Tips when viewing Victorian properties

David Lewis of chartered surveyors Grillo LLP (grillollp.com) offers his expert advice on what to look out for when viewing a Victorian property for sale.

• The Victorians used cavity walls to fight damp and improve insulation. Builders used various methods to tie the two leaves of masonry together but the most common was the iron tie. Check them for signs of corroding, which can lead to instability, unevenness and cracks in external walls.

• Damp proof courses in walls were typically formed with slate or pitch and sand. Frequently, they were built too close to the ground, meaning they became covered by earth and paving, making them ineffective.

• Lead was commonly used for the underground pipes. Now we know that lead deposits in drinking water can damage health, so all lead pipes should be replaced.

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Featured in the January 2012 issue of Period Living