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Local homeowners weigh in on the 5 best home inspection companies in London

When my partner and I were on the hunt for our first house, we thought we had it all figured out. But as it turns out, “charming fixer-upper” can sometimes mean “the previous owner left because there’s irreparable water damage in the attic.

After a few missteps, we realised the importance of a good home inspection company.  So, we turned to the experts – our fellow Londoners – to find out who the best in the business really are. Here’s what we learned about the top home inspection companies in London.

How much do home inspections cost in London?

Home inspections in London cost between £70 to £300. It usually depends on the type of property and the number of written documented reports

How we chose

  • Experience: We chose home inspectors who are seasoned professionals with years of experience in the industry. 
  • Qualifications: We prioritised home inspectors who hold relevant qualifications and certifications, such as those from recognized organisations like RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) or NABIE (National Academy of Building Inspection Engineers). 
  • Track Record: We evaluated the track record of each home inspector, looking at their past performance and success rate in identifying property defects accurately. 
  • Quality of Reports: We assessed the quality of the inspection reports produced by each home inspector, considering factors such as clarity, detail, and organisation. 
  • Technology and Tools: We considered inspectors who leverage technology and modern tools to enhance the inspection process. 

1. London Building Control

london-building-control-logo

Location: 13 Woodstock St, London W1C 2AG, United Kingdom

Contact: +44 20 7099 3636 

Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Website

We found London Building Control a great choice for those who value timely inspections and straightforward communication. They’re very easy to reach, and they always have prompt and clear answers to client queries.

On top of that, they send transparent quotes fast. Plus, their pricing is pretty competitive compared to other inspectors that have the same specialty. 

After speaking to a handful of their clients, we found how well-planned their site visits are. Additionally, their handling of paperwork and correspondence is so efficient that there are rarely delays in the entire project.

Unfortunately, there were certain instances where building certificates were delivered late. On the good side though, the company is highly reliable, with much helpful advice that the clients found to be (in their words) life-changing. 

Pros

  • Competitive pricing
  • Timely and prompt
  • Easy communication
  • Well-planned visits
  • Efficient paperwork and correspondence 

Cons

  • Certain issues with building certificate delay

I have now worked with London Building Control on several projects and now recommend them to future clients. Having worked with a few different BC companies over the years I have found LBC to be very through and efficient with their audits and when issues or problems arise they are very willing to communicate and looking at options to resolve unknown situations that are common with in the building industry.

James Lanyon | Google Reviews

I used London Building Control to inspect and sign off a number of replacement windows and doors and a new opening for French doors. Sarah was extremely helpful in the initial application process as I had no idea what I needed! Adam undertook the final inspection and was a pleasure to welcome to my home. Would use them again in future and highly recommend the company to others.

Madeleine Reilly | Google Reviews

2. Site Snagging Inspections London

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Location: 1st floor, 35 Little Russell St, London WC1A 2HH, United Kingdom

Contact: +44 7814 838314 

Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM | Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Website

Site Snagging is a fantastic choice for new homeowners who want to identify potential issues before they escalate. With over 70 years of combined experience, their inspectors have in-depth knowledge of common defects in homes.

What makes them stand out from the rest is their very clear breakdown of rates. They charge per property type, and at competitive fees that don’t disguise hidden costs. 

Additionally, we appreciate that they do image-based annotated reports that are dispatched within 24 to 48 hours after the inspection. Plus, they have the right tools and requirements to do thermal imaging for insulation concerns.

With over 2,000 newly built apartments and houses inspected, it’s not hard to trust this company. We just wished they were more reachable, as it can be hard to get through them on busy days. 

Pros

  • 70 years of experience
  • 2,000 apartments and homes inspected
  • Image-based annotated reports
  • 90% reports sent within 24 hours 
  • Optional thermal imaging
  • Clear and competitive pricing

Cons

  • Can be difficult to reach 

Ged from Site Snagging was meticulous in his inspection of our new build property. His professionalism and experience was apparent. He gave us sound advice on how to take the conversation forward with our developers, and which snags would be most pertinent to have fixed etc. His turnaround time is also very quick, ie snag booked in and report turned around to us in less than a week. Spoke to a few other snagging businesses before going with Ged, and very happy with our choice.

Daneth Long | Google Reviews 

Colm was very efficient and detailed at reviewing my new-build property. He was very considerate and gave me some general pointers/advice about the early stages of owning a new build. The report was sent to me in under 48 hours, with photos and details of what action is required, meaning no additional work needed to be actioned by me before forwarding this to the developers! I’d definitely recommend this service for anyone looking for a quick, detailed and trustworthy snagging report 🙂 Thank you!!

Rowan Tait | Google Reviews 

3. ZFN Chartered Surveyors

zfn-chartered-surveyors-logo

Location: 23 Stoke Newington Common, London N16 7ER, United Kingdom 

Contact: +44 20 7862 6363 

Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Website

What stood out to us about ZFN is their intuitive approach to inspections. For starters, they’re easy to reach out to because they entertain clients via WhatsApp – including free advice and consultations.

