RICS BUILDING SURVEYS LEVEL 3

Confusingly still sometimes referred to as a Structural Survey, an RICS Home Survey Level 3 (Full Building Survey) is the most detailed property inspection and report available from members of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA) or Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

RICS Regulated Property Surveys in Manchester

Save money on your property purchase in Manchester with an RICS building survey. Knowing the property’s faults and what repairs are required will allow you determine what price you should be purchasing the property for.

What is an RICS Building Survey?

More commonly referred to as a Full Structural Survey or Level 3 Survey, an RICS Full Building Survey is the most comprehensive type of survey available for purchasing property in Manchester or anywhere else in the United Kingdom.

Experienced Manchester Chartered Surveyors will carry out a detailed internal and external examination of the property. They will then deliver the results of their thorough scrutiny in a handy traffic light system that indicates the condition of the various components of the property. A Building Survey can focus on any specific concerns you may have about the property.

Building surveyors can help you by inspecting and identifying major defects in your property. They can give you some very important information. First, they’ll tell you what visible defects exist, the repair tool used and their current condition. Second, they can give you a estimate figure on what it would cost to make the necessary repairs so you can budget and plan your finances accordingly.

Industry guidelines recommend this type of survey if your property is large, old, dilapidated or in some other way unusual. Full Building Surveys are also preferred if you are planning to carry out any significant renovation or extension work.

Do I need a Building Survey?

At Manchester Surveyors, we believe that RICS level 3 surveys are the best choice of survey if you want a comprehensive understanding of what you are purchasing, irrespective of the age or style of the property.

A comprehensive, tailored building survey offers detailed advice on construction type, condition, structural safety and required repairs. Our panel of CIOB, RPSA and RICS building surveyors provide a detailed inspection of the building. Where accessible, the surveyor will inspect the entire building, including the roof void and underneath the flooring (if a basement if present). Every visible area will be checked

If a house has survived decades, why would it need a survey?
Every house requires maintenance, and it is impossible to know what past residents may have done to the property. They may have performed the essential tasks of keeping the basic structure sound, but the evidence of hidden trouble might well have been covered up in the process. You can’t always see the nature of hidden damp, for example, or the real condition of any timber under protective layers. Without a survey you can not exactly determine the true condition of the house.

Is an RICS Home Survey Level 3 (Building Survey) suitable?

Although many reports for homebuyers can be tailored to meet the needs of a particular property, a Full Building Survey is carefully crafted to accommodate the structure of buildings designed in particular ways. That means it’s well suited to inspect any oddities or architectural flourishes in the property you’re thinking to buy. So, if you’re considering to purchase particular properties such as a Listed Building, a building from before the 19th Century, or something with quirky features or non-standard construction (like a timber-framed home), then it would better to have a survey done that covers all the bases and conducts a cursory review of the plumbing and electrical systems. 

In the case of older homes that have been modified, extended, or otherwise modernized, surveyors will examine the different parts of the home to assess how well they function together. Adding traditional materials (such as lime and brick) to modern fittings (like glass, PVC, and concrete) can create issues with components both inside and outside of the home. Surveyors will look for evidence of problems in these areas when they inspect a home.

Building Survey Report Recommendations

You will receive a report with guidance not only in respect of visible faults, but also potential hidden defects. It specifies the types and repairs required, the property maintenance expected, and key environmental hazards. 

It may also pinpoint matters for the attention of your legal adviser (e.g. potential planning concerns). The information will be thorough, relevant to the property type and meet your requirements.

Building Survey v Structural Engineer

You can instruct either an RICS Chartered Building Surveyor or Structural Engineer to report on a property’s condition. The former is usually for a general inspection of a property you are looking to buy and the latter is ordinarily for a specific structural matter you need to review (e.g. chimney support).

First Time Buyer Building Survey in Manchester

If you are purchasing for the first time, your surveyor will provide you with a building survey which will cover technical structural findings in straightforward, Plain English terms.

What is included in a Full Building Survey?

The Full Building Survey report includes the following:

  • inspection of all accessible parts of the main building and outbuildings
  • major and minor fault assessment and the implications
  • speculation on potential hidden defects
  • structural review of the property (including timber)
  • checking services (gas, electricity, hot water, heating, etc.)
  • construction materials description (damp proofing, drainage and insulation)
  • testing for damp the floors, ceilings and perimeter walls
  • additional option of reinstatement cost build and market valuation on request

Difference between Homebuyer Survey and Full Building Survey?

The surveyor will go into more detail on defects, repairs and maintenance than a Level 2 Homebuyer Survey would. Unlike a Homebuyer survey, it will include information on possible and hidden problems and will go into full repair and maintenance options. The cost of a building survey will depend on the age, size and value of the property to be surveyed.

What will be inspected by the surveyor?

The building analysis is a visual survey in which your surveyor will examine all visible parts of the construction. What is visible will be examined – all things considered. A Home Survey Report shows you visible defects and discusses potentially hidden ones. The reports will likewise instruct you on the types of defect and associated repairs required for the upkeep of the property to be in great condition. The survey clarifies how the imperfections and repairs are influenced by the period and the development type of the property.

What is in a Building Survey Report?

The inspection is a comprehensive inspection of all accessible parts of the property and its outbuildings. In a level three survey, surveyors will even remove floor loose coverings and light furniture, where possible.

