Menu
Still sometimes confusingly called a Structural Survey, a Home Survey Level 3 is the most comprehensive inspection and report one can get from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) or Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA). It used to be called an RICS Building Survey, and it will cost you slightly more than a Level 1 to 2 report or inspection.
Ensure that you pay the right amount for your property purchase in Notting Hill by making use of an RICS building survey (or one from CIOB/RPSA accredited surveyors). This kind of survey makes the right savings on your property purchase possible because it reveals the faults and what kind of repairs are needed.
The RICS Building Survey is most often known as a “Full Structural” or Level 3 Survey. It is the most in-depth type of survey you can get when buying property in Notting Hill or anywhere else in the UK.
Every part of the property that can be accessed will be looked at closely by Notting Hill Chartered Surveyors. They will look at the construction and the state of the property and will deliver their findings in a simple, three-part system that serves as a light to show the levels of severity. A comprehensive survey can be tailored to your needs if you want the servicemen to pay special attention to any particular areas of concern.
The property surveyors will assess and document any significant defects, both structural and visible, that might need attention. They will describe what repair methods were used to assess the condition of the property and what condition the property was found to be in. They will provide you with very straightforward advice that will encompass what repair(s) are needed, what kinds of professionals can make said repairs, and whether those repairs can be made within a reasonable timeframe. On top of that, they will give you a separate estimate of the cost of those repairs.
If your property is large, old, deteriorating, or otherwise unusual, industry standards suggest having this type of survey done. A Full Building Survey is also preferred if you’re planning any substantial alterations or additions to your property.
At Notting Hill Surveyors, we think that RICS level 3 surveys are the most advantageous for yielding a complete and thorough understanding of any property you may wish to purchase, and this covers all property types and styles, as well as any age.
An all-encompassing, customized building survey presents good information on the kind of construction, its state, structural integrity, and necessary repairs. Our panel of RICS building surveyors carries out a thorough inspection of the structure. If the building is in any way accessible, the inspector ensures that they inspect the entire structure, including spaces most people would consider difficult or uncomfortable to access (like a roof void or a basement) if possible. All visible areas are checked, and if there is any doubt about a particular space being structurally sound, it is reported.
It’s stood the test of time, after all. However, deterioration still occurs and this may require a surveyor to examine accordingly, as they are trained in building pathology. Could the existing owners have ignored damp (or tried to cover it up) for decades? What about timber decay? An inspector can sniff out these hidden problems and give you a better idea of whether your home’s going to make it another hundred years or not.
Although some homebuyer reports can be tailored to the specific needs of your property, a Full Building Survey is the most suitable for a potential purchase. According to RICS, this is the most comprehensive survey you can get and is carried out by a qualified surveyor who will essentially read your property like a book. That is especially good news for you if you are purchasing a historic property built in the late 19th century.
For homes that are older and have already been modernized, extended, or altered in some way, surveyors take a close look at the areas to determine how well the additions work with the original structure. The use of traditional materials (like lime and brick) mixed with modern materials and fittings (like glass, PVC, and concrete) can often cause problems that are not immediately visible.
The report will offer advice not only regarding obvious problems but also about some concealed defects that could affect the building’s integrity. It will identify the types of repairs needed, the kinds of maintenance that the property will require, and significant environmental hazards that could affect the property and its occupants.
It could also highlight issues for your solicitor’s attention (e.g. likely planning problems). The content will be comprehensive, pertinent to the property type, and tailored to your needs.
You can request a condition report on a property from either an RICS Chartered Building Surveyor or a Structural Engineer. The former is typically for a general inspection of a property you’re intending to purchase. The latter is usually involved when there’s a specific structural issue that needs assessing—like whether a chimney is properly supported or not. Both are equally capable of carrying out the task, but on the whole, you might prefer a Building Surveyor because of the way they tend to structure their reports.
If you’re buying your first home, your surveyor will prepare a building survey for you. This survey provides the technical structural findings of the house conveyed in clear, plain English.
The Full Building Survey report includes the following:
When it comes to the detail that the surveyor will go into concerning defects, repairs, and maintenance, the Homebuyer Survey is fairly standard. Full Building Surveys, however, are more refined and go into more detail about possible and likely defects. Repairs and maintenance are covered in more detail. The Survey cost depends on the age, size, and value of the property.
The analysis they undertake is a visual inspection. This means that, for the most part, the building components that can be seen will be looked at and assessed in accordance with the surveyor’s remit. The Home Survey Report will show you the visible defects and then go on to discuss the kinds of partially hidden or totally hidden defects that the surveyor thinks you should be aware of. It will also try to clarify what kinds of repair work need to be done and the nature of the repairs. The survey is effectively a way to consider “defects” and their potential impact on the building.
