Durham has listed buildings, student lets and former pit villages within a few miles. We survey and value all of them.
Durham Castle and Cathedral became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. Around them, the city centre is a conservation area with many listed buildings. Buying here can mean dealing with old materials, earlier repairs and planning controls that do not apply to a typical house. A survey should take all of that into account.
Outside the centre, Durham looks very different. There are Victorian terraces, large post-war estates and former colliery villages. Our RICS-qualified surveyors are based in Houghton le Spring, a short drive away. We carry out Level 2 and Level 3 surveys and Red Book valuations across the city and the villages around it.
In the historic streets near the Cathedral, many older buildings were refronted in the Georgian period, so the façade may be younger than the structure behind it. Brick, stone and Welsh slate are common. The Durham City Conservation Area has an Article 4 direction that protects historic features.
Since 2016, planning permission has been needed to turn a family home into a small shared house across much of the city. Beyond the centre are Victorian terraces, large estates such as Newton Hall, and former mining villages.
These are the things surveyors look at closely on local property types. They are not problems every home has.
Older buildings need breathable materials. We look for cement pointing, modern renders or sealed floors that can trap moisture in stone and soft brick.
In a conservation area or listed building, unapproved changes can be costly to put right. We note alterations so your conveyancer can check consents.
Houses let to students often show heavier wear to kitchens, bathrooms and electrics. We report on condition and note where specialist tests are sensible.
Many villages around Durham are in former mining areas. We look for signs of movement, and your conveyancer should order a CON29M coal mining search.
In DurhamA Level 3 Building Survey is the right choice for a listed building, most older homes in the city centre and any property you plan to restore. A Level 2 Home Survey suits conventional terraces, semis and modern homes in the suburbs and villages that are in reasonable condition. If the house is listed, we recommend Level 3 in almost every case.
Your new home is a standard house, bungalow or flat, built in the last hundred years or so, and looks to be in reasonable condition. A Level 2 HomeBuyer survey flags anything that needs attention — damp, movement, roof issues — without paying for depth you don't need.
The property is pre-war, stone-built, listed, significantly extended or converted — or you're planning major work. A Level 3 Building Survey digs into the structure itself: what's wrong, why it happened, and what putting it right will involve.
Still not sure? Call us on 0191 250 8258 — we'll tell you honestly which one you need, in about two minutes.
Photos: Pexels.
Three straightforward options, fixed fees, plain-English reports. Not sure which? Try the survey finder — it takes about 20 seconds.
from £425 inc. VAT
Best for conventional houses, bungalows and flats in reasonable condition — the classic HomeBuyer report.
from £950 inc. VAT
Best for older, larger, extended or unusual properties — a full structural picture before you commit.
from £250 inc. VAT
Best when you need a formal, RICS-backed figure — for a mortgage, a sale or probate.
Yes. We recommend a Level 3 Building Survey for listed properties. It gives more detail on construction, materials and repair options.
Across much of the city, planning permission is needed to convert a family home into a small shared house. Check with Durham County Council before you buy with that plan.
Yes, including Brandon, Bowburn, Sherburn, Pity Me and the wider county. We cover the whole North East.
Yes. We prepare RICS Red Book valuations for capital gains tax, including retrospective valuations at a past date.
"A very professional and helpful company who did the level 2 survey on the property I will be buying in Peterlee. The surveyor talked through any concerns I had following receipt of the survey report. I would highly recommend this company for property surveys."
"We had a level two survey on a 1980s build. I was unsure between a level 2 and 3, and was advised a level 2 in our circumstances, which impressed me as I wasn't oversold a more expensive service. Mark and Nichola were great throughout and answered multiple questions after our survey, which was invaluable as it is our first time buying."
"Excellent service from start to finish. Nicola was prompt and helpful with all communications, and Mark's report was thorough, clearly written and delivered quickly. A professional and approachable firm. I would not hesitate to recommend Fife & Kimmitt to anyone requiring a survey."
Send a few details and we'll come back with a fixed fee and the earliest available date — usually within one working day.
Every survey carried out under RICS professional standards.
Need us sooner? Call 0191 250 8258.
