What is a house survey?
What is a house survey?
A house survey is an independent inspection of a property carried out by a qualified surveyor — usually a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). It tells you the true condition of the home you’re buying, flags defects that could cost you later, and helps you avoid nasty surprises after you’ve moved in.
A survey is not the same as a mortgage valuation. A lender’s valuation only checks that the property is worth roughly what you’re paying so they can lend against it — it is not a survey of the building’s condition and is done for the lender, not for you.
What does a surveyor check?
- The structure — walls, roof, chimneys, floors and foundations, looking for movement, damp, rot or subsidence.
- Services and fittings — a visual check of the condition of wiring, plumbing, heating and drainage (a survey doesn’t test them, but flags obvious concerns).
- Damp, timber and insulation — moisture readings and signs of decay or infestation.
- Grounds and outbuildings — boundaries, retaining walls, garages and other structures.
Why it matters
Buying a home is likely the biggest purchase you’ll ever make. A survey costs a fraction of the price of the property but can reveal repairs worth thousands — giving you the evidence to renegotiate, budget for works, or walk away.
Not sure which level of survey you need? Compare fixed-fee quotes from RICS-regulated surveyors in under 60 seconds.