Chartered surveyors in Sutton Coldfield

1 RICS surveyor covering 5 postcode districts around Sutton Coldfield, in the West Midlands. RICS Home Survey Level 2 and Level 3.

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Sutton Coldfield is post-war country: close to three in ten homes around it were built between 1945 and 1964, twelve points above the national share, and barely one in thirty pre-date 1900. Semis and detached houses on generous plots, reaching out from the old Royal Town to the edge of Sutton Park, make up much of it. The list is wall ties, original roof coverings, chimneys, and the extensions, loft conversions and garage conversions added since, where the paperwork matters as much as the work. Mature trees on those plots are looked at for their effect on drains and foundations.

Local conditions

What we check in Sutton Coldfield.

Drawn from official open data for this area, not written from a template. It tells you what a survey here has to account for. It is not a substitute for the formal searches, and we say where those live.

River Cole and River Tame: Flood risk is one of the first things we check, because it affects insurance, lending and what we look at underfoot. The River Cole, River Tame, River Blythe, River Tame, Ford Brook are all within reach of Sutton Coldfield.Check this property on the official service
5 postcode districts covered: We cover B postcodes around Sutton Coldfield with 1 RICS surveyor. What we look hardest at depends on the age and construction of your particular property.What a survey covers
Birmingham: Building control records, conservation area status and planning history for Sutton Coldfield sit with Birmingham. Where alterations look unauthorised we will say so, and tell you what to ask your solicitor to confirm.

Sources: Environment Agency flood areas and ONS boundary data, both Open Government Licence; coalfield extents from published Coal Authority and BGS mapping. Coalfield boundaries are indicative. A mining report is the authoritative answer for any individual property.

The housing stock in Sutton Coldfield.

28.7%

of homes within 2.4km of the centre were built in 1945–1964. Age is the strongest single predictor of what a survey finds, so it is where we start before we have seen the property.

Homes in Sutton Coldfield by construction era, compared with England and Wales
Built	Share	Compared with England & Wales	Homes
Pre-1900	3%	-12.5 pts	1,070
1900–1929	13.4%	+3.4 pts	4,760
1930s	14.2%	+4.3 pts	5,030
1945–1964	28.7%	+12.4 pts	10,180
1965–1982	18%	about average	6,370
1983–1999	11.7%	about average	4,130
2000 onwards	11%	-7.1 pts	3,900

35,440 homes across 50 statistical areas within 2.4km of the centre. The marker on each bar is the England and Wales share. Source: Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax stock of properties, © Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

What that means on an inspection

1945–1964

Post-war rebuilding, largely cavity-walled, but including system-built and non-traditional types — reinforced concrete, steel frame and prefabricated panels — put up quickly to address the housing shortage.

What we usually find. The conventional stock of this period is usually straightforward. Non-traditional construction is a different matter: some types are designated defective, and most lenders treat them differently or decline them, which affects both mortgageability and resale.

Worth knowing. Identifying the construction type is the first job on anything of this age that does not look conventionally built. A Level 3 survey is normally the right choice here, and lending should be confirmed early.

1965–1982

Cavity walls with insulation increasingly built in, flat-roofed elements such as garages, dormers and rear additions, and a broader range of manufactured materials.

What we usually find. Flat roofs of this era are frequently on their second or third covering and are a common source of water ingress. Textured coatings applied before the mid-1980s may contain asbestos, as may some cement products, soffits and floor tiles.

Worth knowing. Asbestos-containing materials are usually safe if undisturbed and in good order, but they matter a great deal if you intend to remove ceilings, take down a garage or open up the layout.

These are tendencies of the local stock, not findings on any particular house. A well-maintained Victorian terrace can be in better order than a neglected 1990s semi, which is the entire reason a survey is done on the building in front of you rather than on its postcode.

Available in Sutton Coldfield