Building Surveyors & Construction Management Consultants

RICS Home Survey Level 2

Formerly known as the HomeBuyer Report

The level 2 report is our most popular product covering all the features of a level 1 report, however, it is a more detailed product and advises on aspects not covered by the Level 1 service. The inspection is more extensive and like the level 3 report, involves a full external and internal inspection from top to bottom. The report gives more information regarding the property’s construction and condition.

Additional advice is also given about repairs, who to approach to undertake the repairs, and areas of the property which will require ongoing maintenance.

This service is for clients who are seeking a professional opinion at an economic price.

It is, therefore, less comprehensive than a Home Survey Level 3 service.

The report assesses the general condition of the main interior and exterior elements of a property. This intermediate level of service includes a more extensive visual inspection of the building, its services, and grounds, but without tests being undertaken.

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RICS Home Survey Level Two

This includes:

Roof Inspection (paying particular attention to any potential damage or decay) from ground level, with binoculars.
Exposed surfaces and floors (unfixed hatches/panels or floorboards).
Concealed chamber areas normally opened or used by the occupiers, if safe to do so (typical examples here include roof spaces, basements, and cellars).
Windows (one per elevation & one of each different type).
The surveyor will also consider any obvious cases of damp, subsidence, or rot.

The report will apply ‘condition ratings’ to the parts of the building:

Condition Rating 1 – Routine Maintenance Only – No Repairs Required.
Condition Rating 2 – Non-Critical Repairs Are Required.
Condition Rating 3 – Critical Repairs Are Required.

A RICS Home Survey Level 2 report does NOT include:

An EPC certificate, but they will contain a review of the existing certificate and major differences will be highlighted.

Where our surveyor is unable to reach a conclusion with reasonable confidence, we will recommend that further investigations should be made.

This level of service is unlikely to suit:

Complex buildings e.g., those that have been extensively extended and altered.
Unique or older historic properties – although Home Survey Level 2 services may be appropriate for some older buildings, the decision will depend on our surveyor’s proven competence and knowledge and the nature of the building itself. For example, a Home Survey Level 2 report on homes with traditional timber frames or those built much before 1850, is likely to be inconclusive and be of little use to the client.
Properties in neglected condition. In such cases, a Home Survey Level 2 service will often result in numerous referrals for further investigations, an outcome that many can find disappointing. However, if you are planning to carry out extensive repairs and refurbishment work in the future, our surveyor will give advice on suitable additional services.

This level of service suits a broader range of conventionally built properties, including houses, flats or bungalows that have been constructed from common building materials.

Home Survey Standard 22 RICS Professional Statement – Effective from 1 March 2021