RICS Level 2 Survey

Gowers Surveyors offer a full range of home surveys by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Whether you are investing in a family home or a rental property, a RICS Level 2 Survey, previously known as a homebuyer survey, may be the right choice for your needs.

What is a RICS Survey Level 2 Survey?

The RICS Level 2 Survey is the mid-range survey that sits between a basic Level 1 Survey and a comprehensive RICS Level 3 Survey.

This report is suitable if you’re buying a conventional house, flat or bungalow built within the last 70 years from common building materials and in reasonable condition but it gives more information, including repair advice. It includes:

• All the features in the Level 1 Survey;
• A list of problems that the surveyor considers may affect the property;
• Advice on repairs and ongoing maintenance;
• Issues that need to be investigated to prevent serious damage or dangerous conditions;
• Legal issues that need to be addressed before completing your purchase; and Information on location, local environment and the recorded energy efficiency (where available).
• A valuation and assessment of reinstatement costs if required as an optional extra

The site visit carried out for a RICS Level 2 Survey (homebuyer survey) is based on a non-invasive investigation of all visible and accessible parts of the property. This includes internal and external areas, but does not include locked areas, concealed spaces, moving furniture or disturbing decorative elements.

The report provides information on all elements of the property and includes issues such as structural movement, damp issues, ceilings, walls, floors, electrical and other services etc. It also gives valuable information as to legal concerns such as boundaries and access, which may need checking further by your conveyancer.

The RICS Level 2 Survey follows a clear, easy-to-use templated structure. A traffic light system indicates the urgency of each defect that is found, with a summary of these given at the start of the report.

When is a Level 2 Survey the right choice?

The RICS Level 2 Survey, formerly known as a homebuyer survey or report, is suitable for the majority of modern UK homes. It is designed for properties that are of conventional construction and in a reasonable state of repair. This typically applies to homes built in the last 70 years or so, though it is always best to make a judgment on a case by case basis.

New builds and recently built properties that are still under warranty by organisations such as the NHBC, LABC or Premier Guarantees, may require nothing more than a RICS Level 1 Survey. Non-standard homes, old properties or listed buildings are more likely to benefit from a more detailed RICS Level 3 Survey. If you’re not sure which survey is the right choice for your property, take a look at our handy comparison table or ask one of our expert surveyors to advise.

Moving house involves a significant investment of time, money and effort. While it might be tempting to avoid the additional expense of a property survey, a detailed report by a qualified independent professional is undoubtedly the best way to understand the condition of a building before you buy it. With the full facts at your disposal, you are empowered to make an informed decision about how to proceed with the transaction.

Does a RICS Level 2 Survey include a valuation?

At Gowers Surveyors, you have the option to include a market valuation of the property, as well as a reinstatement cost assessment for building insurance purposes, in your survey.

The valuation given is based on the current condition as found during the site visit. The value may be lower than the agreed purchase price if expensive repairs are found to be needed. Should this be the case, you would be perfectly within your rights to approach the seller with a proposal to lower the price or ask them to carry out the necessary repairs before exchanging contracts.