Home-Checker Journal
Guides for English homebuyers
Plain-English explainers on flood risk, crime data, school ratings, EPC rules and the checks worth doing while you're still viewing.
Buying in Oxted: the data-sheet
Sold prices, schools, crime, broadband, council tax and flood risk for Oxted (RH8) — sourced, dated figures for the checks you make at the viewing stage.
Buying in Leatherhead: the data-sheet
Sold prices, schools, crime, broadband, council tax and flood risk for Leatherhead (KT22) — sourced, dated figures for the checks you make at the viewing stage.
Buying in Dorking: the data-sheet
Schools, crime, broadband, council tax, sold prices and flood risk for Dorking (RH4) — sourced figures with dates, for the questions you ask at the viewing stage.
Buying in Cranleigh: the data-sheet
Sold prices, schools, crime, broadband, council tax and flood risk for Cranleigh (GU6), Waverley — what the data says at the viewing stage.
Buying in Banstead: the data-sheet
Sold prices, schools, crime, broadband, council tax and flood risk for Banstead (SM7), Reigate and Banstead — what the data says at the viewing stage.
Buying in Ashtead: the data-sheet
Sold prices, schools, crime, broadband, council tax and flood risk for Ashtead (KT21), Mole Valley — what the data says at the viewing stage.
Buying in Horley: the data-sheet
Sold prices, schools, crime, broadband, council tax and flood risk for Horley (RH6), Reigate and Banstead — what the data says at the viewing stage.
Buying in Egham: the data-sheet
Sold prices, schools, crime, broadband, council tax and flood risk for Egham (TW20), Runnymede — what the data says at the viewing stage.
Buying in Haslemere: the data-sheet
Sold prices, schools, crime, broadband, council tax and flood risk for Haslemere (GU27) — sourced, dated figures for the checks you make at the viewing stage.
Buying in Godalming: the data-sheet
Sold prices, schools, crime, broadband, council tax and flood risk for Godalming (GU7) — sourced, dated figures for the checks you make at the viewing stage.
Surrey Stations With the Most on the Doorstep
Which Surrey stations sit inside a real town centre and which sit in a field? We counted every everyday amenity within 1km of all 84 Surrey rail stations.
Surrey Street-Level Crime: The 24 Months to July 2026, by Outcode
Police.uk street-level records for August 2024 to July 2026, counted for all 48 Surrey outcodes. This post sets out the 24-month totals, the second-year-against-first-year change, which outcodes have samples too small to read, and what a street-level count can and cannot tell a buyer.
How to Read Land Registry Price Paid Data at the Viewing Stage
HM Land Registry Price Paid Data is the record of what English homes sold for. What it includes, what it leaves out, and how to use it when you offer.
How to Check a School Catchment Before You Buy
Catchment, distance and oversubscription criteria are three different things. Where the school admissions data lives, and what changes every single year.
How to Check Flood Risk for a Property: The Three Datasets That Matter
Flood zones, surface water and live warnings are three separate datasets answering different questions. Here is what each does and does not tell a buyer.
How to Check Broadband Before You Buy: Coverage Is Not Speed
Gigabit available does not mean gigabit delivered. How Ofcom Connected Nations coverage works, what it measures, and how to check a specific address.
Mandatory Property Disclosure in 2026: What Agents Must Tell You
A guide to what estate agents are expected to disclose under the DMCC Act 2024, and what buyers should independently verify when assessing a property listing in 2026.
Best Surrey Towns for Retirees: Beyond the Commuter Belt
What retired buyers should weigh across Surrey towns — proximity to GP surgeries and hospitals, the local crime picture, flood risk and everyday amenities — and how to check each for a specific postcode.
Surface Water Flooding in Surrey: Assessing RoFSW Depth Bands
Surface water now puts more properties at risk in England than rivers and the sea. Learn how to read the Environment Agency's surface-water risk and depth data, and what it means for a Surrey property purchase.
