The RICS Home Survey Level 2 provides a comprehensive assessment of your property. This intermediate-level survey delivers detailed insights into a property’s condition, highlighting defects and potential problems while offering advice on repairs and maintenance. It is the ideal choice for conventional properties in reasonable condition where you need more in-depth information than a Level 1 survey provides.
What is an RICS Home Survey Level 2?
The RICS Home Survey Level 2 is a service that includes a thorough visual inspection of the property, both inside and out. It follows the rigorous standards set by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Home Survey Standard.
This survey is more comprehensive than the Level 1 survey, providing additional details about potential defects, maintenance requirements, and repair considerations. Using the clear ‘traffic light’ condition rating system, our Level 2 survey helps you understand the severity of issues found:
- Condition Rating 3 (Red): Defects that are serious and/or need urgent repair, replacement, or further investigation
- Condition Rating 2 (Amber): Defects that need repairing or replacing but aren’t considered serious or urgent
- Condition Rating 1 (Green): No current issues – normal maintenance required
What’s Included in the RICS Home Survey Level 2?
Our Level 2 survey provides detailed information about the property’s condition, including:
- A thorough inspection of all accessible parts of the property
- Clear ‘traffic light’ condition ratings for all major elements of the property
- Detailed assessment of issues that may affect the property’s value
- Advice on repairs and ongoing maintenance requirements
- Identification of issues requiring further investigation
- Information on the property’s location and local environment
- Details about the property’s construction and significant features
- Energy efficiency assessment (when an EPC is available)
- Legal issues to address before completing your purchase
The Survey Process
When you choose a RICS Home Survey Level 2, our comprehensive process includes:
- Initial consultation to understand your specific concerns and requirements
- Property research and background checks prior to the inspection
- Arrangement of a convenient time for the survey
- Thorough visual inspection by a qualified RICS Chartered Surveyor (typically 2-4 hours)
- Examination of accessible roof spaces, grounds, floors, and services
- Preparation of a detailed, easy-to-understand report with clear recommendations
- Delivery of your report within 5 working days
- Follow-up consultation to explain findings and discuss any concerns
The survey is non-invasive and doesn’t include testing of services, lifting floorboards, or moving furniture.
Why Choose an RICS Home Survey Level 2?
The Level 2 survey is particularly suitable for:
- Conventional properties in reasonable condition
- Properties built after 1900 with standard construction
- Homes that have been modified or extended
- Homes where you’re planning minor renovations or improvements
- Buyers who want more detailed information than a Level 1 survey provides
This survey is the most popular choice for most homebuyers, offering the right balance of detail and value. It provides significantly more information than a Level 1 survey, while being more affordable than the comprehensive Level 3 survey that’s typically reserved for older or more complex properties.
Choosing the Right Survey
If you are unsure about which survey you might need, then contact us. Or go to our Survey Comparison page, where you can see what features are included in each survey level, and use our Survey Selector tool.
Professional Qualifications
All our surveys are conducted by experienced Chartered Surveyors who are full professional members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), either MRICS or FRICS.
Our surveyors have extensive local knowledge of property issues specific to Cheshire and Greater Manchester, including common property types found in areas such as Manchester, Stockport, Wilmslow, Altrincham, and Chester.
