Please read this review and DO NOT PROCEED WITH THIS FIRM. I employed Dunham Hale to conduct a level 2 building survey as they were RICS registered and had a competitive quote. However, the quality of their survey was terrible, lacking information on mandated areas (e.g. outside space) AND where defects were noted, included only vague descriptions of the issue such that it protected themselves from future recourse but didn’t provide any specificity to guide on the extent of the problem observed. Although Lvl2 surveys are not as comprehensive as Lvl 3, contrary to what Dunham Hale Surveyors have feedback, the report output was woefully lacking and provided FAR LESS DETAIL AND SPECIFICITY THAN RICS RECOMMEND OR PROVIDE IN THEIR EXAMPLE REPORTS. In short, it was completely useless! AVOID Addendum: well done for sharing my full address in your feedback Dunham Hale. Your professionalism continues to… meet expectation. Addendum 2: I reviewed the example level 2 report on your own website again and the disparity with the report provided to myself was vast. I wasn’t expecting a layer of detail associated to. Level 3 survey (with the exception of the grounds section that was completely absent) but just to be specific about the observations noted to make them actionable. I have previously shared valid examples of this with you and this feedback has not been taken seriously.

Prompt service, thorough report.

Difficult to contact, and then I thought they were unpleasant when I eventually spoke to them.

I enquired with this company for a quote for a level 3 RICS survey for our potential purchase of Barrow Cottage, Halebarns. I was very specific from the outset that this was a grade II listed thatched cottage and the address was given. From the photos on the listing on rightmove it is clear that this is a timber framed house. Booking process was ok, although not great communication, with an automated email giving me a quote when I had just booked/paid for the survey. I had to badger them for a date for the survey. Once the survey had been done I gave them 7 working days (as they had advised) and then emailed, simply to ask them for a timescale as to when the survey report would be ready as I appreciated it was an unusual building. No response. Emailed again 3 days later. No response. Received the report after 14 days with a very defensive email from the surveyor stating that it is an unusual building which required more input than normal. Yes, I told you that at the start! The survey is very long (109 pages) with many photos (), initially I thought this represented great depth of survey. However on further reading, the photos are very random (no correlation with the text) and not helpful, and there was not one mention of the overall condition of the beams of the house, bearing in mind this is a timber framed house - the whole structure is dependent on the integrity of the beams! There was one photo of ‘woodworm’ but no text supporting/explaining this. Lots of photos of the damp meter showing ‘high levels of damp’ (when the type of meter she was using measures salts not damp). On further email to the surveyor, I was told she couldn’t tell me whether the woodworm was active or not and its extent and that I’d need a PCA timber survey for that and the damp. Clearly a PCA timber survey would be useless as these are done by damp-proofing companies who just want to sell you their products/DPCs. Instead I commissioned a consultation from a heritage surveyor. What a difference! Extremely knowledgeable, pragmatic and constantly looking to see why the property was damp, why the walls of the house were bowed, not just describing the appearance. He was very scathing of the report we had already had, pointing out multiple missed issues, facts that are simply wrong which underline how much the surveyor clearly does not understand timberframe buildings, and the fact that it had seriously underestimated potential repair costs. Dunham Hale estimated this at approx £95,000 but with such significant deficiencies in the structural integrity of the house (all missed by this surveyor: rotted sill beam, multiple rotted upright beams, snapped purlin/rafter clearly visible inside the house, inappropriate use of render/cement, blocked drains, broken/missing guttering/drainage, ground levels being 1m too high, chimneys needing to be completely rebuilt, full rethatch required etc) the restoration costs are approx £412,000. Had we proceeded to purchase this property at the agreed price, we would have bankrupted ourselves or been stuck living in a property which is literally falling down around us. Wrote an email to complain. No response. Emailed again stating I would take this complaint to RICS. No response. If they are not competent to provide a report on a heritage building, from a probity point of view they should have declined to take on the work. Instead they took my money and provided me with a poor and misleading report. Can’t state this clearly enough - DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY - find an appropriately trained/competent surveyor instead. (And I wouldn’t rely on the RICS ‘qualification’ - it’s clearly pretty meaningless). Further to your reply, I had my reservations after I had paid for the survey, with the complete lack of response, as the fee has to be paid upfront - too late for me to change my mind. As for not knowing what the property is before you arrive - I had told you it was a listed thatched cottage and a simple google search would have shown you the outside of the house. Fairly easy to see it is a timber framed structure. Re the length of time it took to get the report - my heritage surveyor got his comprehensive report to me within 5 working days. With regard to the rest of your reply, what would be the point of getting a survey if I then have to get a damp survey, timber survey, roof survey etc on top? Yes, I should have absolutely gone to a heritage surveyor first time around who not only inspected all these areas but gave me conclusions as to why there were problems and more importantly gave me a plan re how to go about correcting these issues. Unfortunately, I have only bought one house before and it is not a listed property. My point is that the surveyor’s probity should play a part in whether you can complete a full survey. If you can’t, you shouldn’t accept the work.

Thanks to Dunham Hale for a thorough level 3 survey who helped support my case to knock a few thousand off the agreed price with the seller. Very friendly over the phone and provided a competitive quote, surveyor was booked 3 days after I called which was far better than the availability of other local surveyors. Highlighted areas that I didn't even know could be a problem. Would 100% use Dunham Hale again. 240421

The level 3 building survey was promptly sent to me. I hope to use the findings, including following up with tradesmen investigations, to reasonably negotiate with the vendor during the buying process, if appropriate.

Professional service quick to respond to my enquiry would use again

Excellent Service! Only took two weeks to carry out the survey and provide a very detailed report. Thank you!

Luke - ref: 240260 Really positive experience with the surveyors. They were helpful with any queries I had and was impressed with the quick turnaround between booking the survey, it taking place and receiving the report. The report I received was highly detailed and conveyed in a professional and helpful manner. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a survey in the Manchester/Salford area

Stay away !! Bought a house and decided to use a surveyor. Took a package of level 3 with a report that should be delivered 5-7 working days. After several emails, keeping requesting it, we got it 16 working days. The report was ok but unprofessional with several typos, and some unclear statements. At this level it is unacceptable. When asked for 2 questions post survey for basic clarification as the report was not clear, I got no reply for several weeks, until I made a dispute with my bank as I had not received the services that it was advertised. The owner Mr Neil Heyes (who also did the survey), blamed first his staff for poor communication, then threatened me by email. He mentioned that we use his survey to negotiate our property. Completely incorrect and so unprofessional. Like most unhappy reviews, it is often due to the owner's poor communication skills and very negative approach as soon as you are questioning. Very disappointing experience. We will make a formal complaint to the regulator.