Do I need a Level 2 Home Survey or a Level 3 Building Survey in Bury St Edmunds?
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 Bury St Edmunds
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 Bury St Edmunds) | There are circa 1 to 20 listed buildings 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. | This area has a moderate risk of ground instability. Your conveyancer will review standard environmental searches to ensure no specific geological risks affect your property. Source: The British Geological Survey (BGS) |
Bury St Edmunds Specific Property Info |
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Expert Tip: Assess Surface Water and River Flooding
Given the flood risk profile in Bury St Edmunds, it is crucial to check not just the property's history, but also the effectiveness of local drainage, damp proofing, and sub-floor ventilation.
Your surveyor will check for signs of rising damp or water damage, while your conveyancer will secure a comprehensive Environmental Search to confirm formal flood risks.
Local Building Survey Bury St Edmunds
Our Building Surveyors specialise in the local area and have completed house surveys in Newmarket, Ipswich, Cambridge, Colchester, Norwich, Chelmsford and Lowestoft.
We work with specialist RICS Building Surveyors to undertake Home Buyers Surveys in Bury St Edmunds. 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 Bury St Edmunds we'll be able to give you the detailed Bury St Edmunds HomeBuyers report that you will need to know and what defects there are with your property.
Defects flagged in a Bury St Edmunds Home Buyers Survey
Local Tip: Subsidence
Bury St Edmunds was mined for chalk in the Middle Ages, resulting in the demolition of several houses, hundreds of years later.
Buildings in mining areas can be affected by subsidence. Your RICS Surveyor is trained to spot signs of subsidence, to forewarn you before you sign contracts.
Local Tip: Damp
Areas around the River Lark and River Linnet, including Eastgate Street, Barn Lane, Blomfield Street and parts of Vinefields, are subject to occasional flood alerts.
Flooding and proximity to waterways can lead to damp problems in homes. Our local Bury St Edmunds RICS Surveyor will look for visible signs of damp or rot and include this in their report.
Local Tip: Asbestos
Historic Bury St Edmunds has a range of homes, from new-builds dating back to Grade I and II listed homes. Works (particularly Artex applied before 1983) carried out on homes between the 1930s and the 1990s may contain asbestos, which is incredibly dangerous if disturbed.
Your local RICS Surveyor from SAM is trained to spot visible signs of asbestos during your home survey, and they will include any cause for concern in their report.
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 Bury St Edmunds using our panel of over 100 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Your Bury St Edmunds 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 - 03333 443234 (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 Bury St Edmunds
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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 Bury St Edmunds'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 Bury St Edmunds. 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 03333 443234 to find out if your property suits a RICS Building Survey, or read our article Which Home Buyers Survey suits your property .
