Structural Surveys

What is a Structural Surveyor?

A structural surveyor is just another name for a building surveyor. They look at the general condition of buildings—private houses or public and commercial buildings. 

A structural surveyor might be employed or contracted by an individual or organisation to look at a specific property, and the structural surveyor will then develop, with the aid of a team or assistant, a report to assess the condition of the building. 

In effect, a structural surveyor looks at what is right and wrong with a property in respect of construction, architecture, and engineering.

Full Structural Survey in Manchester

If you are acquiring real estate and want to ascertain whether any structural issues exist, you should think about engaging a structural surveyor. A residential structural survey will detail any apparent visual structural problems present at the time of the inspection. You can have it conducted either before or after (typically, it is done before) the acquisition of a property. The term “structural survey” essentially has the same meaning as “Building Survey” and both are comprehensive examinations that cover the following external and internal features of a building:

  • Damp (e.g. rising or penetrating damp, condensation, etc.)
  • Timber defects (e.g. dry/wet rot, woodworm, etc.)
  • Subsidence (i.e. progressive movement) 
  • Safety hazards
  • Services (heating, gas, hot water, electrics, etc.)

When purchasing real estate, the paramount task is to uncover any concealed issues. This is the precise moment when it is most advantageous to engage the services of a Chartered Surveyor—a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), or the Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA). These professionals are well qualified to execute a Building Survey. They can detail defects, note structural issues, and inform the buyer of potential future expenditures associated with the property’s poor condition.

A Structural Survey used to be referred to as such, but now it is known as the Level 3 Full Building Survey. Therefore, Building Survey and Structural Survey mean the same thing.

Consequently, there are two principal types of survey one can commission when buying a property in the UK: a Full Building Survey or a Homebuyer Report. A Full Building Survey is essentially a ‘Structural Survey’ that is particularly suitable for larger, older, or more rundown properties. A Homebuyer Report, on the other hand, is for properties that are more standard in nature. In any case, proper surveys obtain useful information and even help as you negotiate on what the property might cost to bring it into acceptable condition

Do You Require a Structural Survey?

Whenever someone purchases property, a building surveyor is required to perform a detailed assessment of that property. For people who are buying houses, at a minimum, they should undertake a Level 2 – RICS HomeBuyer Survey. Otherwise, they could end up with surprise problems and expenses not too long after assuming full ownership of the property. Our panel of Manchester RICS surveyors also provides a range of other services and could give you some really good advice:

  • Project managing
  • Planning applications
  • Building design and repair
  • Dilapidation claims 
  • Insurance claim
  • Maintenance
  • Property legislation
  • Building regulations compliance

For properties or buildings that are older, pricier, have undergone extensive remodeling, or where major work is planned, an RICS Building Survey is appropriate. This report is really something. 

The RICS Building Survey is suitable for certain kinds of properties: those that are older or more costly, those that have undergone extensive modification, and those for which major work is planned. It gives a full account of the property’s history, its current condition, and the sorts of defects that need to be addressed (with various options for the kinds of repairs that could be undertaken). If you obtain this report, you’ll get a lot of detail about any visible problems that exist and, as a separate service, a general indication of what it might cost to address them.

Alternatives to a Structural Survey in Manchester – the HomeBuyer Report

If you are considering the purchase of a property in Manchester that is relatively new (constructed from 1960 onward) and made using conventional construction methods and materials, then you may be able to get by with simply commissioning an RICS HomeBuyer Report. The RICS Chartered Surveyor will examine the property and advise you on any issues that might affect the property’s future saleability (as well as any issues that might affect its immediate habitability). The report itself is straightforward: there is a traffic light system used in rating the issues the surveyor finds with some narrative description of the way in which the building elements were put together.

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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