Chartered Building Surveyors in Brighton & Hove
OUR STORY
South East Surveyors Ltd is an independent firm of Chartered Building Surveyors based in Brighton & Hove, serving Sussex and the wider South-East.
We specialise in residential building surveying and valuation, with particular expertise in historic and listed buildings.
The practice has been recognised with the following awards:
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Best Emerging Residential Surveying Firm – 2023
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Best Residential Building Surveyors – 2024
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Shortlisted for Independent Surveyor of the Year – The Negotiator Awards 2025
As a small, director-led practice, we prioritise quality, clarity and professional accountability. Every inspection is undertaken personally by a Chartered Surveyor. We do not operate a volume-based model.
We have extensive experience surveying the local housing stock, including Regency, Victorian and Edwardian properties, post-war construction and non-standard buildings such as bungaroosh structures. Our approach combines established building pathology principles with appropriate modern inspection technology.
Our objective is simple: to provide clear, proportionate advice that enables informed decision-making.
OUR APPROACH
Property transactions and ownership decisions carry financial and practical risk. The role of a survey is to reduce uncertainty through structured, evidence-based advice.
Our clients typically seek:
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Clear, practical answers
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Thorough and proportionate inspections
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Reports that are easy to understand
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Professional guidance they can rely upon
Our reports are structured, photograph-led and written personally by the inspecting Chartered Surveyor. The focus is on:
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Identifying the nature and cause of defects
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Explaining severity and urgency
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Providing proportionate next steps
We do not adopt alarmist language or generic commentary. Advice is framed logically and supported by appropriate inspection methods.
Direct communication is central to our service. A post-report consultation is available on request to ensure clarity and understanding.
TOM WHITWORTH BSc (Hons) MRICS MRPSA
Director & Chartered Building Surveyor
Tom Whitworth is the founder and director of South East Surveyors Ltd.
He holds a BSc (Hons) degree and is a Chartered Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS), as well as a Member of the Residential Property Surveyors Association (MRPSA).
Prior to establishing South East Surveyors, Tom gained experience across both independent practices and large national surveying firms. The practice was created to provide a more measured, thorough and personally accountable service than is often found within volume-driven models.
Tom’s professional background includes:
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RICS Level 1, 2 and 3 Home Surveys
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Residential building surveys
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Residential valuations and taxation valuations
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Historic and listed building advice
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Development appraisal
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Property management and project oversight
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Party Wall matters
Outside of professional practice, Tom maintains interests in music, snowboarding and martial arts.
CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVE QUOTATIONS?
Survey fees can vary significantly between firms. Differences in pricing often reflect differences in inspection time, report detail and level of professional involvement.
When comparing quotations, it may be helpful to consider the following:
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Is the inspection undertaken personally by a Chartered Surveyor?
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What is the expected inspection duration?
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Is specialist equipment used where appropriate (for example moisture profiling or thermal imaging)?
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How detailed is the final report and how many annotated photographs are typically included?
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Is a post-report discussion included?
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Can a sample report be provided for review?
A survey is not a commodity product. The depth of inspection, clarity of reporting and professional judgement applied can vary considerably.
Our fees reflect the time and professional care dedicated to each instruction. We do not operate a volume-driven model and prioritise clarity, proportionate advice and direct access to your surveyor.
The objective is not simply to provide a report, but to provide informed professional guidance.
