Home Buyers Survey Torquay


Trusted by 100s of clients with their home survey in Torquay giving our panel of local RICS building surveyors detailed knowledge of properties in your area. We're booking from 21/02/2026* with same-day callback & fast reports starting from just £375 EXC VAT.

Get an Instant Property Survey Torquay Quote now or speak to a friendly member of our team on 0333 344 3234.

"Competitively priced service, the agent I dealt with was very helpful. On the day of the survey itself I received a call from the surveyor to run through his initial findings. The quality of the report produced was excellent, very detailed and thorough. If needed I will be using SAM Conveyancing's services again in the future for sure."

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National Coverage for House Surveys

National Coverage
Panel of RICS Surveyors for House Survey

Panel of RICS Surveyors
Same Week Availability for House Surveys

Same week availability*
House Survey Costs

Cost from £375 EXC VAT
Reports in 5 working days

Reports in 5 Days**

Local Building Survey Torquay

Our Building Surveyors specialise in the local area and have completed house surveys in Plymouth, Exeter , Paignton, Okehampton, Launceston, St Austell and Barnstaple.

We work with specialist RICS Building Surveyors to undertake Home Buyers Surveys in Torquay. 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 Torquay we'll be able to give you the detailed Torquay HomeBuyers report that you will need to know and what defects there are with your property.


Defects flagged in a Torquay Home Buyers Survey


HomeBuyers Report Torquay
Local Tip 1
You're expected to get a Regulated Drainage & Water Search as standard when you're looking to buy a property using a mortgage. However a brief look at the contents of such a report, such as one bought by a client for a property in Hillesdon Road, Torquay, TQ1 1QQ, shows how important the findings in the report are.

For example, the report revealed that, should any building which is or forms part of the property be at risk of internal flooding due to overloaded public sewers, then insurance is in place to cover any damages and provide compensation. Additionally, the report revealed that should the property suffer from low water pressure or flow, insurance was also in place. People underestimate how important having decent pressure in the water supply to a home can be – but you'd want to know that insurance is in place for this eventuality because the displeasure caused by low water pressure in terms of how taps and particularly baths function is considerable, to say the very least!
HomeBuyers Survey Torquay
Local Tip 2
As a parishioner you can actually face a claim from your local parish church for chancel repair, which is where the local church, due to ancient statutes, can claim on parishioners to share the costs of making repairs or refurbishments to the church chancel/church roof and where these occur, they can be fairly costly, with individual households possibly being legally required to pay £1,000s.

Buying a chancel repair indemnity insurance policy for a property you're looking to buy in Torquay's neighbourhood is an easy and efficient way of protecting yourself against this possible eventuality and among many others, one such policy was taken out for a property in Brakefield TQ10 9PA. This policy generally costs around £20 to buy and normally covers the policy holder for claims to the limit of £1 million. One other approach is to get a Chancel Search, which reveals if the property you're looking to buy is in a parish where your local church can make such a legitimate claim on you.
Surveyor Torquay
Local Tip 3
If you're looking at buying a property in England's south west, you should always be mindful about whether it's in an area which is known to be radon affected. Radon's a colourless odourless gas naturally occurs, coming out from the ground which, in larger concentrations, is known to cause lung cancer.

A client recently looking to buy a property in Heathfield Terrace, Newton Road, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot, TQ13 9BA in Torquay's area, bought an Environmental Search report, which you're obliged to get as a mortgage buyer (although if you're a cash buyer, you are still strongly advised to get one). The search revealed that the property was in a radon affected area, with between 5% and 10% of homes in the locale being regarded as above the action level.

The report advised that the building should be tested for radon, which might result in further measures being needed to be taken and possible insurance issues.

Types of property in Torquay?


Torquay's architecture mainly goes back only as far as the early 19th century when its popularity as a seaside resort started to grow. This development particularly flourished in the Victorian period. Wellswood and the Lincombes were built up by wealthy Victorians who, influenced by their travels around the Mediterranean, built large villas with Italianate features and towers.

The 19th-century Anglican churches of Torquay include All Saints, Bamfylde Road (1884–90, architect John Loughborough Pearson), St John's, Montpelier Terrace (1861–71, architect George Edmund Street), St Luke's (1863, architect Sir Arthur Blomfield), St Mark's, St Mark's Road (1856–57, architect Anthony Salvin), St Mary Magdalene, Union Street (1846, architect Anthony Salvin), and St Michael, Pimlico (1877, architect Pritchard). St Matthias's Church, Wellswood, was built as a chapel-of-ease to St Mark's, Torwood, in the 1850s and became a parish church in 1880.

After World War II several private high-rise blocks of flats were constructed above the Rock Walk cliffs and harbour, giving the area a Monte Carlo feel.

In the late 1980s, Fleet Street was rebuilt as the Fleet Walk shopping centre which has street-level shops and an upper-level shopping deck. The long, curved building which follows the street is magnolia-coloured and in mock Victorian style.

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 Torquay using our panel of over 100 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Your Torquay 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 - 0333 344 3234 (local call charges apply).


What defects are flagged in a Homebuyer's Survey?


Prev
Crack in outside wall above window flagged in a Home Building Survey
Cracks/Subsidence

Cracks are inspected and in the report will confirm if you need a structural engineer as there are signs of historical or current movement.

Damp and mould on a wall flagged in a Home Building Survey
Damp

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.

Rotting wood on a window frame flagged in a Home Building Survey
Wood Rot

The wooden door frames and windows will be inspected for rotting and wood worm.

Rat Infestation flagged in a Home Building Survey
Infestations

The surveyor looks for signs of infestations through droppings, damage to piping/flooring and in some cases finding where the nest is.

Japanese Knotweed in a garden flagged in a Home Building Survey
Japanese Knotweed

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.

Drains and man hole covers flagged in a Home Building Survey
Drains and Manhole Covers

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.

Roof loft space with insulation flagged in a Home Building Survey
Roof and Loft Space

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.

Next
Difference between a level 2 and level 3 house survey
A Level 2 HomeBuyers Report is for newer, conventional properties. A Level 3 Building Survey is for a comprehensive analysis, for older or larger properties.

Is a homebuyers survey worth it?
For conventional properties, a HomeBuyers Survey is invaluable. Identified defects can be used as leverage during price negotiations with the seller and can save 1000s of pounds.

Average Cost of Building Surveyor in 2026 in Torquay

The cost varies depending on the size and condition of the property, with the average cost of our HomeBuyers Survey starting at £375 EXC VAT. The average cost of a Building Survey is higher. Our fixed fees start at £499 EXC VAT.

To ensure accuracy, we utilise Rightmove or Zoopla to assess the property type, guaranteeing a fixed quote tailored to your needs. For guidance on choosing the right survey, contact our survey specialists at 0333 344 3234.


Example of a Level 2 Home Survey




RICS Home Survey Level 2



Example of a Level 3 Home Survey




RICS Home Survey Level 3


Frequently Asked Questions: Homebuyers Survey Torquay


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*Survey prices vary depending on the type of survey, the size of the property and the property's location.
**Subject to availability. If your survey date is longer than 1 week then ask and we will try to fit you in sooner.


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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 Torquay's leasehold flats require only a RICS HomeBuyer Report but for any Victorian conversions, a Building Survey may well be required.

Click to see an Example HomeBuyers Report

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 Torquay. 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 0333 344 3234 to find out if your property suits a RICS Building Survey, or read our article Which Home Buyers Survey suits your property .

Click to see an example RICS Building Survey

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