Chartered Surveyors in Medway

Medway — Chatham, Gillingham, Rochester and Strood — has some of the richest and most varied housing in Kent, shaped by its naval and dockyard history. Rochester holds handsome Georgian and older houses; Chatham and Gillingham are lined with Victorian terraces built for the dockyard and its workers; interwar and post-war housing rings the towns, with pockets of former local-authority and non-traditional construction; and dockside regeneration has added modern flats and new-build. The right survey depends heavily on which of these a property belongs to.

As chartered surveyors across Medway, we match the inspection to the home. The Georgian and Victorian houses bring solid walls, historic roofs, sash windows and the damp, pointing and timber issues of their age, often with listing or conservation-area controls in Rochester and the older cores. The interwar and post-war stock shows tired roofs, dated services and later extensions, and among the ex-local-authority housing there is some non-traditional construction, which we always identify because it affects mortgageability and insurance. The dockside and other new-build call for snagging and, on leasehold, attention to the wider building and service charges.

For a modern home or flat in good order, a Level 2 (RICS Home Survey) is often proportionate. For any home built in the 1930s or earlier — Medway’s Georgian and Victorian houses in particular — anything non-traditional, or a property that has been altered or converted, a Level 3 (Building Survey) is the wiser choice, with an element-by-element inspection and costed advice. Where you need a formal figure — purchase, probate, matrimonial or otherwise — our RICS Registered Valuer provides Red Book valuations.

We cover the Medway towns and surrounding area, including Chatham, Gillingham, Rochester, Strood and Rainham (Kent), with independent, RICS-regulated advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Level 2 or Level 3 survey in the Medway towns?

For any Medway home built in the 1930s or earlier — the Georgian houses of Rochester and the Victorian dockyard terraces of Chatham and Gillingham especially — anything non-traditional, or a heavily altered property, we’d recommend a Level 3 Building Survey. A modern home in good order is usually well served by a Level 2 Home Survey.

What should I know about buying a Victorian dockyard terrace?

These solid-walled Victorian houses bring ageing roofs, sash windows, damp and timber matters and, often, a century of alterations and extensions to check. Our Level 3 survey examines each element and sets out costed, prioritised advice.

How do I know if a Medway house is non-standard construction?

Some ex-local-authority homes are of non-traditional construction, which isn’t always obvious from the street. A Level 3 Building Survey identifies the likely construction type and explains what it means for repairs, mortgageability and insurance.

Do you cover Rochester and Strood as well as Chatham and Gillingham?

Yes. We survey right across the Medway towns — Chatham, Gillingham, Rochester and Strood — and the surrounding area, matching the inspection to each property’s age and construction.

Buying in Chatham, Gillingham, Rochester or Strood? Get an independent RICS view before you exchange. Contact Gibsons Surveyors for advice on the right survey level and a fast, no-obligation quote.