Home Buyers Survey City of London


Trusted by 100s of clients with their home survey in City of London 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 City of London Quote now or speak to a friendly member of our team on 0207 112 5388.

"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."

Read SAM Conveyancing's trustpilot reviews

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 City of London

Our Building Surveyors specialise in the local area and have completed house surveys in West London, North London, East London, South London, South East London, Central London and Westminster.

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


Defects flagged in a City of London Home Buyers Survey


HomeBuyers Report City of London
Local Tip 1
You'll have to buy an Environmental Search for the property you're looking to buy if the purchase involves a mortgage, however there's many reasons for getting one even if you're a cash purchaser.

To illustrate, a recent such conveyancing property search, bought for a dwelling in Boswell Street WC1N 3PZ in the City of London, revealed that there was a potential risk of surface water flooding within 250m, that the property was within 2km of each of the proposed rail projects: HS2, Crossrail 1 and Crossrail 2 and finally that the property was situated within 2km of existing or proposed solar farms>

These kinds of findings can inform both you and your solicitor regarding your likely future enjoyment of your property and give you early warning as to whether there might be present or future issues which might, for example have an impact on any insurance you purchase. Your solicitor can then frame appropriate enquiries and, if the findings are of sufficient gravity, you might even decide to pull out of the purchase.
HomeBuyers Survey City of London
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 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 Dance Square London EC1V 3AL within the City of London area. 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 City of London
Local Tip 3
The City of London has many areas of raised noise pollution from roads, which is understandable given the volume of traffic which comes in and out of the area daily. One of the peak areas for this is the Tower Hill/Minories/E. Smithfield/Tower Bridge Approach/Mansell Street junction and the noise is likely to affect residences in Royal Mint Court and Mansell Street itself.

Types of property in City of London?


When archaeologists were reconstructing the original Bank of England in Walbrook in 1954, they found the remains of a Roman Temple of Mithras (amusingly Mithras was worshipped as the God of Contracts, among other things). The Bank of England's present building in Threadneedle Street has been considerably rebuilt, in the first half of the 20th century, and although it has impressive doric columns and a powerful aura, it has not been met with universal approval by the architectural fraternity.

Christopher Wren's St Paul's Cathedral has a dome which can be seen from miles away and makes the building nearly as tall as the mammoth Saturn V rocket, synonymous with the moon landings of the later 20th century.

The Barbican is another more modern development and the complex not only consists of a large number of very expensive – but relatively small – flats but also a well-known auditorium and restaurant. It is the largest residential estate in the Square Mile.

Despite bomb damage from World War 2 and terrorism, there remain many dozens of (mostly Victorian and Edwardian) fine buildings, typically in historicist and neoclassical style. They include the Monument to the Great Fire of London ("the Monument"), St Paul's Cathedral, the Guildhall, the Royal Exchange, Dr. Johnson's House, Mansion House and a great many churches, many designed by Sir Christopher Wren, who also designed St Paul's. 2 King's Bench Walk and Prince Henry's Room are notable historic survivors of heavy bombing of the Temple area, which has largely been rebuilt to its historic form.

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 City of London using our panel of over 100 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Your City of London 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?


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 City of London

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 0207 112 5388.


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 City of London


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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 City of London'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 City of London. 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 .

Click to see an example RICS Building Survey

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