Surrey's Broadband Blackspots: Postcodes with Below 30Mbps Connectivity
Is your Surrey dream home stuck in a broadband slow lane? This expert guide identifies the Surrey postcodes where speeds still fall below 30Mbps, explaining the structural reasons behind these blackspots and how remote workers can verify a property's true connectivity.
Surrey Landlord MEES Guide: Energy Efficiency and the 2030 EPC Target
Energy efficiency standards are shifting for Surrey rentals. This guide explains the confirmed 2030 EPC Band C deadline (Warm Homes Plan, 21 January 2026), which Surrey housing types face the steepest upgrade paths, and the £10,000 cost cap for landlords and buyers.
Crime Across Surrey: Analyzing 24-Month Hotspots and Trends
What aggregated Police.uk crime data tells you about Surrey's neighbourhoods across two years — how to read category breakdowns, which areas post the highest and lowest rates, and how to use this data in a buying decision.
5 Best Surrey Towns for London Commuters Under £600k
Which Surrey commuter towns pair a workable central-London rail link with a median sold price near or under £600k? A data-led look at HMLR trailing-12-month medians alongside published rail timetables.
Air quality in Surrey: nitrogen dioxide near A-roads and the M25
How nitrogen dioxide builds up near Surrey's busiest roads, what the legal limit and the WHO guideline actually say, and how Home-Checker reports air quality for a postcode.
Schools, Crime, Flood, Air, Broadband, Market: The Six Things to Read on a Postcode Before You Commit
Every English postcode has a government data record across six dimensions. Here is what each one covers, where the data comes from, and what to look for in each — at the viewing stage.
The 10 cheapest postcodes to buy in Surrey
HMLR Price Paid Data ranks Surrey postcodes by median sold price over the trailing 12 months. Here is how the county's property market breaks down at postcode level — and why the cheapest postcodes are where they are.
Buying in Walton-on-Thames: the data-sheet
Schools, crime, broadband, council tax, property market, and flood risk for Walton-on-Thames (KT12). What the data says at the viewing stage.
Buying in Guildford: the data-sheet
Schools, crime, flood risk, broadband, council tax, and the property market for Guildford — what the data says at the viewing stage.
Buying in Farnham: the data-sheet
Schools, crime, flood risk, broadband, council tax, and the property market for Farnham — what the data says at the viewing stage.
Buying in Esher: the data-sheet
Schools, crime, flood risk, broadband, council tax, and the property market for Esher — what the data says at the viewing stage.
Buying in Epsom: the data-sheet
Schools, crime, broadband, council tax, property market, and flood risk for Epsom (KT18). What the data says at the viewing stage.
The 10 highest-rated state primary schools in Surrey
How Ofsted inspection data and GIAS registration records rank state primary schools across Surrey's eleven local authority areas — and what to read beyond the headline rating before buying.
How Ofsted's 2024 Changes Affect School Ratings (and What They Mean for Buyers)
Single-word Ofsted grades have gone, replaced by sub-judgements and report cards. What the reform means when you are using school data to pick a neighbourhood in England.
Does Flood Risk Affect Property Value?
How flood zones, Environment Agency data and market research influence English house prices — and what a proper flood-risk assessment for a specific address looks at.
What Crime Data Actually Tells You Before You Buy
How to read street-level crime data properly when assessing a neighbourhood in England — what the numbers mean, what they miss, and what a good area report should surface for a buyer.
Surrey Rural Broadband: Finding High-Speed Connectivity in the Countryside
Can you get ultrafast broadband in a Surrey village? This guide identifies where rural charm meets full fibre, explains the impact of Project Gigabit, and shows how to avoid the 'long-loop' copper trap.
Surrey areas with the highest IMD deprivation deciles — what the LSOA data shows
The Index of Multiple Deprivation measures seven dimensions of deprivation at LSOA level across England. This post explains what IMD deciles mean, where Surrey's higher-deprivation LSOAs sit, and how to read this data as a buyer.
