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If you’re looking to buy a new property, then you’ll want to ensure that your money is being invested in a structurally sound and safe building. This is where a full structural survey is essential. It’s important to be aware of any potential issues, damages or factors that may decrease the property’s value. So, what’s covered in a full structural survey?

A full structural survey, also known as a Level 3 Home Survey, offers a level of inspection that covers every basis, such as a detailed description of every part of the building, any potential hazards that may cause future damage to the property, and a cost breakdown of fixes that need attention.

Read on to find out more about full structural surveys, when you’ll need one, how long it will take, how long it’s valid for, and more.

What Is Included in a Full Structural Survey?

A full structural survey is the highest level of survey you can purchase to investigate the condition of a property. This type of inspection not only determines if there’s any additional costs to fix any potential problems, but also how much those costs are estimated to be and how urgent they are to get fixed. In a nutshell, you’ll be provided with a complete comprehensive overview of the property’s condition.

To be more specific, your full structural survey will include:

Room-by-room descriptions and detailed analysis of the building’s condition.
Photographs to document any evidence of the property’s condition.
Descriptions of any potential hazards that need to be addressed.
Cost breakdown of any potential fixes that will need attending to.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and energy efficiency advice.
Details of any legal matters relating to the property.

The level 3 Home Surveys examine all physical details of the property, from large problems to small defects in more detail. If you live in the property that’s due to be inspected,it’s worth considering that they may feel intrusive. However, to safeguard the condition of your property, they’re worth the short inconvenience. Of course, they will force or open up the fabric of the building without your consent. If you should not give consent, they will provide this information in the section about the limitations of the survey on their report.

For more information on what’s included in a full structural survey in London, read the RICS guide on Building Surveys.

Who Carries Out a Full Structural Survey?

Only a RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Chartered Surveyor can carry out the in-depth inspection of your property that’s required for your full structural assessment. This is to ensure that the client is provided with the highest quality survey from an experienced and trained professional, and that the survey is carried out to the best standards. This not only protects the client to guarantee that they’ve been provided with an outstanding service, but also helps to protect the property by identifying any minor or serious defects that may need addressing.

How Long Does a Full Structural Survey Take To Come Back?

Due to the in-depth requirements of this survey, they often take an average of two to five hours to complete. This does not include writing up the report, which should be issued to you within 6 working days after the inspection. For this reason, if you’re planning ahead for your house structural survey, then it’s worth making sure that you’re available for the whole working day to have the survey completed.

How Long Is a Full Structural Survey Valid For?

If you’re selling your house, your report should be no more than 12 weeks old to ensure that it has the most up to date information possible. If your report is older than this, mortgage lenders could request a new report.

Outside of selling your house, the report doesn’t have a fixed expiry date. If you’re conducting a house structural survey on a property that you’re looking to buy, you’ll want to get this done once you’re ready to continue the homebuying process. Otherwise, issues that are raised in the report could worsen before you buy the property.

Do I Need a Full Structural Survey?

When looking to cut down on costs during the process of buying a property, most people often ask the dreaded question, “do I need a full structural survey?” To avoid the risk of any surprise damages or costs once you’ve moved in, the answer is always yes. This is especially the case if your potential purchase property is grade listed, old or has any unusual features.

While they’re not a legal requirement, a house structural survey provides the peace-of-mind that the money in which you’re using to purchase your property is a sound investment. Or, if you’re selling, it shows potential buyers that your property is safe and won’t cost them to get repaired. For this reason, they’re essential for providing reassurance to the buyer that their new property is in great condition. If any problems are identified within the survey, you may be entitled to request to the buyer that they fix it before the property is sold.
The truth is that unless you carry out a survey, you won’t know the full condition of the property until you have full access to it. To protect yourself against any unwanted costs, a full valuation survey will address all or any issues.

How Much Does a Full Structural Survey in London Cost?

As one of the most comprehensive and detailed surveys you can have conducted, it may come as no surprise that the cost of a full structural survey in London is higher than that of a standard property survey. On average, a Level 3 Home Survey can cost anywhere between £400 to £2000.

Is It Worth Paying for a Full Structural Survey?

It’s always worth investing in a comprehensive survey of a property that you’re looking to buy. Studies show that around 67% of buyers are able to renegotiate their offer or request that the seller carries out repairs after performing a survey. This means that should you find faults with the property in question, you can negotiate with the seller or make an informed decision on whether you want to walk away or continue.

This could save you a lot of money, but also prevent a lot of the stress that comes with purchasing a home and wondering if you’re made the right choice.

What Do Problems Found in a Full Structural Survey Cost?

As always, the cost of repairs will always depend on the scale and nature of the issue, so it can often be difficult to estimate. It’s always important to get a quote from specialist contractors before making your decision. Your surveyors will also give you estimated costs as a part of your full structural survey. Here’s a list of the most common issues that around from a survey and how much they cost to fix:

Damp – While this may be fixed by heating the property efficiently and removing humidity, if work is required it can cost around £2,750.
Asbestos – Asbestos can still be found in older buildings and homes. Removal will often cost around £2,500.
Insulation Problems – The cost of upgrading or replacing insulation will be around £1,500.
Electrical Issues – You may only have to pay for an Electrical Installation Condition Report, but if you’re unfortunate enough to require a full rewire it will cost around £4,000.
Flat Roofing – Flat roofs often have considerable wear and tear or sagging, this can cost around £1,200 for a replacement.
Faulty Drain Pipes – Replacing drain pipes is normally about £650.
Invasive Plants – Plants can often grow through cracks in concrete or drains. Depending on the plant in question, this could be close to £3,000.
Structural Issues – Issues such as cracked walls and things that suggest structural movement could cost an average of £13,500.
Roof Issues – Simple issues such as broken tiles cost around £100 per six tiles. However the cost of a 3 bedroom house’s roof adds up to a whopping £7,000.
Bug Infestations – Wood boring insects in particular can be a massive problem, especially in older houses with wood frames. This could cost around £1,000 to correct.

