A RICS Home Survey provides an important assessment of a property’s condition, but it is not a guarantee that every defect within the building will be discovered.
Understanding the limitations of the inspection is just as important as understanding what the survey covers.
At Stokemont, we provide both Level 2 and Level 3 Home Surveys, as well as comprehensive Commercial Building Surveys.
This means we can support a wide range of property requirements, whether you are purchasing a home, investing in a commercial property or simply looking for a clear understanding of a building’s condition before committing.
You can obtain an instant survey quotation using our online quote feature.
If you are happy to proceed, you can also book the survey directly online. From there, we will take care of the next steps, including liaising with the seller and estate agent to arrange access and progress the survey through to inspection and reporting.
Does a survey involve destructive investigation?
No. A standard home survey is primarily visual. Surveyors do not normally remove finishes, lift floorboards, dismantle fittings or open up concealed parts of the building.
As a result, defects hidden behind walls, floors, ceilings or other finishes may not be identified.
Does a survey include specialist testing?
Not automatically. A home survey should not be confused with specialist testing or investigation.
For example, a survey does not normally include:
- Electrical installation testing
- Gas safety testing
- Drainage CCTV surveys
- Asbestos surveys
- Intrusive damp investigations
- Specialist timber surveys
- Detailed structural calculations
Where appropriate, the surveyor may recommend that one of these investigations is undertaken.
Does a survey confirm legal matters?
No. A building survey is not a substitute for legal conveyancing.
Your solicitor or conveyancer should investigate matters such as title, covenants, rights of way, planning documentation and other legal issues.
Similarly, a surveyor’s observations regarding a boundary should not automatically be treated as a legal determination of the property’s ownership.
What if part of the property cannot be inspected?
A surveyor can only report upon areas that can reasonably and safely be inspected.
Obstructions, locked areas, fragile roofs, inaccessible roof voids, tenant belongings or other restrictions may prevent inspection of particular elements.
These limitations should be made clear within the report.
Why are these limitations important?
It is easy to assume that a “full survey” means every component of a property has been tested.
That is not the case.
The value of a professional survey is in the surveyor’s ability to inspect the accessible building elements, recognise defects and potential risks, explain their significance and recommend further investigation where necessary.
Stokemont’s advice
A RICS Home Survey should be viewed as an important part of the property-buying process, rather than a substitute for every other form of investigation.
If your survey identifies a potential problem requiring specialist assessment, it is generally better to investigate it before committing to the purchase rather than discovering the issue afterwards.
If you are unsure what a RICS Home Survey includes, speak to Stokemont before instructing your survey.
