RICS Level 3 Building Surveys In London
Buying a property is a big decision, and understanding its condition before you commit can help you avoid unexpected problems and costs further down the line.
A RICS Level 3 Building Survey is the most detailed type of RICS home survey. It provides a thorough assessment of the property’s construction and condition, identifying defects and providing advice on repairs, maintenance and any further investigations that may be needed.
A Level 3 building survey is particularly suitable for older, period, listed, altered or extended properties, buildings in poor condition, or where you are planning significant alterations. It can also be appropriate where you have specific concerns about a property.
Not sure whether you need a Level 2 homebuyer or Level 3 building survey? Our team can help you decide which is most appropriate for the property you’re buying.
Why choose Barnes and Barnes for your level 3 building survey?
Barnes & Barnes has been surveying London properties since 2005. Our experienced RICS Chartered Surveyors understand the wide variety of properties found across London and the construction methods and defects commonly associated with them.
We pride ourselves on great customer service. You’ll have a dedicated, friendly team throughout, and we’ll ask about any particular concerns before the inspection.
Our aim is to give you clear, practical information to help you make an informed decision about the property you’re buying. We also offer a post-survey call, giving you the opportunity to discuss the key findings with your surveyor, ask questions and understand what they could mean for your purchase before you receive the full report.
What does a RICS Level 3 Building Survey Include?
A Level 3 Building Survey gives you a detailed assessment of the property’s construction and condition, identifying significant defects and helping you understand what they could mean for you as a buyer.
Our surveyor considers the age, construction and condition of the property, together with any alterations and any particular concerns you’ve raised. Where we identify an issue, we’ll explain what we’ve found, the likely cause and what we recommend you do next.
The report also highlights future maintenance requirements, further investigations that may be needed and matters you may want your solicitor to investigate before you commit to the purchase.
You can see the level of detail we provide in our Sample Level 3 Building Survey Report.
You can also add a market valuation, for a small additional fee. This is an accurate idea of the market value of a property based on the survey’s findings. As well as a market valuation, you can add a reinstatement cost assessment, for a small additional fee. This is the estimated cost of rebuilding a property in the event of a total loss or substantial damage to a property that requires demolition and rebuilding.
Our experience surveying London properties
London’s older properties can present particular issues, especially where they have been extended, converted or altered over many years.
Our surveyors regularly encounter issues such as structural movement, damp and water ingress, ageing roofs and chimneys, deterioration of traditional materials and alterations that require further investigation.
For example, on a recent survey of an older London property, our surveyor identified signs of historic movement, damp in several areas, defects to the roof and rainwater goods, and previous alterations that required further legal checks. The report explained the likely causes and set out the further investigations the buyer should undertake before proceeding.
FAQs
Is a RICS Level 3 Building Survey Right For Me?
We recommend the RICS level 3 building survey if:
- The property is in poor condition, or
- It is more than 100 years old, or
- It has been built using unconventional methods or materials, or
- It has already been significantly altered or extended, or
- You want to make major alterations to the property
For newer, more conventional properties in reasonable condition, a RICS Level 2 Home Survey may be more appropriate.
If you aren’t sure if the RICS level 3 Building Survey is right for you, visit our RICS Property Survey Comparison here or call our team on 0207 737 7243.
Why Should I Get A RICS Level 3 Building Survey?
A Level 3 Building Survey can help you understand the condition of a property before you commit to buying it. It can identify defects, repairs and further investigations that may be needed, as well as potential future maintenance costs.
Having this information before you exchange contracts can help you make a more informed decision. Depending on the findings, you may decide to proceed as planned, renegotiate the purchase price to reflect significant work required, or reconsider whether the property is right for you.
What is the difference between a Level 2 and Level 3 Survey?
A RICS Level 2 Home Survey is generally suited to more conventional properties in reasonable condition. A Level 3 Building Survey provides a more detailed assessment and is particularly suitable for older, listed, altered or unusual properties, or where you have concerns about the property’s condition.
If you’re unsure which survey you need, our team can talk through the property with you and help you choose the most appropriate option.
How Much Does A RICS Building Survey Cost?
The RICS Building Survey starts from £1,000 + VAT. The final cost depends largely on the size of the property and its condition.
How Long Does A RICS Building Survey Take?
We know you want to know about the property as soon as possible; that’s why we offer a post-survey call, so you can talk to the surveyor about the initial findings, usually within 24 hours.
The full RICS Building Survey Report is usually available within 10 working days from the survey.
Do you include an inspection of gas and electrics as part of the survey?
An electrical or gas safety check isn’t typically included in your standard homebuyer or building survey, but the surveyor will give you an overall view of the electrics and gas. Services are generally hidden within the construction of the property. This means that we can only inspect the visible parts of the available services, and we do not carry out specialist tests.
We would always recommend testing these services to ensure your safety and peace of mind. If you would like us to help arrange tests with our tried and trusted contractors then please get in touch with a member of our team who would be delighted to assist.
Where do you carry out Level 3 Building Surveys?
Call us now for a free no-obligations quote:
