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?
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?
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.