Bosence Associates is a conservation-certified chartered surveying and construction management practice specialising in historic and traditional buildings. Operating nationally from bases in Surrey and Devon, it helps homeowners, churches, charities, conservation organisations, contractors and consultants understand, repair and manage heritage properties with confidence. Its services include condition and pre-purchase surveys, defect diagnosis, repair specifications, listed building consent and planning advice, project management, contract administration, rope-access surveys and repairs, and specialist training and CPD. Led by Tom Bosence, MRICS, MCIOB, IHBC and RICS Certified Historic Buildings Professional, the practice combines formal professional expertise with hands-on knowledge of traditional craft skills, including lime, cob, masonry and roofing techniques. This practical background helps it provide clear, jargon-free advice and oversee conservation work from initial diagnosis through to specification, delivery and sign-off.
Served areas
- United Kingdom (Nationwide), Surrey, Devon, South West England
Highlights and features
- Certified Chartered Surveyors specialising in historic building conservation
- Chartered Construction Managers with extensive conservation expertise experience
- Historic Building Surveys for traditional and listed properties
- Jargon-free client focused advice from qualified professionals UK-wide
- Training and CPD including lime days and contract administration
- UK-wide services with offices in Surrey and Devon
Associations and certifications
- RICS
- Certified Historical Building Professional (RICS)
- MRICS
- MCIOB
Payment methods
- Debit cards
- Credit cards
- Bank transfers
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Services
Why Proper Diagnosis Matters: Building Pathology explainedTreating a building defect by only fixing the visible symptom is like taking painkillers for a bad backit offers temporary relief, but it doesn't solve the underlying issue.
As specialists in Building Pathology (a rigorous RICS core competency), we look beneath the surface. For instance, blistering paint by a skirting board is often misdiagnosed as rising damp, leading property owners to pay for unnecessary chemical treatments. Our forensic approach identifies whether the issue is active, historic, or coming from an entirely different source. By diagnosing the root cause correctly the first time, we protect your property and save you from paying for the same repair twice.
We craft clear, concise, and accurate work specifications designed to communicate seamlessly with craftspeople, completely avoiding generic copy-and-paste templates that cause ambiguity. By utilising material sampling, on-site testing, and our experience as Chartered Construction Managers, we build strong relationships with contractors and Conservation Officers alike, gaining faster project consent and ensuring heritage works are executed perfectly the first time. 
Rope access for the historic environment can provide fantastic benefits. We can get to places other surveyors cannot, and we can specify, manage and deliver the repairs without the need for expensive scaffolding. 
We have a lot of experience running projects in-house from first concept through design, construction, hand over and onto maintenance. Projects come in all shapes and sizes, and some may be too large or too unusual for us to manage entirely in-house. For these projects we can procure and appoint other consultants on your behalf and step into the Project Manager Role.
All appointments (including our own!) will be under Contract - this is better for all parties and means that you get peace of mind.
We use the PRINCE 2 system of Project Management, as we find it to be the clearest and most effective.
At Bosence Associates we are experienced in delivering high-quality and easy to understand reports on any property: from cottages to castles, from forts to farmhouses. 
We can give you unparalleled and impartial training on the whole spectrum of lime work: from clay bases and hot-mixed lime through to NHLs and Natural Cement. We have experience of using them, specifying, and monitoring them and so you can be sure youre getting quality advice.We can equally give desk-based training on the subject, without the practical aspect. Perhaps you need some guidance on retrofitting traditional buildings, or on conservation principals?
Please get in touch - we will be happy to help.
Navigating the complexities of Listed Building, Scheduled Monument, and Conservation Area Consents can be daunting because very little work to a historic property is exempt from approval. We manage the entire process for you: from early risk identification and detailed heritage significance assessments to navigating tricky ecological consents like bat licensing. By consulting early with authorities such as Historic England, we resolve contentious issues upfront to secure a smooth and successful approval. 
Being able to fully understand, advise on - and deliver - complex construction issues enables us to provide an unparalleled service for our clients.We can also help with Volunteering - from set-up to recruitment and on to training. This can provide a valuable resource for our Clients who can invest in their supporters and allow them to maintain the buildings they love.
Maybe you have a dedicated band of volunteers who need some training to carry out works? Maybe you need some guidance on the best way to reduce cost for a piece of work?
Please get in touch - we will be very pleased to hear from you.
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Reviews (4)
Gabrielle Helyer
May 02, 2025
Tom has been a wonderful support with our grade 2 listed renovation, always on hand to help and provide guidance. The report provided was clear and guided us to getting the property back into a habitable state, Couldn't recommend Bosence Associates more! Will be using them no doubt in the future as with a listed property the jobs are endless!
Nick Brown
Feb 11, 2025
I am in the process of buying a small Grade II attached cottage with a complicated floor plan, a flying freehold and multiple boundary points. Tom's survey was excellent throughout and dealt with all the issues I had thought of and a considerable number which hadn't even occurred to me. He has been generous with his time and expertise and my builders have also said how helpful they are finding his report. I recommend his services without reservation.
Georgie J.
Mar 21, 2024
We would highly recommend Tom to anyone looking for a heritage surveyor. The survey was thorough, practical and full of sensible advice (invaluable when taking on a character property in need of restoration). Furthermore, Tom is very responsive and open to discussing a range of issues, including helpful knowledge of specialist trades and planning requirements.
Sonia Bradford
Oct 23, 2023
I telephoned Bosence Associates this morning to discuss a problem that I have with a contractor that has carried out sub-standard work to my Listed property. I spoke to Tom who spent a considerable length of time discussing various options to find a solution. He was extremely understanding, listened carefully to my issues and gave me several names, links and numbers to enable me to contact the specialist I needed. I was extremely impressed that he gave me invaluable information when my problems were not in the remit of his company. Thank you.