Buying in Woking: what to check at the viewing stage
Schools, crime, flood risk, broadband, council tax, and the property market for Woking — what to check at the viewing stage.
Surrey Primary School Capacity: Navigating the Oversubscribed Towns
Is your dream home within the catchment area of an oversubscribed Surrey school? This guide explains how to read primary school capacity data in Surrey, the 'Last Offered Distance' metric, and how to avoid the pitfalls of school place shortages.
Surrey MEES Compliance: The Confirmed 2030 EPC Band C Deadline
Is your Surrey rental property ready for the 2030 EPC Band C deadline confirmed by the Warm Homes Plan? This guide analyzes the confirmed requirement, identifies at-risk housing stock across Surrey districts, and explains how landlords can future-proof their investments.
Surrey Affordability — Towns Where Average Sale Prices Now Exceed Eight Times Local Earnings
Surrey's price-to-earnings ratios tell a stark affordability story. This post explains how the ratio is calculated, what it means for buyers, and which Surrey towns sit at the most stretched end of the scale.
Buying in Reigate and Redhill: what to check at the viewing stage
Schools, crime, flood risk, broadband, council tax, and the property market for Reigate and Redhill — what to check at the viewing stage.
Buying in Cobham: what to check at the viewing stage
Schools, crime, broadband, council tax, property market, and flood risk for Cobham (KT11). What to check at the viewing stage.
Buying in Caterham: what to check at the viewing stage
Schools, crime, broadband, council tax, property market, and flood risk for Caterham (CR3). What to check at the viewing stage.
Buying in Camberley: what to check at the viewing stage
Schools, crime, broadband, council tax, property market, and flood risk for Camberley (GU15–GU17). What to check at the viewing stage.
Surrey Secondary Schools: How to Read the Data
How Ofsted outcomes, Progress 8 scores, and KS4 attainment data help you evaluate state secondary schools across Surrey — and what the different measures actually tell you before you commit to a postcode.
Surrey Council Tax 2025-26: Every District's Band D Charge, Ranked
Waverley charges the most council tax in Surrey at £2,483.85 Band D for 2025-26. Runnymede charges the least at £2,380.06. This guide ranks all eleven districts, explains the statutory band multipliers from A to H, and shows what the spread means in cash for properties at Band G.
Surrey's Value Gradient: Price-Per-Sqft Trends by Town
Why price-per-square-foot is the most accurate metric for comparing Surrey property value. We analyze five years of HMLR and EPC data to find the county's relative value plays.
Best Surrey Towns for First-Time Buyers Under £400k
Which Surrey towns combine a sub-£400k median sold price with good broadband and the property types most relevant to first-time buyers? A data-led look across price, connectivity, and stock availability.
Downsizing in Surrey: Top 5 Towns for Healthcare, Safety, and Single-Level Living
Which Surrey towns combine good bungalow and smaller-property stock, accessible GP surgeries, and low residential crime? A data-led shortlist across three filters that matter specifically to downsizers.
Surrey Crime Data: How Population-Weighted Rates Reveal the Safest Towns
Raw crime counts can be misleading when choosing a home in Surrey. This expert guide explains population-weighted crime rates, why they matter for buyers, and how to identify truly safe Surrey neighbourhoods using data-driven insights.
The 10 most expensive postcodes to buy in Surrey
HMLR Price Paid Data ranks Surrey postcodes by median sold price over the trailing 12 months. Here is where prices are highest, what drives them, and what the sold data tells you that the asking price doesn't.
What the Listing Won't Tell You: Reading Between the Lines of a Property Page
A property listing is a sales document, not a survey. Learn how to identify what's missing and how to verify the data at the viewing stage.
The Questions Buyers Ask After They Move In — and How to Ask Them Before
Most of what buyers regret after moving in was knowable in advance — micro-location, connectivity, schools. Here is how to check it while you're still viewing.
At the Viewing Stage: What to Check on the Address Itself, Not Just the Listing
In England, the data that would most inform your offer typically arrives after you've made it. Here is how to reverse that order and protect your position.