Full Structural Surveys With Crest Surveyors

If you’re looking for a RICS-qualified Chartered Surveyor to conduct your full property valuation within London and the surrounding areas, then our qualified and experienced team at Crest Surveyors are here to help.

We provide budget-friendly house valuations to provide you with security and confidence to aid you in your decisions. Not only do we provide a thorough report to detail your completed surveys, but we’re also available to assist with any questions, legal guidance and support during your property purchase journey.

To learn more about our full structural surveys, simply contact one of our team members today.

A Dilapidation Schedule is a valuable evaluation of a property that inspects and identifies any damages and repairs needed to a property. Used primarily for rented properties, Surveys and Schedules are useful to protect both the property, the landlord and the tenant from unexpected costs and are used to quickly settle any disputes.

It’s important to organise a Dilapidation Survey at the beginning of each tenancy agreement to keep a detailed record of the condition of your property. A Dilapidation Schedule, in comparison, is conducted at the end of the tenancy. If you’re a tenant, this will protect you from any unfair charges from damages that you did not cause, such as any repairs that were needed before you moved in. For landlords, they help to ensure that your property is well-kept and maintained between tenants.

So, what exactly is included in a Dilapidation Survey? Dilapidation Surveys are used to document the state of a property prior to a new tenant moving in. They typically include information about the building fabric, mechanical, gas, and electrical components, furnishings and decor, general wear and tear, and any repairs that need completing.

Our team has put together this short, useful guide to help you learn all the facts about these types of reports.

What Does a Dilapidation Survey Involve?

Dilapidation Reports involve a room-by-room inspection, including photographs, to look for any damages, required repairs or structural issues with a building. This will also include an external examination of any land, such as gardens, drives or car parks for large properties, such as offices. These surveys aim to set out the standards for the tenant to maintain during their lease agreement.

What’s Included in a Dilapidation Report?

Once your completed Dilapidation Report is complete, you’ll be provided with an in-depth report examining, but not limited to:

Mould
Stains
Holes
Damp and decay
Plumbing conditions
Wall/structure cracks
Ventilation
Blemishes
Damages to surfaces
Damages to fixtures/fittings
Defects
Assessment of accessible areas
Assessment of fire exits

Each report will also document the time of completion, the weather conditions during the inspection, the areas of property examined and more. The completed Survey or Schedule of Dilapidation will provide all details of any specific tests included, and the following results.

It’s important to note that a survey is not the same as a valuation. A survey is a comprehensive report that details the condition of a property, while a valuation provides the predicted amount your property is worth on the current market.

Who Can Carry Out a Dilapidation Survey?

It’s important that who you choose to carry out your Dilapidation Report is a trained professional who is an external, non-bias third party member. This means that that person is in no way associated with either the landlord, or the tenant, and does not make any kind of benefit from completing the survey. This includes any type of financial or personal reward.

Can You Carry Out Your Own Survey Report?

No. Only trained and experienced building consultants or surveyors can perform a dilapidation schedule. They are highly complex documents and require training, certification and experience before conducting. For more information, explore the RICS Professional Guidance and Standards for dilapidations.

Dilapidation Surveys at Crest Chartered Surveyors

Crest Chartered Surveyors are experienced in all aspects of property valuations and surveying. If you require more information about Dilapidation Surveys or Schedules, contact one of our team members today to receive any help you need. We offer a thorough Dilapidation Survey that is quick and cost-effective to help you maintain the condition of your properties.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Dilapidation Survey?

A Dilapidation Survey is an in-depth report that provides details about the current condition of a property. Used primarily for properties that are rented, Dilapidation Surveys document any damages or wear and tear that may require repairing or replacing.

Who Needs a Dilapidation Survey?

A Dilapidation Survey is beneficial to both a landlord, and their tenant. For the landlord, the survey will clearly identify and document any minor or major damages to your property. For this reason, it’s important to complete this survey at the end of each tenancy before a new one commences.

For the tenant, this survey will protect you against claims of damages that you have not caused. This provides reassurance that no surprise charges will occur at the end of your lease agreement.

Are Surveys Required by Law?

No, Dilapidation Surveys are not required by law. However, they are useful and valuable for solving and avoiding any disputes regarding damages and costs between a landlord and tenant. They can also be used as evidence in court to settle any landlord/tenant disputes. For this reason, they are extremely important to consider at the end of each lease agreement.

How Much Does a Survey Cost?

The average cost for a Dilapidation Survey or Schedule costs between £750 to £1000.

For Dilapidation Schedules, it is usually a part of the rent agreement that the tenant covers the cost of these reports if they are required. This is why it’s important to consult your lease agreement and landlord for more information.

How Long Do Surveys Take?

At Crest Surveyors, Dilapidation Reports usually take between 2-4 hours to complete, with the final report being with you within 7 to 10 working days.

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What Is Looked at in a Full Structural Survey?