A structural surveyor performs much the same function as a building surveyor. They undertake appraisals of the condition of the built environment and provide guidance—often in the form of written reports—concerning significant defects and risks associated with them.
Their work may focus on residential buildings, but many structural surveyors also assess public and commercial properties. The reports that structural surveyors produce document not only what they found during the inspection but also what they deduced about the construction methods and materials used to make the building.
Notting Hill chartered building surveyors are regulated by RICS or other similar accreditation bodies such as CIOB or RPSA. This makes our work more standardised and ensures that we follow rules and guidelines that make surveying better for the public.
If you are committed to purchasing a property, it is essential to ascertain whether there are any structural issues. For this purpose, hiring a structural surveyor is advisable. A residential structural survey will highlight any apparent visual structural defects present at the time of inspection and is usually conducted before acquiring a property. Essentially, the term “structural survey” is interchangeable with “Building Survey.” Both types of surveys cover the following:
When you purchase a property, it is crucial to uncover any hidden issues. This is where a Chartered Surveyor, a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Chartered institute of Building (CIOB) or Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA) comes into their own, as he/she can undertake a Building Survey, report on defects, structural problems and any likely expenditure that might be required in the future as result of the condition of the property.
A full building survey or a level 3 building survey is a comprehensive inspection of a property that you are thinking of buying, particularly if it is an older, larger, or run-down property. It is a more thorough inspection than the homebuyer report, which is for standard properties.
The types of properties necessitate different approaches because what each type of property requires structurally is different, and with the good survey report that you get after the inspection, you can negotiate the purchase price if there are repairs that need to be done.
Whenever you are purchasing a property, it is essential to have a qualified Building Surveyor carry out a thorough inspection. At a minimum, you should secure a Level 2 RICS HomeBuyer Survey for any house you are considering. This upfront investment can save you from unforeseen headaches and expenses that may crop up once the property is yours. The services offered by our panel of Notting Hill RICS surveyors can prove invaluable. They include:
If you are acquiring a building that is older, more valuable, or has been extensively modified—or if you are planning on making some major changes to the property—a Level 3 Building Survey is in your best interest. This is a detailed report that gives you a full breakdown of the property, its history, and its condition, along with advice on repairs and potential maintenance issues that might arise in the near future.
If you are purchasing a Notting Hill property that is relatively new or conventional and was built around 1960 or later, using standard materials and methods, you may get by with an RICS HomeBuyer Report. However, a newish or conventional Notting Hill property really ought to be examined by a qualified/experienced building surveyor. In the case of a HomeBuyer Level 2 survey being performed, this type of survey ensures that any works required to remedy problems with the property will be flagged and recorded, so you are made aware of them.
The term “Full Building Survey” used to be described as a “Structural Survey.” The two names are used interchangeably and essentially mean the same thing. Visible and otherwise hidden defects in a property will be commented on during a building or structural survey. The report’s focus is mainly on the property’s structural condition and on what might be regarded as serious or urgent. The surveyor takes the property’s integrity into account and comments on the causes of various issues, which could affect that integrity.
As stated previously, if you need a “Full Structural Survey,” you generally need a Full Building Survey. However, if there is a specific aspect of the property you need to uncover—in many cases, because you suspect cracking damage or subsidence—you might instead want to get a Structural Engineer’s Report.
Typically, a Building Survey is carried out to the same exacting standards by Chartered Surveyors from RICS, CIOB, or RPSA. By contrast, a Structural Engineer Survey is carried out by a Structural Engineer.
An additional distinction is that a building survey encompasses the entire structure and surrounding environment, while a structural engineer survey has a much narrower focus—that of suspected structural problems.
Home buyers usually commission building surveys to understand the condition of a property. These surveys illuminate any necessary repairs or maintenance the home may require. Structural engineer surveys, on the other hand, tend to concentrate on one specific issue or suspected area of structural weakness in the home.
If a Structural Engineer Survey is needed after a building has been surveyed, it is typically because the building surveyor has found something that requires a more detailed look. These follow-up surveys are often referred to as Specific Defect Surveys and are mostly focused on an area that the building surveyor has identified as needing attention.
Put differently, when you intend to purchase a property, you first engage a Building Surveyor to carry out a Full Building Survey (also referred to as a Structural Survey). If this survey uncovers any significant risks to the structure itself, you then retain a Structural Engineer to probe more deeply into the problem.
Our panel includes surveyors with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors credentials and structural engineers from the Institution of Structural Engineers. These building experts can carry out a survey of the property and an assessment of its condition and suitability for your purposes. What they do is provide us with the means to give you an informed opinion on whether the property is worth the price being asked.
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!
