Chartered Surveyors London
Residential & Commercial Building Surveys in London

Residential & Commercial Building Surveys in London

Full structural building surveys in London

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Full Structural Building Surveys London

Full Structural Building Surveys London

Our building surveyors examine the construction and structure of property and services

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London Chartered SurveyorsBuilding Surveys

Building Surveys London

Our skilled team of professionals provides building surveys to clients who'd like to better understand a property's condition before they invest in it. We perform a thorough and detailed inspection that involves investigating the materials used, determining the condition of those materials, and providing a report on our findings.

 

What Is a Level 3 Building Survey?

Some surveys are more in-depth than others. We want our clients to know that we provide in-depth structural surveys, also known as Level 3 surveys. During these specific surveys, our goal is to provide all valuable and in-depth information possible. We go over the property's structure and the overall condition of the building based on any potential problems we've spotted throughout the surveying process.

Because this is a complete building survey, you can expect the process to take a bit longer than the standard survey. In some instances, it takes up to eight hours to complete the process, but it's worth it when you have such helpful information on the property at your fingertips.

While not everyone needs to have a Level 3 Survey performed, these are the people who can benefit most from this detailed process:

  • Investing in an Old Building. Some clients invest in old buildings that have been around for decades. When these buildings are outdated, getting such a detailed survey is a must because there is a far greater chance of dealing with structural damage and other issues that would need fixing before anyone could safely live or work inside the building
  • Updating an Older Building. Clients who already own older buildings may have plans to add to them or make major adjustments. Before they start making any changes to the structure, such as adding a room or extending it, it's in their best interest to get the Level 3 survey done to find out if they'll run into any issues while working on the property.

The Traditional House Survey

One of the most crucial surveying services we provide is the traditional structural survey. Clients often depend on us to perform this evaluation to provide them with essential details on the boundaries of the land and the condition of the home. While homebuyers don’t have to invest in these services to purchase a property, it’s in their best interest to do so for the following reasons:

  • Avoid Potential Problems in the Future
  • Find Comfort in Knowing the Home is in Good Condition.
  • Save Money in the Long Run.

What to Expect of a Structural Survey

If you’ve never had a structural survey also called a level 3 survey completed, you might not know what to expect of the process. While it may sound complicated, it’s a straightforward process that our skilled surveyors can handle for you with ease. First, we’ll arrive at your location to begin working on the survey. Then, our experienced RICS surveyors will begin gathering the necessary information and checking for any issues.

The purpose of a structural survey is slightly different than a homebuyer survey. With the homebuyer survey, you have a property inspected to check for signs of damage and other issues. However, a structural survey involves paying close attention to the property’s structure because structural issues are common and problematic. If something is wrong with a building’s structure, it could potentially lead to hazardous situations for anyone who lives or works inside the building. Therefore, we want our clients to avoid the risks by using our surveying services.

What does a full Building Survey involve?

A full Building Survey will usually comprise:

  • An inspection of the building
  • A comprehensive survey report
  • A property valuation (if specifically indicated by the surveyor).

During the survey all of the visible and accessible parts of a building will be inspected, including the roofs, floors, walls, windows, doors, cellars, chimneys, garages and any outbuildings. Surveyors are legally required to discover and inform you of any major problems they find with a property. This means that during the building inspection, our surveyors will look for any potential problems and building defects.

During a full Building Survey we will look inside any cupboards and manholes, and services will be inspected, but enclosed or concealed parts of a building, for example, sealed roof spaces, will not be inspected.

If you have any specific concerns about the property you can ask for certain areas to be included. Unlike in the case of a HomeBuyer Report (Survey and Valuation - Level 2), which we can also provide, a Building Survey report does not have a specific format requirement, so our building surveyors can amend the Building Survey to meet your requirements.

A Building Survey includes the following aspects:

  • The most significant defects and what they mean
  • Results of damp in the walls tests
  • Alterations to supporting walls
  • Renovations made without necessary planning permission
  • Presence of hazardous materials (e.g. asbestos)
  • Evidence of subsidence
  • Masonry and roof damage
  • Timber damage
  • Large trees close to the property
  • Woodworm, dry rot and other timber damage
  • The conditions of existing damp proofing, insulation and advice on non-tested drainage
  • Information on the materials used to construct the property and any relevant technical information
  • Recommendations for further investigations on the property

The report will not go into detail about things like electrical or heating equipment. The report will, however, summarise what the findings of the survey are and make recommendations about whether any additional specialist surveys are required.

Get a Full Structural Survey When You Need It

Our company provides a complete structural survey to clients who need it and can benefit from having the report that comes along with it. We understand that you want to know what condition a property is in before you invest your money into it or start making any adjustments to it. So, we provide the services that can help you make such a big decision.

The Building Survey (Level 3) Report

On completion of the survey you will be issued with a final report which will indicate whether the inspection has uncovered any major and minor defects. The report will identify and describe any problems identified and their cause. It will also offer recommendations for further investigations and provide an indication of any repair costs, and inform you of what could happen if the problem is not resolved.

RICS Building Surveys

RICS categorises a Building Survey at level 3. This is the most detailed survey available. It considers potential problems hidden by flaws, provides an outline of repair options and the likely consequences of inactivity as well as outlining the visible defects.

If you are planning to have any type of extension to your property, once the sale goes through, you may want us to include a feasibility report at the likelihood that planning permission will be given. We can also assist in prioritising works and planning maintenance.

A valuation isn’t normally included in a building survey however, if you do require one, please ask.

Other useful sectors within the building survey report include issues for your legal adviser, noise and disturbance, hazardous materials, energy efficiency, means of escape and any health & safety concerns you are worried about.

If you want peace of mind that comes with an RICS building Survey, please call us on 020 7205 4534

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Why Choose London Chartered Surveyors?

We are regulated by the RICS – The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. We offer all three levels of RICS survey.

Whichever level of service you require, London Chartered Surveyors can give you reliable and cost effective support.

Get in touch today to speak to our team - 020 7205 4534