About Paddington Surveyors

RICS, CIOB and RPSA-accredited surveyors with over a decade of London property expertise — and a genuine passion for helping people make informed decisions.

Our Story

Paddington Surveyors: Built on Expertise and Honesty

Paddington Surveyors was founded in 2012 with a simple mission: to provide the kind of honest, thorough, plainly-written survey that we would want if we were buying a home ourselves.

The idea came from a frustration our principal surveyor, Richard Ashworth, had noticed over many years working for large corporate firms: survey reports were becoming longer, more legally cautious and — paradoxically — less useful. Clients were receiving 60-page reports full of caveats and disclaimers, but without a clear answer to the question they actually wanted answered: "Is this property worth buying?"

Richard started Paddington Surveyors with the conviction that a great survey report should be thorough, specific and — above all — understandable. That philosophy is woven into everything we do today.

We've now completed over 500 surveys across Paddington, Bayswater, Notting Hill, Kensington, Mayfair, Marylebone and beyond. Our team has grown, but our values haven't changed.

Aerial view of the Paddington neighbourhood in West London showing Victorian terraced houses
Professional Standards

Our Accreditations & Professional Bodies

Our surveyors are accredited by the leading professional bodies in the UK surveying profession. These accreditations mean you can rely on regulated, insured and independently-accountable advice.

Royal Institution of
Chartered Surveyors
Chartered Institute
of Building
Residential Property
Surveyors Association

RICS Regulation

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is the world's leading professional body for land, property and construction. RICS-regulated firms must follow strict rules on client service, complaints and professional indemnity insurance. You can verify our RICS membership at RICSfirms.com.

CIOB Membership

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) is the professional body for those involved in construction and project management. CIOB chartered members demonstrate the highest level of knowledge and commitment to ethical practice in the built environment.

RPSA Accreditation

The Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA) was founded to maintain and promote standards in residential surveying. RPSA members follow an agreed code of conduct and provide surveys under the RPSA suite of products, including the Home Condition Survey.

The People Behind the Surveys

Meet Our Chartered Surveying Team

Every survey at Paddington Surveyors is carried out by a qualified, accredited professional. Here is the team you'll be working with.

Richard Ashworth, Principal Chartered Building Surveyor at Paddington Surveyors

Richard Ashworth

Principal Chartered Surveyor

Richard has over 20 years of experience surveying London's most challenging residential properties. He founded Paddington Surveyors in 2012 after recognising a gap for personalised, plain-English survey reports in the local market.

Richard specialises in complex structural assessments, expert witness work and party wall matters. He has appeared as an expert witness in the County Court and First-tier Property Tribunal on multiple occasions.

"Every property has a story. My job is to read it before you commit."

Claire Whitfield, Associate Chartered Surveyor at Paddington Surveyors

Claire Whitfield

Associate Chartered Surveyor

Claire joined Paddington Surveyors in 2017 after five years at a leading London practice. She is highly regarded for her clear communication style and her ability to put nervous first-time buyers at ease before, during and after the survey process.

She specialises in RICS Homebuyer Reports and party wall agreements across West London, including Notting Hill, Shepherd's Bush, and Hammersmith.

"Understanding what a survey means for your life — not just your building — is what I do."

Marcus Okafor, Senior Building Surveyor at Paddington Surveyors

Marcus Okafor

Senior Building Surveyor

Marcus brings a background in construction project management to his role as Senior Building Surveyor. His hands-on experience on site gives him an exceptional eye for build quality, specification and contractor workmanship.

Marcus leads our structural defect investigation work and manages client relationships for our commercial and investor clients across Central London. He is also a qualified drone operator for roof inspections.

"The detail is everything. One overlooked roof joint can be a £15,000 repair."

What Drives Us

Our Values as Paddington Surveyors

Thoroughness

We inspect every accessible element of every property. No shortcuts, no assumptions.

Clarity

We write for you, not for other surveyors. Plain English, clear priorities, actionable advice.

Impartiality

We are independent. We have no interest in the sale of any property. Our only loyalty is to you.

Accountability

RICS, CIOB and RPSA membership means our work is regulated and we carry full professional indemnity insurance.

Our Journey

A Decade of Surveying in Paddington

2012

Paddington Surveyors Founded

Richard Ashworth establishes the practice in Paddington W2 with a focus on transparent, jargon-free building surveys for residential property buyers.

2014

Party Wall Department Launched

Growing demand from homeowners undertaking loft conversions and extensions in Paddington and Bayswater leads to the launch of a dedicated party wall service.

2017

Claire Whitfield Joins the Team

Claire brings specialist expertise in homebuyer surveys and expands the practice's capacity across West London, including Notting Hill and Shepherd's Bush.

2019

100th Party Wall Award Completed

A milestone that reflects the confidence Paddington and London homeowners place in the practice for party wall matters.

2021

Marcus Okafor Joins as Senior Surveyor

Marcus strengthens the team's structural investigation capability and introduces drone roof inspection as a standard option for Level 3 surveys.

2023

500+ Surveys Milestone

Paddington Surveyors reaches 500 completed surveys — a number the whole team is proud of, especially given our commitment to quality over volume.

2025

Continuing to Serve London

We continue to provide expert, accredited surveying services across Central and West London, with a reputation built entirely on word-of-mouth and client recommendations.

Client Testimonials

What Our Clients Say About Working With Us

"Richard personally carried out our survey and then called us the moment the report was ready to talk us through everything. That personal touch is rare these days. Truly outstanding service."

David & Anna T. Homebuyers · Paddington W2

"Claire was brilliant throughout our party wall process. She kept everything on track, dealt with a tricky neighbour diplomatically and delivered the award on time. We couldn't have done the extension without her."

Oliver A. Homeowner · Bayswater W2

"Marcus found water ingress behind a recently fitted bathroom that the vendor's own survey had completely missed. The subsequent repair negotiation saved us £8,500. Well worth every penny."

Natasha C. First-time Buyer · Notting Hill W11
Work With Our Team

Book a Survey with Paddington Surveyors

Whether you're buying, selling or managing a property dispute, our team is ready to help. Explore our surveying services or get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote.

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