A Building Survey Report contains the most important information for understanding the condition of a property. The surveyors that undertake the work follow a set procedure. The first part of the report contains a general overview of the property and its surroundings. The second part details the major and minor problems with the property’s components, inside and out. These problems range from serious structural defects to issues with doors or windows that don’t close properly, and everything in between. The report is written in clear English, complemented by diagrams and photographs. If any of the problems found are what a surveyor might consider important, that’s what the report indicates—using clear and unambiguous language.
Surveyors usually use a tick box to indicate methods of repair when drafting a building survey report. They are also required to comment on the timescale of any repairs. A condition rating is typically included: what needs to be addressed immediately, what is in the process of deteriorating but is in reasonable condition, and what has not deteriorated at all.
A building surveyor is responsible for a variety of checks and tests during a building inspection. These could be checks or tests for damp and woodworm, or they could be visual inspections of the building’s structure. In building surveying, there are visual inspections of roofs – checking for tiles and slates (if applicable) and also checking for leadwork (if applicable) and looking at the junctions between roof and wall. If the wall structure has brick in it, the surveyor will visually check for any “spalling” (brick breaking apart visibly) and any bulging (brick failing to hold its place visibly), for example.
If defects need fixing immediately, then the options recommended for this survey specify what to repair and give some idea of how long the problem has existed. For the most part, this survey describes recommended repair approaches that are standard in the industry and that do not require excessive expenditure. Future maintenance is also discussed, including what to expect when the problem being surveyed is not repaired and what to expect with repairs that are made but with questionable methodology.
Your surveyor will explain some of the legal aspects of purchasing the building, covering—in as much or as little detail as you desire, and their implications, but this is subject to your solicitor verifying.
You might consider having a separate market valuation done to determine whether the property’s asking price is warranted. You’ll also need a reinstatement cost valuation for insurance reasons.
RICS’s industry guidelines suggest building surveys for properties that are large, very old, in some disrepair, or have unusual features. Building surveys are also recommended if you plan to do any significant renovations or extensions.
If you’re purchasing a relatively modern home that’s in decent shape and built to ordinary standards, then a Home Buyer Survey is an acceptable choice. If you want the assurance of an inspection and report that are pretty much guaranteed to turn up any issues that might be hidden or just hard to see, then you should go for a Full Building Survey instead.
The Full Building Survey is more detailed; it is more specifically tailored to the property your surveyor would be inspecting. It also comes with more advice on the visible defects found and on the potential hidden defects that they suspect may be present. Your surveyor will illustrate reports with photographs so that you can clearly see what has been discovered. Both the Home Buyer and Full Building Surveys describe the repairs needed, the order in which the repairs should be done, and the kind of “maintenance measures” that will be required to keep the property in good condition.
A HomeBuyer Report does include a market valuation as well as reinstatement costs. However, a Full Building Survey does not. The main reason for the differences in what is and isn’t included in the two types of reports is how focused the reports are on the condition of the property. The Full Building Survey is the most in-depth and comprehensive survey of a property that you can have done.
The recent RICS Home Survey Level 3 (previously called RICS Building Survey) conducted by The Surveyors in Notting Hill used a reinstatement cost estimate to provide meaningful data for local homeowners and would-be property buyers. The survey’s findings are of particular interest because they speak directly to the unique housing makeup of Notting Hill that has, over the last few years, seen a significant uptick in property prices—property prices that tend to reflect the favourable conditions enjoyed by similar commuter towns in the immediate vicinity of Notting Hill.
The house is about 60 years old and is a stand-alone, five-bedroom structure completed in around 1960. The inspecting surveyor did not find any huge problems with the house that would need to be fixed right away. However, they came away feeling that there were many minor or semi-minor things that could be done to the house to make it “better.” Some of the comparatively less significant improvements included pipe insulation and electrical work. On the more significant side, they mentioned that the house could benefit from (a) new windows, and (b) new doors, both in uPVC.
None of these issues currently impact how well the property functions, but it is advisable that action be taken now to ensure it remains comfortable and in good condition, especially in respect of energy efficiency. Some of the recommended measures will prevent further damage; others will enhance the integrity of the property and make it even more valuable.
In Notting Hill, we have panels of professionals from two distinct but related disciplines: Chartered Surveyors and Structural Engineers. The Chartered Building Surveyors are members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or other bodies that carry similar industry-standard accreditations such as CIOB and RPSA. This ensures that the ser vice provided is of the highest possible quality.
The structural engineers are also qualified, experienced and/or chartered. When they carry out inspections, they always ensure that the report is completely independent. Furthermore, all of the reports issued are accepted by lenders and insurance companies.
Looking for a Chartered Surveyor? If you are buying a property, contact us for a building survey. Our panel of CIOB, RPSA and RICS surveyors will help you with the Level 2 or Level 3 property survey you need in Notting Hill. We can also assist you in Red Book Valuations, Party Wall Awards and other services. Reach out to us today for building surveyors, valuers and party wall surveyors in London!
