We are a team of RICS-accredited surveyors with more than 25 years of experience serving Portsmouth, Southsea, Southampton and communities across Hampshire. We care about property — and we care about people.
Portsmouth Surveyors UK was founded in 2000 by Richard Hartley MRICS FCIOB, who had spent the previous decade working as a building surveyor on the restoration of Portsmouth's historic naval dockyard. Richard had seen first-hand how little many property buyers understood about the condition of the homes they were purchasing — and he wanted to change that.
What began as a one-man practice working from a small office in Southsea has grown into one of the most respected surveying practices in the city. Today, we have a team of eight professionals — including RICS surveyors, RPSA-registered surveyors and specialist party wall surveyors — but we've never lost the personal, honest approach that Richard built the business on.
"I've always believed that a survey should leave you better informed — not more confused," Richard says. "Too many survey reports are full of jargon and caveats. We write plain-English reports that tell you exactly what's going on with the property and what you need to do about it."
We're proud to be regulated by RICS — the gold standard of the UK surveying profession — and to have maintained a five-star Google rating across 87+ verified reviews.
Richard Hartley establishes the practice in Southsea, focusing on residential building surveys.
Growing demand across Hampshire prompts expansion and the introduction of commercial survey services.
Two team members join the RPSA (Residential Property Surveyors Association), strengthening our credentials.
We celebrate completing our 1,000th survey in Portsmouth — a Victorian terrace in Fratton.
Portsmouth Surveyors UK reaches 87 verified five-star reviews on Google, cementing our reputation.
We tell you what we find — even if it's not what you want to hear. You deserve the full picture before committing to a property.
We go beyond the checklist. Our surveyors are trained to look for the underlying cause of every defect, not just its surface symptoms.
We write plain English. Every report we produce is written to be understood by a non-specialist — with jargon explained and priorities clearly stated.
Portsmouth's unique property market demands specialist knowledge. We've surveyed almost every street in the city — and that experience shows in every report.
Every survey carries the personal commitment of the surveyor who signs it. Here's who you'll be working with.
Richard founded Portsmouth Surveyors UK in 2000 after more than a decade working on the restoration of Portsmouth's historic naval buildings. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the city's older and more complex properties and personally oversees all Level 3 surveys on listed or historic buildings. Outside work, Richard is a keen sailor and a trustee of a local heritage preservation charity.
James joined the practice in 2007 and quickly became one of our most trusted surveyors. He specialises in Level 2 and Level 3 residential surveys across Portsmouth and is particularly experienced with Southsea's Victorian terraces and the converted apartments near Gunwharf Quays. James has a knack for explaining complex survey findings in a way that clients genuinely understand and appreciate.
Sarah joined Portsmouth Surveyors UK in 2015 after completing her master's degree in Building Surveying at the University of Portsmouth. She manages our property valuations, new build snagging surveys and HomeBuyer reports, and has a particular interest in the challenges that coastal exposure poses to Portsmouth's seaside properties. Sarah is also our lead contact for first-time buyers navigating the survey process for the first time.
Portsmouth Surveyors UK is regulated by RICS — the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors — which means we must adhere to a strict code of professional conduct and carry professional indemnity insurance. This gives you full consumer protection.
Our team's professional memberships include:
All our surveyors undertake regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to stay current with the latest standards, legislation and best practice — including the RICS Home Survey Standard introduced in 2021.
If we make an error, you're protected. RICS-regulated firms must carry comprehensive PI insurance.
RICS provides an independent complaints and disciplinary process — so you always have recourse.
RICS standards are respected by lenders, courts and government bodies worldwide.
Our surveyors must complete annual CPD — keeping their knowledge and skills current.
We're not just a surveying firm. We're part of Portsmouth — and we take genuine pride in helping the people of this city make better property decisions.