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Rics: Hire a surveyor to check quake damage

Homeowners should not pay out extra for home repairs following last week's earthquake, according to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics).

Employing a chartered surveyor to inspect any damage done to the property rather than immediately hiring a tradesman was recommended by the institute as the best way to ensure that this will not happen.

A surveyor might also detect damage that is not immediately apparent to the homeowner - and which could cause bigger structural problems in the future.

Rics spokesman Ian Potts said: "If properties are left unchecked and damages are not routed out and repaired straight away, it could cause more extensive damage to the property and to…wallets."

The biggest quake for 25 years hit the UK on February 27th, with much of England and part of Wales feeling tremors.

Many homeowners will find that repairs are covered by their buildings insurance - although taking out a loan to pay for costs remain as an alternative should this protection be insufficient.

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