What have you noticed?

A symptom is an observation, not a diagnosis. Choose the closest description to read the available reviewed observations, possible causes and source-supported next steps.

Ceiling stains that appear or worsen after rain
Discoloured patches on ceilings that correlate with rainfall.
Evidence for this summary: Historic England — Damp in Historic Buildings.
Damp staining on internal walls or ceilings
Discoloured patches, tide marks, blistered paint or plaster, or a musty smell on internal wall or ceiling surfaces.
Evidence for this summary: Historic England — Damp in Historic Buildings.
Diagonal or stepped cracks in masonry
Diagonal or stepped cracks through brickwork or render.
Evidence for this summary: NHBC — Cracking in your home.

Recommended next step

The proportionate instruction depends on the building, the concern and what an inspection can reasonably establish. HCS confirms the scope before you book.

Speak to a surveyor first

We confirm the proportionate instruction before quoting.

Also consider

Instruct a RICS Level 3 Building Survey — Detailed survey for older, altered, listed, non-standard or defective London property.
Not sure Level 2 or Level 3? Use the survey chooser — Use the live HCS tool for an indicative comparison, then confirm the scope before instruction.
Instruct a building pathology / defect survey — Cause-led diagnosis for a defined damp, leak, crack or fabric problem — not a full purchase survey.

Ask a surveyor

Not sure what this means for your property? Speak with a Chartered Surveyor atHampstead Chartered Surveyors & Building Consultancy.

General library guidance is not a survey of your building. A short conversation helps confirm the proportionate next step.

Request advice Book inspection Discuss survey findings

From Survey Findings to Remedial Design, Tendering & Execution

Once our RICS chartered building surveyors have diagnosed the root cause of a defect through a Specific Defect & Building Pathology Investigation or RICS Home Survey, you can either instruct Hampstead Chartered Surveyors independently for JCT Contract Administration to tender the works to external contractors, or elect our joined-up group design-and-build route alongside our sister practices:

Hampstead Architecture & Planning: Architectural drawings, conservation-area and listed-building consents, structural engineering coordination, and Building Regulations packages translated directly from the survey diagnostics.
Hampstead Renovations: Principal contractor remedial execution, heritage masonry and roofing repairs, damp and timber remediation, and full residential refurbishments backed by £5M public liability, £10M employers' liability and contractors' all risks cover alongside Hampstead Chartered Surveyors' RICS-regulated Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII).

RICS Impartiality Note: Where Hampstead Chartered Surveyors acts as independent JCT Contract Administrator or Party Wall Surveyor, works are tendered strictly to independent third-party contractors in accordance with RICS conflict-of-interest governance.

Request a Specific Defect Inspection or Post-Survey Fee Quote

All fees are quoted transparently plus VAT (Specific Defect & Building Pathology inspections from £595 plus VAT).

Complete Building Defects, Symptoms & Post-Survey Reference Index

Browse every diagnostic defect guide, symptom pathway, property-type guide, and post-survey next-steps resource in the Hampstead Chartered Surveyors Building Defects Library: