Washington is a post-war New Town built around older villages. We survey and value homes from every stage of its growth.
Washington was designated a New Town in 1964. Planners built it around existing villages and new residential areas, so the town has a clear mix of old and new. A house in the historic village near Washington Old Hall is a very different survey from a 1970s home in one of the newer districts.
Our RICS-qualified surveyors are based a short drive away in Houghton le Spring. We carry out RICS Level 2 Home Surveys and Level 3 Building Surveys for buyers. We also prepare Red Book valuations for probate, capital gains tax, matrimonial cases and Help to Buy for homes anywhere in Washington.
Most of Washington’s housing dates from after 1964, when the Development Corporation built new residential areas such as Albany, Barmston, Concord and Oxclose. Styles vary, and some homes from this period used designs and materials that were new at the time.
Older housing survives in the original villages, including stone buildings in Washington Village and colliery-era terraces elsewhere. More recent private estates fill much of the rest of the town.
These are the things surveyors look at closely on local property types. They are not problems every home has.
Some new town housing has flat or shallow-pitched roofs, garages or porches. We check the covering, drainage and any signs of water getting in.
Homes from the 1960s and 1970s can include cladding panels, early double glazing and other materials of their time. We note what we can see and where further checks may help.
Parts of Washington sit on former mining ground. We look for signs of past movement, and your conveyancer should order a CON29M coal mining search.
New town layouts often use shared footpaths, parking courts and communal areas. We flag these so your conveyancer can confirm who maintains them.
In WashingtonFor most Washington homes built from the 1960s onward and in reasonable condition, a Level 2 Home Survey is the usual choice. Choose a Level 3 Building Survey for older stone properties in Washington Village, for homes that have been heavily altered, or where you can see cracking, damp or roof problems before you buy.
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.
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 cover the whole town, including Washington Village, Albany, Barmston, Concord, Oxclose, Columbia, Usworth and Fatfield.
Most are standard brick or block construction and mortgage normally. If a survey finds a non-traditional construction type, we will say so, as some lenders have specific rules.
Yes. If you are repaying or staircasing a Help to Buy equity loan, you need an RICS valuation. Our Registered Valuers carry these out.
Our office is in Houghton le Spring, a few miles south-east of Washington.
"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.
