We are a team of independent, accredited building surveyors based in Crawley, West Sussex. Established in 2009, we have helped hundreds of property buyers and sellers make confident decisions about their homes.
Crawley Surveyors started with a simple frustration. Our founder, James Hartley, spent years working for large national firms before realising that clients in Crawley and West Sussex were being let down by surveyors who didn't know the local area and produced generic, impersonal reports.
"I saw too many people buying properties with hidden problems that a thorough local surveyor would have spotted immediately," James recalls. "Clay soils, proximity to Gatwick flight paths, post-war construction methods used heavily in the Crawley area — these are things that need local expertise. You can't outsource that knowledge."
In 2009, James founded Crawley Surveyors with a focus on three things: deep local knowledge, honest reporting and excellent client communication. Today, our team of accredited RICS surveyors in Crawley carries those same values into every survey we conduct across West Sussex, Surrey, East Sussex and Kent.
We are proud to be trusted property consultants in the local area — having helped with everything from a first-time buyer's homebuyer report in Pound Hill to complex party wall awards for major extensions in Horsham and East Grinstead.
"To give every property buyer and seller in Crawley and Sussex the honest, independent advice they deserve — so they can make the most important financial decision of their lives with complete confidence."
Every survey is carried out by one of our experienced, accredited professionals. We're a close-knit team and we take pride in every report we produce.
James founded Crawley Surveyors after over a decade with national practices. He has unrivalled knowledge of the Crawley property market and has personally conducted over 1,000 surveys across West Sussex. When he's not inspecting properties, you'll find him walking the South Downs or watching Crawley Town FC.
James specialises in older and unusual properties, subsidence investigations and party wall matters across Sussex and Surrey.
Tom joined the team in 2015 and quickly became our go-to surveyor for modern residential properties and new builds. He has a particular talent for spotting construction defects in properties built since 1970 — and a knack for explaining complex issues in plain English that clients really appreciate.
Tom covers Crawley, Horley, Gatwick Airport area, Redhill and Reigate.
Sarah leads our valuation work and brings a sharp analytical mind to every instruction. She has extensive experience with RICS Red Book valuations for probate, matrimonial and help-to-buy purposes. She also specialises in Victorian and Edwardian properties — a period she describes as "the most interesting and the most problematic" in the British housing stock.
Sarah covers Horsham, Mid Sussex, Brighton and East Sussex.
We never cut corners. Every aspect of the building is inspected carefully — because we know what's at stake for our clients.
We write reports in plain English. No jargon. Every finding is explained so you know exactly what it means and what to do next.
We are entirely independent. We have no ties to estate agents, developers or contractors — our only obligation is to you.
We know the Crawley area inside out — the neighbourhoods, the soil conditions, the common property types and the local market.
Our surveyors hold accreditations from three of the UK's leading professional bodies for surveying and construction. These aren't just letters after a name — they represent rigorous training, ongoing professional development and a commitment to ethical standards.
The world's leading professional body for property, land and construction. RICS-regulated surveyors are bound by strict ethical standards and must maintain professional indemnity insurance. Regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
The world's largest and most influential professional body for construction management and leadership. Our CIOB accreditation reflects our expertise in building technology, defect analysis and project management.
A professional association dedicated to improving standards in residential property surveying. RPSA members commit to consumer-focused reporting standards and ongoing development.
Professional indemnity — you have legal recourse if advice is negligent
Ethical obligations — we must act in your best interests, not the seller's
Lender acceptance — our valuations are accepted by all major mortgage lenders
Ongoing CPD — our surveyors stay current with changing regulations and building standards
Dispute resolution — access to RICS conciliation and arbitration services if needed
"James was incredibly thorough on our Victorian terrace in East Grinstead. He spent nearly three hours on-site, explained everything in person afterwards, and his report was the best I've ever seen — clear, well-structured and genuinely useful. Can't recommend highly enough."
"Sarah did our probate valuation after my mother passed. She was kind, professional and incredibly efficient. The report was detailed, fair and completely stress-free to organise. HMRC accepted it without a single query. Thank you Sarah."
"Tom surveyed a property for us in Horley — a post-war bungalow that everyone said was in good nick. His report found drainage issues, roof movement and timber decay in the floor. We re-negotiated £12,000 off. Best money I've ever spent."