We also loved their inspection reports, which are comprehensive and offer useful insights for the clients. In fact, the majority of their past clients often talked about the attention to detail they saw in their reports.

However, these reports tend to take a lot of time to get delivered. In one instance, it took about 8 to 10 days before a client received a report (the standard time is a day or two).

Despite this, we totally appreciate certain situations where they went above and beyond. If the client ever has any requests, their inspectors can pop in to do quick inspections and provide additional feedback at no extra cost. 

Pros

  • Easy to connect with via WhatsApp
  • Offers free advice and consultation
  • Comprehensive report
  • Can do quick inspections upon urgent request

Cons

  • Reports can be delayed 

I contacted ZFN for a consultation on a leak that severely damaged my flat. Zaid was extremely helpful in every interaction we had. He gave some initial advice based on the picture I sent him, then came for an house visit where he meticulously inspected the property. He also sent a thorough reviews highlighting suggestions of how to proceed. Overall, I am very pleased with ZFN Chartered Surveyors, I would heavily recommend them.

Giulia Campolo | Google Reviews 

Zaid delivered an excellent service. He was prompt in arranging an appointment with the estate agent to view and survey the property, and was in contact throughout. The report itself was thorough and reassuring, and Zaid has been excellent since at answering any further queries. I particularly appreciated the bespoke report which provided a more nuanced report than most other surveyors. Would recommend Zaid to anyone looking for a survey in London and the surrounding areas.

Nicholas Reed Langen | Google Reviews 

4. Snag My New Home

snag-my-new-home-logo

Location: 124 City Rd, London EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom

Contact: +44 20 3092 9597 

Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Website

Convenience is definitely Snag My New Home’s best-selling point. It’s because they have the easiest online booking system, wherein schedules are made at almost an instant.

On top of this, they also offer one flat fee for pre and post snagging inspection, making payments more straightforward. This also avoids issues of hidden charges, which are common with this service.

Speaking to some of their clients, we can see how happy they were with the detailed reports. However, we found instances wherein the photos are of low-quality, which affects the comprehensiveness of the report. 

On the good side, they include a thermal scan during the winter season. And for any other season, their surveyors inspect windows’ and doors’ seals manually, which is the level of attention we’re looking for. 

Pros

  • 15,000+ new home snagging inspections
  • Instant and easy booking
  • One flat fee for pre and post snagging inspection
  • Thermal scans during winter 
  • Manual inspections of windows’ and doors’ seals 

Cons

  • Reports of blurry photos in reports 

I would highly recommend this company for a new build snag inspection. They were very fast to reply to my questions and the booking online was simple. Mo was very professional and thorough. He picked up on 73 snags, many of which we would not have found ourselves. The report was laid out in a simple easy to read format with pictures and comments.

Vanessa Maynard | Google Reviews 

Mo arrived early and gave me a courtesy call to see if it was okay to start ahead of the time given. He was very professional and thorough and had a great sense of humour. Felt very easy to let him have free reign of our home whilst remaining at a responsibly safe distance. He happily talked through the snags he was finding and was very personable and had a good sense of humour too. Very happy with the service and would certainly recommend.

Nathan Baldwin | Google Reviews 

5. Property Inspection Report for UK Visa and Immigration

property-inspection-report-for-uk-visa-and-immigration-logo

Location: 241A Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1DB, United Kingdom 

Contact: +44 7912 351329 

Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Website

If you’re looking for home inspectors for visa purposes, Property Inspection Report for UK Visa and Immigration is the best choice. They have 10+ years of experience and are HHSRS-certified surveyors.

For the record, the company has a success rate of 100% in visa applications and has completed over 3,000 property inspection reports. That said, they have the strongest track record among all inspectors for visa purposes. 

When it comes to booking, they offer a 24-hour notice and it doesn’t matter whether you book on the evenings or weekends. Their responses are also prompt and they’re easy to reach via phone call.

However, we encountered a few misunderstandings when speaking to their representative. But it seems to be a minor issue as we’ve never encountered a client that has a similar complaint.

Once the inspection is done, the report is delivered within 2 working days, which is standard.  

Pros

  • Specialises in inspections for spouse visa
  • 100% success rate
  • 24-hour notice

Cons

  • Minor issues of miscommunications 

Top quality and professional service! Saju came all the way from London to do a property inspection on my house in Leigh on Sea for my wife’s spouse visa. I called him on a very short notice but despite his busy schedule, he still managed to book me a time slot the very next day. The inspection itself was top quality and efficient. Saju was also very friendly and nice to talk to. For any Bengali or Asian individuals who are looking to get a high quality property inspection done, then I would definitely recommend using Saju’s services.

Ibrahim Ullah | Google Reviews

Saju Ahmed came to my house in Upton park, London for a property inspection report for spouse visa. His services were extremely good and was really impressive and helpful person. I will recommend him to all my Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indian friends and family members. 10/10 Service with out any doubt.

Ridoi Akon | Google Reviews  

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