Residential property survey

A residential property survey or building survey is a means of providing a detailed evaluation of a property's condition and usually involve an extensive inspection to assess work that may be required. Whilst not being the only type of survey available to property owners, a building survey tends to be the most common, particularly for domestic clients. Such surveys are normally carried out to help property owners understand the condition of a property, recording potential risks and costs for remediation or retrofit. There are a variety of type of survey for different contexts and purposes, for individual homeowners, home buyers, investors etc.

To demonstrate consistency in the home survey market across the UK, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) developed the Home Survey Standard (HSS) in 2019, effective in 2021, to help deliver a quality of service, meet evolving consumer needs and build better trust in the market. The current version of HSS has three levels RICS Home Survey Level 1, a basic level survey, 2 a medium level and 3 more comprehensive. Each of these surveys are recommended for certain buildings, for example level 1 is usually only recommended for buildings that are 5 years or less old and level 3 for older properties or where major works are planned. In each case a traffic light rating system might be used along with notes stating which parts were not inspected. Red means that defects are serious and in need of repair, replacement, or urgent further investigation. Amber means defects will soon need repair or replacement, but are not considered a serious or urgent matter. Green means that highlights elements that are in good condition and are not in need of repair. Further information about the standard and the standard itself can be downloaded here.

The RICs Expert Group is carrying out a review of the standard for 2024-2025 which includes a member survey to gather views and feedback on the current standard, focusing on areas that require revisions, additions, or that are functioning well. The survey received feedback from 325 respondents, are being currently analysing along with the results of a UK consumer survey of over 1400 homeowners to understand customer experience of home surveys. This work informs which improvements can be made to the standard, and will be followed by a formal public consultation on the updated draft standard, which require approval from the Knowledge and Practice Committee and the Standards and Regulation Board.

The RICS 'Residential retrofit standard: RICS Professional Standard UK, 1st edition in March 2024, effective from 31 October 2024 describes a residential property survey (in the context of a residential retrofit project) as comprising of an 'inspection (also called ‘assessment’), report and advice on the condition of a residential property, e.g. a ‘level 3’ or ‘level 2’ survey completed in accordance with the RICS HSS.'

Certain aspects may differ on a case by case basis, and such surveys maybe be referred to as building surveys, property surveys or condition surveys. A few examples of different types of survey might include:

• Valuation.
• Structural survey.
• Habitat survey.
• Thermographic survey.
• Ecological survey.
• Tree hazard survey.
• Soil survey.
• Site survey.
• 3D laser survey.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Building archaeology.
• Building pathology.
• Building survey.
• Condition Report.
• Ecological survey.
• Ground investigation.
• Historic building investigation.
• Home information pack HIP.
• Home Survey Standard.
• Homebuyer Report.
• Land surveying.
• Levelling.
• Measurement of existing buildings.
• Site appraisals.
• Site surveys.
• Soil report.
• Soil survey.
• Surveying instruments.
• Surveyor.
• Thermography for traditional buildings.
• Vendor survey.
• Walkover survey.