Find the right residential surveyor near you
Looking for a residential surveyor? Find the Right Surveyor is an independent directory covering surveyors of every kind across the UK, from chartered surveyors to specialist and structural disciplines. Buying, selling or renovating a home usually means getting a survey, and searching by service and region helps you find a firm and contact them directly. We are independent and not pay-to-rank, so firms are never listed by who pays the most.
FAQs
What Is a Home Survey?
A home survey is a professional assessment of a home’s condition, structure and value. A residential surveyor will gives you an independent opinion on the property’s strengths, weaknesses and any issues before you commit. Buyers, homeowners and investors use surveys to make informed decisions, and lenders often require one. The right level of survey depends on the age, construction and condition of the property.
What are the different types of home surveys?
There are three main types of home surveys in the UK, and our directory covers firms offering all of them, along with more specialist services.
- RICS Level 2 Survey (HomeBuyer): a mid-level survey suited to conventional properties in reasonable condition, covering the property’s condition and flagging major concerns.
- RICS Level 3 Survey (Building Survey): a detailed survey for older, larger or altered properties, giving a thorough assessment of condition, defects and repairs.
- Mortgage valuation: a lender’s valuation to confirm the property’s market value for mortgage purposes. It is not a survey of condition.
Why Choose a Local Surveyor?
A local surveyor knows the building styles, common defects and property market in your area. They will be familiar with the period terraces, modern builds, listed buildings and other property types found locally. Searching by region on Surveyors UK helps you find a firm that works in your area.
How much does a home buyer survey cost?
The cost of a home buyer survey depends on the type of survey, the size, age and location of the property, and the firm you choose. A Level 2 survey costs less than a more detailed Level 3 survey, which involves a closer inspection of an older or larger property. The best way to get an accurate price is to contact a few firms through the directory and ask for a quote for your specific property.
How do I find the right residential surveyor?
When choosing a residential surveyor, it helps to look at:
- The type of survey they offer and whether it suits your property
- Their experience with your kind of property, such as period, modern or listed
- Local knowledge of your area
- Customer reviews and how they communicate
- Professional qualifications and expertise
Surveyors UK is independent and covers the whole profession, including RICS chartered surveyors, AssocRICS surveyors, structural engineers, and members of professional bodies such as CABE and CIOB. You can search by service and region, compare firms, and contact them directly. We do not rank firms by who pays the most.
What is the difference between a survey and a mortgage valuation?
They sound similar and often happen around the same time, but they do very different jobs. A mortgage valuation is arranged by your lender to confirm the property is worth the amount they are lending. It protects the lender, not you, and it does not assess the property’s condition or look for defects. A survey is arranged by you. It is a detailed inspection of the property’s condition that highlights issues such as damp, structural movement, roof problems or timber decay before you commit.
The common and costly mistake is assuming that because the lender is happy to lend, the property must be in good condition. That is not what a valuation checks. A survey is the report that tells you whether the property is worth buying, and its findings can help you renegotiate the price or ask the seller to put things right before you exchange.
A simple way to remember it: a mortgage valuation asks whether the property is worth lending against, and a survey asks whether it is worth buying.