Do I need a Level 2 Home Survey or a Level 3 Building Survey in Loughborough?
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 Loughborough
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 Loughborough) | 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. | This area is generally considered low risk for ground stability issues. Source: The British Geological Survey (BGS) |
Loughborough Specific Property Info |
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Expert Tip: Investigate Historic Coal Mining Risks
Properties in Loughborough are located within known coal mining areas, which can lead to hidden structural movement or ground subsidence over time.
Your RICS surveyor will look for historical cracking or leaning, and you can find full historical data in a specialised Coal Mining Search purchased during the conveyancing process.
Local Building Survey Loughborough
Our Building Surveyors specialise in the local area and have completed house surveys in Leicester, Long Eaton, Clifton, Beeston, West Bridgford, Derby and Nottingham.
We work with specialist RICS Building Surveyors to undertake Home Buyers Surveys in Loughborough. 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 Loughborough we'll be able to give you the detailed Loughborough HomeBuyers report that you will need to know and what defects there are with your property.
Defects flagged in a Loughborough Home Buyers Survey
Local Tip: Subsidence
A local authority search is brilliant at listing planning issues which might affect the enjoyment of a property that you're looking to buy such as one bought for a home in Banbury Drive, Shepshed, Loughborough LE12 9PL, which listed that planning had been sought for the erections of dwellings and garages in the close vicinity and tree preservation orders (i.e. which prohibit trees being cut down).
Local Tip: Damp
Some areas around Loughborough's vicinity may be affected by higher than usual levels of radon, an inert gas which arises from the ground, and which can cause lung cancer. The areas in questions are particularly prevalent to Loughborough's north, north-west and most of all to its south west - in Nanpantan - for example in streets such as Foden Close and Shells Brook Lane - where the Maximum radon potential is 10-30 %.
You find out about radon from various sources, such as the Environmental Search, the Local Authority Search and even a specialist radon search report. Depending on the levels registered, you may be advised to take further measures to protect yourself when buying a property in the area.
Local Tip: Asbestos
A Local Authority Search taken out for a property you're looking to buy can reveal matters like whether you have rights of way or roads on your land and whether these are maintainable at public expense - or your own. A recent such report bought for a property in Milton Court, Loughborough LE11 5JL revealed that there was a footpath and a service road which were not maintainable at public expense and that there were also limits to development and washland.
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 Loughborough using our panel of over 100 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Your Loughborough 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 Loughborough
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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 Loughborough'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 Loughborough. 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 .
