We're a team of RICS, CIOB and RPSA accredited chartered surveyors who've been helping people buy, sell and improve properties across Clapham and South London for over 15 years.
Clapham Surveyors started the way most good businesses do — out of a genuine gap in the market. Our founder, James Hartley, had spent a decade working for larger surveying firms before realising that the Clapham area was crying out for a genuinely independent, locally rooted practice. In 2010, he set up Clapham Surveyors Ltd from a small office on Clapham High Street.
The early days were lean, but word spread quickly. James's first client — a young couple buying a Victorian terrace near Clapham Common — recommended him to three friends who recommended him to three more. By 2012, we had a waiting list. By 2015, we'd brought in Sarah Collins as a partner and expanded our residential surveying services to cover the full range: Level 2, Level 3, party wall matters, Red Book valuations and new build snagging.
Today, Clapham Surveyors is a small but well-established practice. We're not a national chain. We don't chase volume at the expense of quality. Every survey we carry out is signed off by a qualified chartered surveyor, and every client gets direct access to the person who surveyed their property.
We survey properties across Clapham, Clapham Junction, Balham, Battersea, Brixton, Stockwell, Tooting, Streatham and the wider South West London area. And we're proud to say that the vast majority of our work still comes from personal recommendations.
Our small but expert team combines decades of hands-on experience with deep knowledge of South London property.
Founder & Lead Surveyor
James founded Clapham Surveyors in 2010 after a decade with larger firms. He has surveyed hundreds of South London properties and is particularly experienced in Victorian and Edwardian residential buildings. He's also a go-to expert for complex party wall matters and Red Book valuations.
Partner & Residential Surveyor
Sarah joined the practice in 2015 and became a partner in 2018. Originally from Balham, she has an encyclopaedic knowledge of local property stock and a talent for explaining complex findings in plain English. She leads our Level 2 home survey offering and is the first call for many of our repeat clients.
Building Surveyor
David joined Clapham Surveyors in 2020, bringing a background in commercial and residential building surveying. He has particular expertise in new build snagging and schedules of condition, and is the team's go-to specialist for structural defects in older properties.
Our surveyors hold memberships of the UK's leading professional surveying bodies — giving you the assurance that we work to the highest standards.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is the world's leading professional body for land, property and construction. RICS members are bound by a strict code of ethics and professional standards. All our surveys are carried out to RICS guidelines.
The Chartered Institute of Building sets standards for the management, leadership and delivery of construction. CIOB membership demonstrates a surveyor's deep technical knowledge of how buildings are constructed — which is invaluable when identifying structural defects.
The Residential Property Surveyors Association represents specialist home surveyors across the UK. RPSA members are trained exclusively in residential surveying and provide a high-quality, consumer-focused service. Membership requires ongoing professional development.
We work only for you — not for lenders, developers or estate agents. That independence means you get an honest opinion, not a rubber stamp.
We don't rush surveys to hit volume targets. Every inspection gets the time and attention it deserves — your home is too important for shortcuts.
We write reports that real people can understand. No jargon, no waffle. Just clear, practical advice you can act on with confidence.
Get a free, no-obligation quote from our chartered surveyors today. We'll come back to you within one working day.