How to Find a Trustworthy Damp and Timber Specialist in the UK

Look for membership of the Property Care Association (PCA), the main UK trade body for damp, timber and waterproofing work. Members are trained and audited.

Ask whether the surveyor holds a recognised qualification in diagnosing damp and timber problems. Check the company's name on the PCA's own website.

Damp can come from rising ground moisture, a leak, a blocked gutter, or condensation from poor airflow. Each needs a different fix.

Be cautious of a specialist who offers a treatment, such as a chemical damp-proof course, before finding the cause.

• Moisture readings, and the method used to take them.
• Checks of outside defects, such as gutters, pointing and ground levels.
• An explanation of the cause found, not only the treatment proposed.
• Photos of the affected areas.

If a survey is free, it may be linked to selling treatment. For a large or disputed job, an independent survey can be worth paying for.

Ask whether the guarantee is backed by insurance, so it still pays out if the company stops trading. Check whether it transfers to a new owner if you sell.

Keep the survey, the guarantee and the invoice together. Buyers' surveyors often ask for them when damp work has been done.

A wrong diagnosis is easy to hide behind a vague online review. On Propvio, a review only appears once a homeowner has logged the job and the specialist has confirmed it.

Look for a track record of confirmed jobs before trusting a diagnosis you cannot easily check yourself.

Ask for a written quote and survey report that explains the cause found, the work proposed and the guarantee offered.

General questions for any trade are in What to Ask a Tradesperson Before Work Starts.