The survey will identify the major and minor problems with the property. Typically there will be a section devoted to each part of the building; roof, walls, joinery, heating, plumbing, wiring and so on. Each section will begin by giving the reader a clue to where they will find the problem areas. Not all the areas will be alarming; some are of concern only if the defect is severe, but the surveyor will mark these up as well as the significant faults.

Condition Ratings in a Building Survey Report

The surveyor will usually describe methods of repair and they are required to give some comment on timescale. Condition rating would be included: what needs immediate address, is deteriorating slowly, or is in good condition.

What Checks are done by a Building Surveyor?

There will be a brief note of any non-invasive checks for damp, rot or woodworm in the timbers. There will be a series of checks on ventilation, insulation and other items. In a level three survey, there is also commentary on drainage and any breaches of thermal insulation. With each element of the report, your surveyor will need to give his opinion on the implications of any defects – is it serious or could it be serious?

Recommendations of Repair in a Building Survey

If that recommendation is ‘rectify now’, then the repair options will be listed below; specifying options for repair and room for additional comments. An independent surveyor gives advice on industry standard approaches to fixing issues without excessive spend. The surveyor will also give advice on future maintenance and what will happen if repairs and maintenance are not carried out – so this bit is worth reading!

Legal Information in a Building Survey

Your surveyor will outline the legal implications of buying the property, such as the effect of public footpaths, and changes made to properties in a Conservation Area, so the scope of this section will depend on your instruction.

Valuations & Reinstatement Cost

You may want a market valuation carried out separately to assess whether the property is worth the asking price. You will also need a reinstatement build cost valuation for insurance purposes. Your mortgage provider will also need this.

Who should have a Building Survey?

Industry guidelines recommend building surveys for properties that are large, old, have some disrepair or unusual features.

Building surveys are also recommended if you plan to do any significant renovations or extensions.

Do I need a Home Buyer Survey?

For modern homes that are in fair condition and are built using standard construction techniques, then a Home Buyer survey is always an option. If you want the extra level of in-depth inspection and reporting, then a Full Building Survey is preferred.

Home Buyer Survey v Full Building Survey

A Full Building Survey is more detailed: it’s extra tailored to the property your surveyor has been inspecting and it comes with additional advice on the visible faults on the property as well as potential hidden faults your surveyor suspects might be present. Photographs throughout show you what has been found.

Both the Home Buyer and Full Building Survey reports describe the kind of repairs needed and in what order you should get the repairs done, as well as what kind of property maintenance measures will be required.

Is a Valuation included in a Home Survey?

Reinstatement costs and market valuations are included in a HomeBuyer Report but not a Full Building Survey. This is because a Full Building Survey is more focused on the building condition in contrast to the HomeBuyer report. You can, however, request a building survey with a valuation, which would enable you to negotiate on the price of the property. 

Case Study: Manchester

Recently, a group of surveyors carried out an RICS Home Survey Level 3 (previously known as an RICS Building Survey) with a reinstatement estimate in Manchester. They are based locally and were able to use their knowledge of the Manchester area to give sound advice to both homeowners and potential purchasers about the specific qualities of property in that region.

Approximately 60 years ago, a 5-bedroom detached house was constructed. It was built sometime in the 1960s. The recent buyers of this property considered it to be generally sound and without any major defects—although they did spot several minor issues (such as the existing windows and doors, which could be improved quite a lot by installing uPVC replacements). The same goes for the pipe insulation. That definitely could be improved, and several other minor issues and potential upgrades were mentioned in the report.

At this point, none of these issues has any impact on how well the property functions, but it is recommended the appropriate actions must be taken now to ensure these matters do not develop into any major issue that might lead to a broader impact on the building and its occupants in the future. The experts made a few recommendations, some of which are aimed at preventing damage to the building while it’s in the current condition, which will make the building more secure and more valuable. 

Chartered Surveyors and Structural Engineers in Manchester

Our panel of Chartered Building Surveyors are qualified and/or accredited under regulatory bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA) or Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): this means the survey reports are thorough. In addition, we have a panel of Chartered Structural Engineers for more specific defects needing investigation.

The surveyors are 100% independent and the reports are accepted by all financial institutions and insurance companies.

Surveys of Commercial Property

If you’re thinking of acquiring, leasing, subletting, disposing of, or altering commercial premises in Manchester, you would be well advised to locate a surveyor skilled in the nuances of commercial building surveying – should you spot a defect in a commercial building you can use that information to negotiate an asking price for the property that’s considerably lower than what the seller originally wanted, or you can talk your way out of a bad deal altogether. 

Our Manchester-based team of RICS-compliant commercial building surveyors is equipped to handle matters throughout Manchester.

Contact

Our team prioritizes client care above all else. We look forward to being in touch with you so you can instruct a surveyor in Manchester, London, Bristol, Birmingham or Cardiff. You can reach out to us easily. Just fill out our form, and we’ll get back to you with a free quote for your survey. All our surveyors are qualified as members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and we are one of the UK’s leading providers of building survey and valuation services:

The property survey you commission will be carried out by an accredited professional. Your chartered surveyor will be a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), or will belong to some other industry-standard professional body. Rest assured; you will receive highest quality of professional service for your survey.

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