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Why Specialist Knowledge is Crucial for a Level 3 Survey

Why is specialist knowledge crucial for a Level 3 Survey of a Listed Oast House?

At Bracketts Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents, we recently had the privilege of carrying out an in-depth RICS Level 3 Survey on a Grade II Listed twin-roundel Oast house near Tunbridge Wells. This property, with its rich history and unique architecture, is a perfect example of the challenges and expertise involved in surveying complex and historic buildings.

What is an Oast House?

Oast houses are iconic structures traditionally used in hop farming to dry hops for brewing. These distinctive buildings, often found in Kent and Sussex, are characterized by their round towers or “oast kilns,” which allowed heat to circulate efficiently, ensuring hops dried evenly. Many oast houses were built in the 19th century and have become important symbols of the region’s agricultural history.

In the 1970s and 1980s, many oast houses were converted into residential properties. While these conversions preserved the unique charm of these buildings, they also introduced new challenges for surveyors. The combination of their age, original construction techniques, and sometimes unconventional conversions requires specialist knowledge to assess the structure, materials, and potential defects effectively.

Why is Specialist Knowledge Crucial for a Level 3 Survey

Surveying Grade II Listed properties, especially ones with the complexity of an oast house, demands a deep understanding of building conservation, traditional construction methods, and the specific requirements of listed status. When undertaking a survey, it’s vital to consider both the historical integrity of the building and its potential for future development.

Our experienced team at Bracketts provided a detailed and comprehensive survey, identifying any necessary repairs, advising on conservation issues, and ensuring that the building’s historical value was preserved for future generations.

If you’re considering buying or renovating a historic or listed building, contact Bracketts Chartered Surveyors today for expert advice and professional survey services tailored to your needs.

#HistoricBuildings #OastHouseSurvey #ListedBuildingSurvey #SurveyingExperts #PropertySurvey

Tyson Sheppard MRICS

Partner

Sam E.
We've just finished a tenancy with Bracketts and found the overall experience very positive. We had come from a rather negative experience with our previous letting agents in London and Bracketts were much more professional.

We had some viewings with other agents in Tunbridge Wells. One of these agents had stated that we would need to return for a followup interview with the landlord before our application would be considered, and that we should consider what we would to "incentivise" the landlord to go with us in terms of offering a higher rent to compete with other applicants. Needless to say, we did not proceed with that agent.

At our viewing with Bracketts they made it clear they didn't endorse betting wars on the part of the tenants: the price listed was the price that would go forwards. They were responsive throughout the tenancy, and though the building had a few age-related issues, Brackett's responded as well as possible.

Highly recommended if you're looking to rent in the area.
Luke M.
Very helpful, got my survey sorted here. Recommend :)
Response from the owner:Hi Luke - thanks for the great feedback and 5 star review for Tyson and our survey team who all send their best wishes. If we can help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask. Best wishes from the whole team :)
Keith M.
Selling our house through Bracketts has been a positive experience. Matt and Holly gave good advice when needed . A few challenges cropped up during the process which were dealt with smoothly. I would be happy to recommend Bracketts
Response from the owner:Thank you for your comments. It certainly had its challenges along the way and thanks for being patient. I am glad we managed to get there in the end. All the best for the future and we will keep in communications regarding the other sales.
Nigel C.
Matthew Saxby was our contact point at Bracketts. It was the second time we have trusted Matt to sell a house for us. Our property was outside of Tonbridge area, but Matt was still confident he could sell our house. It was not a straightforward transaction, and there were a few bumps in the road, but Matt was tenacious and solved problems, suggested alternatives and finally achieved the sale. Marketing of property was excellent, his market knowledge was critical. All calls and emails answered promptly, and the support team were brilliant too, with special thanks to Holly and Janice.
Response from the owner:Good evening, thanks for your comments Nigel it was a pleasure working with you again. I know we had a few bumps in the road but we overcame these and came out the other side. I wish you all the best for the future and I look forward to having a coffee in your new home.
John G
Probably not the easiest of property transactions ever performed but dealing with Bracketts made things an awful lot easier. Very helpful and efficient from start to finish, the whole team went considerably above and beyond to make sure of a successful outcome.
Response from the owner:Many thanks for your feedback John. We are glad we managed to remain consistent throughout the transaction and work with you and the family through various hurdles. We wish you all the best for the future.
Simon H
I would happily recommend Bracketts. Holly has worked tirelessly throughout the process of selling my father’s flat. Thank you.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your feedback Simon. Your comments mean a lot. We will be sure to congratulate Holly and the Tonbridge team.
Linsey O.
Bracketts dealt with the sale of my property and the purchase of my new property in an efficient, and business like manner. Holly remained calm at all times! I would certainly recommend.
Response from the owner:Many thanks for your feedback. We are so pleased we managed to act for your sale and purchase. We hope you are very happy in your new home.
Sam W.
Bracketts were a massive help in purchasing our first house. Harry helped us every step and his colleagues were fantastic too
Response from the owner:Many thanks for your feedback.
Stephen K.
Selling our house through Bracketts was a very positive experience. Holly in particular was a pleasure to work with. There were several repairs needed before completion and she arranged these for us very efficiently. Excellent service.
Response from the owner:We are pleased we managed to get your home sold. I will let the team know about your comments and appreciate the review.
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Contact Us

Tunbridge Wells

  • 01892 533733
  • tunbridgewells@bracketts.co.uk
  • 27/29 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1UU

Tonbridge

  • 01732 350503
  • tonbridge@bracketts.co.uk
  • 132 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1BB
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Tunbridge Wells

  • 01892 533733
  • tunbridgewells@bracketts.co.uk
  • 27/29 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1UU

Tonbridge

  • 01732 350503
  • tonbridge@bracketts.co.uk
  • 132 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1BB

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