Residential Property
Choosing the right report for your situation is essential. The following reports are available for buying or valuing residential property:
The RICS Home Survey – Level 1 (Available in Berkshire Office areas only)
- Suitable if you are buying a newly built conventional house, flat or bungalow, built from common building materials. This service includes a a basic inspection, clear ‘traffic light’ ratings of the condition of different parts of the building, services, and the grounds, showing problems that may require varying degrees of attention; a summary of risks to the building grounds, and an assessment of the relative importance of the defects and problems.
- No tests of the building fabric or services are undertaken. The RICS Home Survey – Level 1 does not include advice on repairs or ongoing maintenance and it does not include a valuation. See the RICS hyperlink above for a full description of the service.
The RICS Home Survey – Level 2 (survey only) (Available in all of our areas). Formerly ‘Homebuyers Report‘.
- Suitable if you need intermediate information whilst buying or selling a conventional house, flat or bungalow, built from common building materials and in reasonable condition, on a property less then 100 years old.
- The focus is on assessing the general condition e.g. subsidence, damp, structurally sound. A more extensive inspection of the building, its services and grounds, but still without tests. Concealed areas normally opened or used by the occupiers are inspected if it is safe to do so (typical examples include roof spaces, basements and cellars). The report objectively describes the condition of the different elements and provides an assessment of the relative importance of the defects/problems. See the RICS hyperlink above for a full description of the service.
The RICS Home Survey – Level 2 (survey and valuation) (Available all our areas). As the RICS Home Survey – Level 2 above, but includes:
- the surveyor’s professional opinion on the ‘market value’ of the property
- an insurance reinstatement figure for the property
- a list of problems that the surveyor considers may affect the value of the property.
- See the RICS hyperlink above for a full description of the service.
The RICS Home Survey – Level 3 (Available in all of areas) Formerly “Building Survey”. Choose this report if dealing with a large, older or run-down property, a building that is unusual or altered, or if you’re planning major works. The most detailed survey level about the structure and fabric of the property, this service includes:
- a detailed visual inspection of the building, its services and the grounds and is more extensive than a survey level two e.g. every window and door are checked
- Concealed areas normally opened or used by the occupiers are inspected if it is safe to do so (typical examples include roof spaces, basements and cellars)
- Although the services are not tested, they are observed in normal operation – in other words, they are switched on or off and/or operated where the occupier has given permission and it is safe to do so. The report objectively describes the form of construction and materials used for different parts of the property. It describes the condition and provides an assessment of the relative importance of the defects/problems. Additionally, it should:
- describe the identifiable risk of potential or hidden defects in areas not inspected
- propose the most probable cause(s) of the defects based on the inspection
- outline the likely scope of any appropriate remedial work and explain the likely consequences of non-repair;
- The surveyor may also be able to provide an estimate of costs for identified repairs if agreed with you in advance.
- See the RICS hyperlink above for a full description of the service.
Red Book Valuations are undertaken for:
- Shared-ownership schemes e.g. housing associations
- Shared-equity schemes e.g. Target HCA/Homes England
- Tax Purposes e.g. Capital Gains, Inheritance (Probate)
- Immigration
- Charities Act
- Marketing (Sales/puchases)
Lease extensions/Purchase of Freeholds Valuations and Calculations under Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (as Amended by the Housing Act 1996 and the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002)
The "Description of the RICS Homebuyer Service" and "Choosing Between Surveys" downloadable information sheets presented on this page may be useful in choosing the correct survey. If you have further queries, please contact our qualified surveyors who are happy to provide free advice about the different surveys available.
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Contact us
by email: info@allensmithsurveyors.com
or call any local office
on the telephone numbers below:
Kent (Head Office):
Senekol
Southsea Avenue
Minster-on-Sea
Kent ME12 2LU
South London Office:
Old Bank House
363 Hither Green Lane
Lewisham
London SE13 6TJ
Berkshire Office:
12a Southview Park
Marsack Street
Reading
Oxfordshire RG4 5AF
Essex Office:
282 Leigh Road
Leigh-on-Sea
Essex SS9 1BW