible roof coverings, walls, floors, windows, doors, drainage routes where they can be seen, and the structure as it presents on the day. In Chatham, that can mean a terraced house with later additions, a flat in ME4, or a larger home in Lordswood that has been altered several times.

The report explains how the building is put together, what materials appear to have been used, which defects matter most, and what repairs are likely to need attention soon. We also set out the consequences of leaving issues alone, because a small crack, a slipped slate, or a failed seal around a flat roof can become a bigger bill if it is ignored. You get advice on repair priorities, maintenance, and what should be monitored after you move in.

A Level 3 survey does not include destructive investigation. We do not lift carpets, open up walls, cut into finishes, carry out drainage CCTV, or test electrical, gas, plumbing, or heating systems. If we see signs that point to a specialist issue, our report will say so clearly, and the next step is a separate instruction for a structural engineer, damp specialist, electrician, gas engineer, or drainage contractor.

• Loft and roof structure
• Sub-floor access where available
• Visible defects and deterioration
• Repair priorities and maintenance advice

Chatham’s sales mix leans heavily towards terraced property, so our surveyors pay close attention to roof lines, parapet walls, chimney stacks, rear additions, and the joins between old and newer work. homedata.co.uk records also show the market sitting around £303,846 to £311,374, which means many buyers are trying to balance purchase price against the cost of bringing an older building up to scratch. In that sort of purchase, the question is not just what the house looks like, but what has been hidden behind the later plaster and paint.

The Medway waterfront needs a different eye. Chatham Maritime Interface Land is largely within Flood Zone 3, so anything near the tidal edge of the River Medway deserves extra attention to lower walls, floor levels, vents, thresholds, and service routes. We also look for signs of previous water entry where a property sits close to defended floodplain land, because the issue may not show itself on a sunny viewing day.

Newer homes in Lordswood and flats in ME4 bring other risks. Capstone Oaks is part of a large East Hill scheme, and large schemes can have issues with the way different stages of work meet each other, especially around drainage falls, roof details, and the junction between original and later elements. Brookfield Court and Waterfront also remind buyers that flats need close checks on leases, communal maintenance, and the condition of shared parts.

Medway’s tenure mix matters too. Owner occupation fell from 67.7% in 2011 to 64.7% in 2021, while private renting rose to 20.2% and social renting reached 13.6%. That means our reports often need to cover more than one ownership history, especially where a landlord has patched over defects or where a seller has limited paperwork on past works. Rather than rely on a town-wide figure, we check the specifics for your exact address.

• Terraced roof repairs
• Rear extension tie-ins
• Flood edge details near the River Medway
• Shared parts and leasehold maintenance in ME4