The team (mainly Rosie) has put together some articles which highlight the importance of the role of the surveyor.
How Nova Surveyors is helping conserve a Grade I listed medieval chapel while supporting its continued use and long-term sustainability.
What would William Lethaby make of an air source heat pump at St Anne’s Chapel? It is an unlikely question for a 14th-century building, but it gets to the heart of one of the challenges facing …
What Your Surveyor Looks For
Cracks in walls often raise red flags for homebuyers - but not all cracks are signs of serious structural problems. Some are completely normal, especially in older properties or buildings that have …
What you need to know
Whether you're renting, owning, or managing a property in Devon and the South West, it’s not uncommon to hear concerns about damp and mould. These terms are often used together – sometimes even …
How to Get Your Home Ready for Viewings and the Surveyor’s Visit
Selling your home can be one of the most exciting - and stressful - experiences in property ownership. You’ve agreed on a price, listed the property, and started booking viewings. But according to UK …
Harvey v Heaver [2026] EWHC 1671 (KB) deserves close attention from landlords, property managers, solicitors and expert witnesses involved in housing conditions claims. It is not simply another damp …
The key to maintaining Traditional Buildings
When we talk about breathability in buildings, what we’re really referring to is vapour permeability - the ability of building materials to allow water vapour to pass through them. This doesn’t mean …
As more homes are being improved to reduce energy use, carbon emissions and heating costs, domestic retrofit is becoming an increasingly important part of maintaining and improving existing homes. …
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has recently published a draft Home Survey Standard (2025) for consultation. This draft sets out proposed updates to the way surveyors deliver …
Spray Foam Insulation in Roofs: A Surveyor’s Guide for Homeowners, Buyers and Lenders
Spray foam insulation has become a popular retrofit solution in many homes across Devon, Exeter, North Devon, and the wider South West - but it’s also one of the most misunderstood and contentious …
A Victorian House Case Study
At Nova Surveyors, we’re often asked to investigate damp and mould issues in older properties - particularly Victorian homes that weren’t designed with today’s expectations of comfort, insulation, or …
What is it and who is it for?
As proud members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), all of our surveyors are RICS-regulated, with additional professional memberships across organisations such as the Chartered …
What Should You Check Before Completion?
Buying a brand-new home is exciting, but many buyers are surprised to discover that new build properties can still contain defects, unfinished work, or areas where workmanship falls below expected …