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Chester · North Wales · England & Wales

Surveyor Negligence
Claims Solicitors

If your surveyor failed to identify defects in a property, provided an inaccurate valuation, or gave a negligent HomeBuyer Report — and you suffered financial loss as a result — you may have a claim. All RICS-qualified surveyors are required to hold professional indemnity insurance.

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No Win, No Fee — Surveyor Negligence Claims

If your claim is unsuccessful, you pay nothing. We offer no win no fee agreements for surveyor negligence claims in appropriate cases. ATE insurance covers the other side's costs if you lose — giving you complete financial protection.

Free Assessment

After-the-Event (ATE) Insurance — Protection Against the Other Side's Costs

ATE insurance covers you against having to pay the defendant's legal costs if your claim is unsuccessful. Combined with our no win no fee agreement, you face no financial risk in pursuing a legitimate surveyor negligence claim. The ATE premium is typically only payable if your claim succeeds.

Types of Claim

Common surveyor negligence claims

Failure to identify structural defects

Where a surveyor failed to identify or report on structural problems — such as subsidence, cracked foundations, or roof defects — that were visible or should have been identified on inspection.

Inaccurate property valuation

Where a surveyor provided a valuation that was significantly higher or lower than the true market value, causing you to overpay for a property or suffer a financial loss.

Negligent HomeBuyer Report

Where a surveyor's HomeBuyer Report failed to identify or adequately report on defects that were present at the time of the survey and should have been identified.

Missed damp, subsidence or rot

Failure to identify or report on damp penetration, rising damp, dry rot, wet rot, or subsidence — defects that are often visible on inspection and should be reported.

Negligent boundary advice

Where a surveyor gave incorrect advice on the position of a boundary, resulting in a boundary dispute or financial loss.

Failure to identify building defects

Missed defects in roofing, drainage, electrical systems, or other building elements that a competent surveyor should have identified and reported.

Your Solicitor

Alex Bailey, Solicitor at PDA Law Chester specialising in surveyor negligence claims
Professional Negligence

Alex Bailey

Solicitor — Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Alex has extensive experience advising on surveyor negligence claims across England and Wales. He provides an honest assessment of the merits and likely costs before you commit to a claim, and offers no win no fee arrangements in appropriate cases.

Call 01244 757352Send an Enquiry

Free Initial Assessment

Tell us about your surveyor negligence claim

Alex Bailey will review your details and contact you to discuss your claim.

An estimate is fine — we assess all claims with losses above £10,000.

Briefly describe what the surveyor missed and the financial impact on you.

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FAQs

Surveyor negligence — common questions

Can I claim against my surveyor for missing defects?
Yes. If your surveyor failed to identify defects that were present at the time of the survey and should have been identified by a competent surveyor, you may have a claim. The key question is whether a reasonably competent surveyor in the same circumstances would have identified and reported the defect. We will advise you on whether you have a viable claim.
Is surveyor negligence covered by no win no fee?
Yes — we offer no win no fee (conditional fee) agreements for surveyor negligence claims in appropriate cases. The claim must have strong merits and the likely recovery must justify the risk. We will give you a clear, honest view at the outset.
What is after-the-event (ATE) insurance?
ATE insurance protects you against having to pay the other side's legal costs if your claim is unsuccessful. Combined with our no win no fee agreement, it means you can pursue a legitimate surveyor negligence claim without any financial risk. The ATE premium is typically only payable if your claim succeeds.
What is the time limit for a surveyor negligence claim?
The general limitation period is 6 years from the date of the negligent survey. If you did not discover the negligence until later (for example, when defects became apparent), the "date of knowledge" rules may extend this — but only to a maximum of 15 years. Seek advice promptly.
What is the minimum value of claim worth pursuing?
As a general guide, we would not usually recommend pursuing a surveyor negligence claim unless the loss suffered is at least £25,000 – £30,000. Professional negligence claims require independent expert evidence, which adds to the cost. We will give you an honest assessment at the outset.
What types of surveyor can I claim against?
You can claim against any type of surveyor who owed you a duty of care — including RICS-qualified surveyors, building surveyors, valuation surveyors, and structural engineers acting in a surveying capacity. All are required to hold professional indemnity insurance.
Do you act for clients across England and Wales?
Yes. We act for clients across England and Wales — including Chester, North Wales, Central England (Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Nottingham, Leicester), and nationally. Most of our work is conducted remotely.

Think your surveyor was negligent?

Speak to Alex Bailey for an honest assessment — merits, costs, and whether no win no fee is available.

No obligation · No win no fee available · ATE insurance available

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Costs Explained Upfront
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Chester & England/Wales
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