RICS Regulated & Accredited | Level 2 Homebuyer Report
Know what you're buying before you commit.
RICS Level 2 Homebuyer Report from accredited chartered surveyors. Fast turnaround. Nation wide expertise. Get your quote today.
Is it the same as a mortgage valuation?
Does it include a valuation?
WHAT IS A LEVEL 2 HOMEBUYER REPORT?
What Is a Level 2 Homebuyer Report?
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOUR PROPERTY?
Is a Level 2 the Right Survey for Your Property?
A Level 2 survey suits most conventional homes built after 1900, in reasonable condition, using standard construction methods — houses, flats, bungalows and maisonettes.
Good fit for:
- Properties in standard brick, block or timber frame construction
- Homes in reasonable condition with no obvious major defects
- Buyers wanting a thorough professional assessment without a full structural investigation
Consider a Level 3 Building Survey instead if:
- The property is older, listed, or built with non-standard materials
- There are visible signs of movement, significant damp, or major defects
- The property has been significantly extended, converted or altered
WHAT DOES THE SURVEY COVER?
What the Level 2 Survey Inspects
No repair needed at present.Condition Rating 1 (Green)
Defects requiring attention but not urgent.Condition Rating 2 (Amber)
Serious defects needing immediate action or investigation.Condition Rating 3 (Red)
The inspection covers external elements including the roof, walls, windows and doors; internal elements from the roof space down through every room; a visual check of services including electrics, heating, water and drainage; grounds and boundary structures; legal matters for your solicitor; and environmental risk factors including flood risk and ground stability.
The survey is non-invasive. Fixed floors are not lifted, walls are not drilled into, and furniture is not moved.
WHY INSTRUCT A SURVEY?
Know What You're Buying Before You Exchange
Your solicitor checks the title. Your lender protects its own position. A Level 3 Building Survey is how you find out what the building is actually like before you’re legally committed to buying it.
- Defects identified before exchange, not after completion
- A factual basis to renegotiate price or request remedial works
- Clarity on what specialist investigations are needed before you proceed
Independent. Chartered. Working for You.
independent of lenders and agents, and experienced across London’s period property stock.
- Fully qualified MRICS surveyors — no junior staff
- Independent — we work for you, not the bank or the agent
- 50+ five-star Google reviews
- All London boroughs and nationwide
Once your report is delivered, your surveyor is available to talk you through it. That’s part of the service.
FRICS & MRICS Surveyors
Full membership, not associate level
Red Book valuation standard
Accepted by HMRC, courts and lenders
Professional indemnity insurance
Professional indemnity insurance on every instruction
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
Questions We Get Asked About Level 2 Surveys
Do I actually need a survey if the property looks fine?
This is the question most buyers ask, and it’s the right one to challenge.
A viewing gives you an impression of a property. A survey gives you a professional assessment of its condition. Those are very different things. Most of the defects that end up costing buyers significant money after they move in are not visible on a viewing. Damp is frequently concealed behind decoration. Roof deterioration isn’t visible from the street. Subsidence can be masked with fresh plaster. Drainage problems, timber decay, and inadequate insulation don’t announce themselves at an open day.
A property can look well-presented and still have material defects. In fact, a recently redecorated property sometimes warrants more scrutiny, not less, because cosmetic work can cover underlying issues.
The other point worth making: you are about to commit to one of the largest financial transactions of your life, legally bound at exchange. Your solicitor is checking the title. Your lender is protecting its own position. Nobody in the transaction is assessing the physical condition of the building on your behalf unless you instruct them to. A Level 2 survey is how you do that.
My mortgage lender is doing a valuation. Isn't that enough?
What's the difference between a Level 2 and a Level 3 survey?
A Level 2 Homebuyer Report is a thorough visual inspection of all accessible elements of the property, rated using a traffic light system. It covers everything from the roof to the foundations, flags defects, and identifies anything needing further investigation. It’s the right choice for most conventional properties in reasonable condition built after 1900.
A Level 3 Building Survey goes further. It’s a more detailed investigation of the structure and fabric of the building, with greater depth on how defects have occurred, what the implications are, and what remedial work is likely to involve. Comment more extensively on construction methods, and provide a fuller picture of condition and risk.
A Level 3 is the right call if the property is older, listed, built with non-standard materials, has visible signs of structural movement, has been significantly altered or extended, or if you’re planning major renovation work. It costs more, but for the right property it’s the appropriate level of due diligence.
If you’re not sure which applies to the property you’re buying, call us on 020 4587 3343. We’ll tell you straight.
What happens if the survey finds problems?
First, don’t panic. It’s rare for a Level 2 survey to come back with nothing flagged at all. Most properties have some amber ratings, and that’s normal. The report is designed to give you the full picture, not to alarm you unnecessarily.
What matters is understanding what the findings actually mean for you. Condition Rating 3 items, the red flags, are serious and need attention. These might be structural movement, significant damp, roof failure, or drainage issues. At that point you have genuine options. You can go back to the seller and renegotiate on price, ask them to carry out repairs before exchange, instruct specialist investigations to understand the full cost of remediation, or in serious cases, walk away from the purchase entirely.
Condition Rating 2 items are defects that need attention but aren’t urgent. These are useful negotiating points and important for understanding the ongoing maintenance cost of the property.
How long does the survey take and when do I get the report?
The inspection typically takes two to four hours on site, depending on the size of the property. Your written report is usually delivered within three to five working days of the inspection.
receive report within 5 working days no
Can I use the survey to negotiate on price?
Does the Level 2 survey include a valuation?
Is a Level 2 survey worth it for a new build?
What if I don't understand something in the report?
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