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What Are the Differences Between Different Home Surveys
16 July 2024
When it comes to the home buying process there are all kinds of steps that you will need to take, and one of the most significant steps has to be the arranging of a property survey. Initially this can be a little overwhelming, and on first contact you might never know just how in depth the survey is going to go.
In fact, whenever a property is in need of a survey it can be easy to get overwhelmed with the different types of survey you can choose from, and what those surveys are going to be (or not going to be) looking for in your property.
So, if you are looking for someone to come out and survey either a property you own, or a property you are interested in buying, then it might be worthwhile knowing a little more about the differences in surveys, and what you can expect at each level.
Need to arrange a Damp & Timber Survey?
What Is RICS?
First off, you might want to know what RICS is. RICS stands for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the ‘World’s leading professional body for qualifications and standards in land, property, infrastructure and construction.’
RICS-qualified surveyors are specialised in providing valuations based on a property’s condition and any present structural defects. Essentially, a RICS chartered surveyor is qualified in their work, and their word will carry the weight with it to sway mortgage brokers, banks, and other lenders on the value of a property.
You can be sure that the findings of a RICS surveyor are well founded, and acting on them whether you are in possession of the property, or just after a purchase is bound to improve the overall condition of the property.
What is a Level One RICS Home Survey?
The level one RICS Survey is the most basic level of survey that RICS qualified surveyors can provide.
It will give you a general overview of a properties health, and it will mention certain significant issues that the surveyor might encounter on their visit, but it won’t go into specifics.
The level one RICS survey report is presented in a traffic light system. Anything collected under green is classified as ‘elements with no current issues’. Issues collected under orange are classified as ‘Elements that require attention but are not serious or urgent’, and anything collected under red is classified as ‘Elements that require urgent attention.’
You will also get an energy efficiency rating, general observations on the interior and exterior of the property, any risks to the property, and issues presented for legal advisors.
This is not an invasive or destructive survey, as we said, this is the most basic form of RICS home survey.
This level of survey is often not recommended as it does not meet the requirements of what mortgage brokers etc look for during the purchasing / selling process. However, it may be suitable in examples where the property in question is quite modern, of standard design, and kept in good condition.
What is a Level Two RICS Home Survey (RPSA Home Condition Survey)?
A level two RICS survey is perhaps the most common survey requested throughout the UK when it comes to property surveying.
You can expect to receive everything you would during a Level One RICS Home Survey, with a few extras.
One extra is that the report will include a wider range of listed problems, including issues found like damp and subsidence, whilst providing information on how these problems could effect the property’s value.
The report will also set out the surveyors recommendations on having the problems fixed, and it will also clearly state anything found in the property that doesn’t properly adhere to modern building regulations. You can request the level two survey either with or without a property valuation.
Be aware though, that this survey is non-intrusive. This means that the surveyor isn’t going to be taking skirting off of your walls, be going under furniture, or anything else that might require disturbing the property.
This is worth remembering, as in many cases of condensation, penetrating damp, and wood rot, the damage can be contained underneath floor boards, in the ceiling cavity, or within walls, so you may not get a full picture of the property’s condition.
What is a Level Three RICS Home Survey (RPSA Building Survey)?
Obviously, this is the most in depth version of the RICS home survey.
It includes everything in the previous two tiers, with the additional features of it being an intrusive survey – so the surveyor will indeed check under floorboards etc to survey the state of the property.
The report will include the surveyors findings, the list of problems the surveyor encounters, and any advice the surveyor might have regarding repair and maintenance. You can request to see estimated cost and project timings in the report, but these may not be accurate or reflect the market’s availability.
If damp is found though, you will need to engage with the services of a specialist.
When Would I Need a Damp and Timber Survey?
Lets say that the initial results of your home survey from the RICS surveyor identifies that your property might be presenting signs of a damp problem. It’s at this stage that you may want to engage the services of a surveyor qualified through the Property Care Association so that they can properly investigate the problem.
A damp and timber survey is a much more specialised and specific survey. Whilst the surveyor may well look at the whole property, they are specifically going to be investigating the cause of, spread of, and effect of any damp in the property.
This means, for example, if damp was discovered on the second floor of a property in a home survey, a damp and timber survey would uncover the cause of the damp, the extent to which it has spread through the property, what steps need to be taken to treat the cause of the damp and if any remedial works need to be carried out on the timber in the property as a result.
Just like any home survey, the results will be sent to you in the form of a report, which will contain the surveyor’s findings in full, alongside a specified course of action to put a stop to the damp in question and restore any damage that might have occurred.
Of course, this kind of survey can happen at any time – either before purchasing a property, before putting it up for sale, or even just to check on a property’s health during your ownership.
All you need to do to arrange a damp and timber survey with our team is give us a call on 0800 288 8660, or fill in one of our online contact forms.
