"It's a modern home in good condition"
A standard, conventional house or flat — roughly post-1930, not heavily altered, no obvious problems. A Level 2 gives you clear traffic-light ratings and the reassurance to proceed.
From £420 Level 2 details →
RICS home surveys come in three levels, plus specialist options for new builds and one-off defects. Compare them side by side and find the right fit for your property in a couple of minutes.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) defines three survey levels. The deeper the level, the more thorough the inspection — and the more it tells you about an older, larger or more unusual property. As a rule of thumb: modern home in good order, a Level 2; older, larger or altered home, a Level 3; a brand-new build, a snagging survey; one specific worry, a specific defect survey.
The three RICS survey levels at a glance.
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A standard, conventional house or flat — roughly post-1930, not heavily altered, no obvious problems. A Level 2 gives you clear traffic-light ratings and the reassurance to proceed.
A period property, a listed building, non-standard construction, or a home you plan to renovate. A Level 3 explains every defect and how to fix it — buy with your eyes open.
A new home from a developer. An independent snagging survey catalogues every defect — checked against NHBC standards — so the builder puts them right under warranty.
Damp, a crack, suspected movement, timber decay or a roof problem — or something a previous survey flagged. A specific defect survey diagnoses the cause and the remedy.
A Level 1 (Condition) is a basic overview for newer, standard homes. A Level 2 (HomeBuyer) adds advice, risks and a closer look — the right choice for most conventional properties. A Level 3 (Building) is the most thorough, explaining the cause and repair of every defect on older, larger or altered homes.
No — the best survey is the one that matches the property. Paying for a Level 3 on a modern flat in good order is usually unnecessary, while a Level 1 on a Victorian terrace could miss important issues. Match the level to the age and condition of the home.
For a brand-new build, a snagging survey is the right tool — it focuses on finish quality and developer defects rather than the kind of condition issues a HomeBuyer covers on older homes.
Then you don't need a full survey at all. A specific defect survey investigates a single issue — such as damp or a crack — diagnoses the cause and sets out the remedy with rough costs.
Yes. Tell us about the property when you request an instant quote and we'll recommend the survey that fits — no pressure to take a more expensive option than you need.
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