Chartered surveyors in Tamworth

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

Get your fixed quote →

Tamworth grew fast from the 1960s as an overspill town for Birmingham, and close to four in ten homes around it were built between 1965 and 1982, more than twice the national share. Estates of that period bring a recognisable list: flat and shallow-pitched roofs, early cavity insulation, replacement windows, and the extensions and conversions added since. The castle and the older centre sit where the Tame meets the Anker, and homes on that low ground are checked against the flood map.

Local conditions

What we check in Tamworth.

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 Tame and River Anker: Flood risk is one of the first things we check, because it affects insurance, lending and what we look at underfoot. The River Tame, River Anker, River Anker, River Sence, River Trent are all within reach of Tamworth.Check this property on the official service
3 postcode districts covered: We cover B postcodes around Tamworth with 1 RICS surveyor. What we look hardest at depends on the age and construction of your particular property.What a survey covers
Local authority: Building control records, conservation area status and planning history for Tamworth sit with the council here. 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 Tamworth.

39.1%

of homes within 2.4km of the centre were built in 1965–1982. 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 Tamworth by construction era, compared with England and Wales
Built	Share	Compared with England & Wales	Homes
Pre-1900	6.5%	-9 pts	2,060
1900–1929	4.5%	-5.5 pts	1,430
1930s	5.2%	-4.7 pts	1,640
1945–1964	13.1%	-3.2 pts	4,160
1965–1982	39.1%	+20.8 pts	12,400
1983–1999	14%	+2.1 pts	4,430
2000 onwards	17.6%	about average	5,560

31,680 homes across 44 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

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.

2000 onwards

Modern insulated construction to current Building Regulations, normally with a ten-year structural warranty, high levels of airtightness and mechanical ventilation in the newest homes.

What we usually find. Structural defects are uncommon; the recurring themes are condensation and interstitial damp where airtight construction meets ventilation that is switched off or never commissioned, along with workmanship snags in newer developments.

Worth knowing. On flats and any property with external wall insulation or cladding, establish the position on fire safety documentation early, as it can hold up a sale regardless of the building’s condition.

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 Tamworth