Do I need a Level 2 Home Survey or a Level 3 Building Survey in Highbury?
The type of survey you require depends entirely on the age, size, and general condition of the property you are purchasing. Use the comparison below to determine which RICS inspection is right for your transaction:
Inspection Detail | RICS Level 2 Home Survey (formerly HomeBuyer Report) | RICS Level 3 Home Survey (formerly Full Structural Survey) |
|---|---|---|
Inspection Best Suited For | RICS Level 2 Home Survey Conventional, modern properties (built post-1990) of standard construction. | RICS Level 3 Home Survey Older, historic, or large properties, or those of non-standard construction. |
Inspection Property Condition | RICS Level 2 Home Survey Homes appearing to be in a reasonable, well-maintained state. | RICS Level 3 Home Survey Homes that are noticeably dilapidated or have been extensively altered. |
Inspection Depth of Inspection | RICS Level 2 Home Survey Surface-level visual inspection of accessible areas to highlight major faults. | RICS Level 3 Home Survey In-depth analysis of the property's structure, fabric, and integrity. |
Inspection Future Plans | RICS Level 2 Home Survey Buyers looking for a general overview before moving in. | RICS Level 3 Home Survey Buyers planning significant structural renovations or extensions. |
Inspection Advice Provided | RICS Level 2 Home Survey Highlights urgent defects that may affect the property's value. | RICS Level 3 Home Survey Detailed advice on defects, repair options, and ongoing maintenance consequences. |
Local Property Characteristics in Highbury
Properties built in this area have certain standard characteristics which dictate what type of survey you'll need for your property. Here is a table of different factors that could affect your property and require further investigation by your RICS surveyor:
Characteristic/Risk | Details |
|---|---|
Japanese Knotweed Risk: | Check the Environet heatmap to confirm. Source: Environment Agency & Environet UK Heatmap Data |
Listed Buildings: (Such as Grade I, Grade II*, and Grade II in Highbury) | There are over 20 listed buildings in the local area. These will always require a Level 3 Home Survey, provided by a surveyor with the requisite experience. We have an experienced RICS surveyor who can help in the local area. Note: Estimated based on the location's common property types and proximity from the data at Historic England. Your actual property may have a different characteristic or risk. Source: Historic England |
Ground Stability: Flags a risk for subsidence. | Properties in this location are flagged as having a high risk of ground instability (such as subsidence or shrink-swell clay). Your solicitor will recommend a comprehensive environmental and ground stability search, and you should obtain a RICS Home Survey to inspect the physical construction of the property. Source: The British Geological Survey (BGS) |
Highbury Specific Property Info |
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Expert Tip: Check for Ground Instability and Subsidence
With a flagged risk for ground instability in Highbury, such as shrink-swell clay, the property's foundations are more susceptible to seasonal movement and structural cracking.
Your RICS surveyor will thoroughly inspect the load-bearing walls for signs of subsidence, and this risk will be further detailed in your local environmental searches.
Local Building Survey Highbury
Our Building Surveyors specialise in the local area and have completed house surveys in Canonbury, Islington, Barnsbury, Holloway, Stoke Newington, Notting Hill and Finsbury Park.
We work with specialist RICS Building Surveyors to undertake Home Buyers Surveys in Highbury. Whether you are buying an old run down 'doer upper' or standard construction freehold house, our RICS surveyors have seen them all.
With a vast number of years of experience completing building surveys on properties in Highbury we'll be able to give you the detailed Highbury HomeBuyers report that you will need to know and what defects there are with your property.
Defects flagged in a Highbury Home Buyers Survey
Local Tip: Subsidence
Raised levels of noise pollution from roads in the Highbury area mainly centre around Highbury roundabout and the main roads linking from it: St Paul's Road, Canonbury Road and Highbury Corner/Holloway Road. Raised levels of noise pollution from railways accompany the overland service going through Highbury & Islington Station, which is located next to the aforesaid roundabout, making the roundabout the main area of noise in the locale.
Local Tip: Damp
A recent Environmental Report stated that a property on Aberdeen Road, London, N5 2UH, was 50m from an area with potential for natural ground instability.
The British Geological Survey has assessed the area of search as having moderate potential for natural ground instability. This does not necessarily mean there is cause for concern in terms of the property's stability. Active subsidence will be dependent on local conditions, such as the proximity of trees or areas where trees have been removed, which require an inspection of the site to identify the nature of the ground on which the property is built. A house buyers survey is advised to look for signs of property damage that may indicate poor natural ground conditions.
Local Tip: Asbestos
Properties in some areas of Highbury may be affected by overhead power lines or mobile phone masts.
A recent environmental search carried out for a property in Loxford Gardens, Highbury, N5 1FX revealed that there were overhead power lines or mobile phone masts located within 250m of the dwelling.
Overhead power lines and phone masts can be contentious and additionally may have a visual impact on the surrounding area.
Why Choose SAM Conveyancing for your Home Survey?
In helping over 15,339 survey clients since 2014, we've learned a lot about surveys in Highbury using our panel of over 100 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Your Highbury surveyor will be local to your property, so whether you're worried about subsidence, damp, infestations, extensions, or even just for peace of mind, we've got you covered.
Our HomeBuyers Survey costs are fixed and competitive, as you'll see from all our Excellent reviews on Trustpilot. This means you don't have to break the bank to get a full health check on your new home. Get a Home Buyer Survey Quote today, or if you're not sure which survey to choose and want to know the difference between a Level 2 Home Survey and a Level 3 Building Survey, then give us a cal,l and we'll happily tell you what you need - 0207 112 5388 (local call charges apply).
What defects are flagged in a Homebuyer's Survey?
Cracks are inspected and in the report will confirm if you need a structural engineer as there are signs of historical or current movement.
The RICS surveyor will use a moisture meter in the rooms and report any high levels along with any mould or damp causing damage to the walls/windows.
The wooden door frames and windows will be inspected for rotting and wood worm.
The surveyor looks for signs of infestations through droppings, damage to piping/flooring and in some cases finding where the nest is.
The surveyor will check the grounds of the property and, where possible, check over the fences to neighbouring plots to identify if there is a risk of Japanese knotweed.
The surveyor lifts up accessible man hole covers to check if the drains are blocked. You may need to get your drains inspected with CCTV.
The surveyor will enter into the roof/loft space if there is a safe and accessible ladder. They'll look for insulation, signs of leaking and and damage.
Download an Example Level 2 and Level 3 Home Survey
Property Survey FAQs for Highbury
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RICS Level 2 Home Survey with a Valuation
A RICS Level 2 Home Survey, which used to be called the HomeBuyer Report or a Home Buyer Survey, is generally suitable for:
- Bungalows
- Flats
- Standard construction houses
The majority of Highbury's leasehold flats require only a RICS HomeBuyer Report but for any Victorian conversions, a Building Survey may well be required.
RICS Level 3 Building Survey
A Level 3 Home Survey, also known as a Building Survey or a full structural, is the most comprehensive visual inspection a RICS surveyor can provide on a property in Highbury. It is suitable for:
- complex buildings, for example those that have been extensively extended and altered
- unique or older historic properties
- properties in poor condition; or
- those where the client is planning to carry out extensive repair and refurbishment work.
Speak to one of our team on 0207 112 5388 to find out if your property suits a RICS Building Survey, or read our article Which Home Buyers Survey suits your property .
