I would give zero stars if I could
I would give zero stars if I could. The surveyor Dean appeared to be unfriendly and didn't really want to listen to my observations before starting his testing. When I told him how long I have been an occupant at the property, it was at the point he decided not to carry out a proper survey. Customer service was zero. He remained out of sight for the majority of the visit which was particularly odd.
He claimed to have found visible signs of issues with condensation either on wall or ceiling surfaces or
around windows. In fact we kept cleaning the area due to recurring instances of black mould. He said rainwater goods were satisfactory which is incorrect because we have had flooding into the garden. He claimed there was a ventilator in the bathroom. Again this was incorrect. He said there was a ventilator in the kitchen wall. Also incorrect. He blamed the issues of the property on our furniture that he claimed was too heavy. If all of these findings were correct we wouldn't have booked a damp survey. Basically the whole report was full of inaccurancies and allegations that defeated the object of the visit and professionalism of a qualified surveyor.
Thank god we had already had another surveyor, who was the complete opposite to Dean. He was kind, knowledgeable and professional. He attended the previous month, plainly stating said there is no ventilation in the property and advised the property would have impact on our health and wellbeing. We have also other reports that show no insulation and a whole heap of issues that render the property uninhabitable.
I told Dean a surveyor had already attended and asked for money back and was given a full refund. My assessment is the refund was the only honest work he did. Avoid at all costs.
Reply from South East Timber and Damp Limited
We’re very sorry to hear you were unhappy with your experience. At South East Timber & Damp, we take all feedback seriously, and while we don’t always agree with every comment made, we respect your right to express your views.
Our surveyor, Dean, is a certified and highly experienced professional with over 35 years in the industry, and we aim to deliver honest, evidence-based advice during every visit. In this case, we’re confident that the observations made during the inspection were consistent with standard industry practice and based on the conditions found at the property.
That said, it was clear during the appointment that expectations and communication were not aligned. As a gesture of goodwill—and because your satisfaction matters to us—we issued a full refund promptly after your request.
We wish you the very best moving forward, and we're glad you were able to seek a second opinion that better met your expectations.