Do I need a Level 2 Home Survey or a Level 3 Building Survey in Launceston?
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 Launceston
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 Launceston) | 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) |
Launceston Specific Property Info |
|
Expert Tip: Assess Surface Water and River Flooding
Given the flood risk profile in Launceston, 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 Launceston
Our Building Surveyors specialise in the local area and have completed house surveys in Plymouth, Exeter, Okehampton, St Austell, Paignton, Torquay and Barnstaple.
We work with specialist RICS Building Surveyors to undertake Home Buyers Surveys in Launceston. 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 Launceston we'll be able to give you the detailed Launceston HomeBuyers report that you will need to know and what defects there are with your property.
Defects flagged in a Launceston Home Buyers Survey
Local Tip: Subsidence
You have to get a Regulated Drainage & Water Search as a mortgage buyer. However a brief look at the contents of such a report, such as one bought by a client for a property in Launceston's locale, specifically in Prouts Court, Launceston PL15 8QS, 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!
Local Tip: Damp
If you're looking at buying a property in the West Country, you should always investigate whether there's any evidence that the dwelling's in an area known for higher than normal radon levels.
This naturally-occurring gas is more prevalent in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. It comes out of the ground and can cause lung cancer when in large concentrations - it actually kills more people in the UK each year than drink drivers do on the roads.
Your lender might require you to buy a specialist radon report for your property which will give you a clearer idea of the risk level and what you should do next if there's evidence that concentration levels are high. A client recently bought such a report for a property in Burraton, St. Dominick, Saltash, PL12 6ST in Lauceston's area in Cornwall. The report advised that the client carry out some basic measures to protect themselves if they chose to buy the property in question.
Local Tip: Asbestos
Parish church claims on parishioners for chancel repair, where these occur, 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 Launceston's area 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 Harbour View, North Road, Looe, PL13 2EJ. This policy generally costs around £20 to buy and normally covers the policy holder for claims to the limit of £1 million.
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 Launceston using our panel of over 100 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Your Launceston 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?
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 Launceston
- online checklists
- videos
- free downloads
- useful tips
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 Launceston'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 Launceston. 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 .
