Pre-Acquisition Building Survey – Uppingham, Rutland

WHLBC PROJECT CASE STUDY

Pre-Acquisition Building Survey – Uppingham, Rutland

A pre-acquisition survey was undertaken for a Grade II listed, mid-18th-century stone-built retail property in Uppingham, Rutland.

Project Overview

Type of Survey:
Pre-Acquisition Building Survey

Location:
Uppingham, Rutland

Type of Construction:
Mid-18th-century, Grade II listed property of traditional load-bearing solid stone construction with suspended timber floors, a flagstone cellar floor and pitched tiled roofs.

Summerfield Browne Limited commissioned WHL Building Consultancy to undertake a pre-acquisition survey in Uppingham. The Grade II listed retail property dates from the mid-eighteenth century, with later extensions, and is principally of load-bearing solid stone construction beneath pitched tiled roofs. The visual inspection considered the structure, external envelope, internal accommodation, cellar, services and statutory matters to identify defects, recommend further investigations and support an informed purchase decision.

Key Benefits

Identified movement to the stone frontage and historic structural intervention, prompting a structural engineer’s assessment before purchase.
Highlighted a bowed cellar lintel, dampness, timber decay and inadequate ventilation requiring investigation and remedial works.
Set out repairs to roof coverings, leadwork, rainwater goods, windows and shop fronts, alongside replacement of incompatible cement-based finishes with breathable lime materials.
Recorded significant fire-safety shortcomings and recommended a Fire Risk Assessment, improved detection, emergency lighting, compartmentation and fire stopping.
Defined due diligence covering electrical testing, CCTV drainage, asbestos information, listed building requirements, leases and repair liabilities.

Conclusion

The survey gave Summerfield Browne Limited a clear understanding of the property’s condition and the risks requiring resolution before acquisition. The principal concern was movement to the listed stone frontage, which required structural engineering advice to establish whether it was historic or ongoing and to confirm the likely repair scope. The report also identified cellar timber and ventilation issues, maintenance to roofs and joinery, unsuitable non-breathable materials, fire-safety deficiencies and service investigations. This enabled the client to consider repair expenditure, specialist advice and legal responsibilities before proceeding with the purchase.