Do I need a Survey?

[hairyunicorn]

I have put in an offer on a new flat since my last sale fell through. it was built in 2000 and is a leasehold property. I have had an electrician go in and do an electrical inspection (all fine), also a gas boiler engineer, who condemned the boiler and a damp inspection, which has come back as fine. Some damp in the ground-floor communal area

Do I really need a level 3 homebuyers survey

Yes

No. You don’t have to have a survey. The lender will have theirs for valuation purposes but there is no legal requirement to have a survey yourself. I would also suggest a level 3 survey is overkill for a 26 year old property unless there are some serious issues going on. Assuming you’re not in Scotland as you’d have the survey as part of the homebuyers report?

Think.most people would have Level 2. I have had a Level 3 survey because the property i want to buy is overv100 years old.

Well I wasn’t answering legally ffs - I was answering as someone who knows that flats are very expensive compared to decent surveys

yes I think she does need a survey

She’s already had a gas engineer, an electrician and damp specialist round. Personally saying just ‘yes’ to having a level 3 survey doesn’t constitute the best advice. They’re limited anyway as they can’t go taking the property apart to get to every potential issue. Level 2 I would suggest is ample ontop of what’s already been done.

As I understood it, the difference between a level 2 and level 3 survey is that level 3 includes a structural survey. If you are worried there are structural issues with a flat you are buying then there are bigger problems. Level 2 should be fine for a flat unless there is are visible cracks and if there are then don't buy it.

Given recent issues over RAAC and cladding I’d want to be certain there is nothing similar in the construction likely to become a problem in future.

@hairyunicorn, re the boiler, did you negotiate a price decrease on the basis of this, or are the sellers going to replace the boiler?

This is being dealt with by the solicitor, at a cost of £2000.00. Apparently, all blocks over 4 stories or a certain height now need additional legal work, due to cladding etc.

So i think this is taken care f

@VillaOfReducedCircumstances Yes, i negotiated £5.5k off the price to replace the bolier

Thank you for all the replies. I think I will book in for a Level 2.

Thanks @hairyunicorn!

The mortgage assessment valuation is for that alone: It is not and never has been a Survey. The assessment is to see if all else fails will they get their money back if the property had to be sold. It is nothing more.

A Survey is totally different. It is an inspection of the property for faults in construction, deterioration of structure etc. There are levels of Survey, if in doubt speak to your solicitor/conveyancer.

What do you suppose the banks surveyor comes and does? Yes many are drive by or desk based but our last remortgage the bank surveyor came in and went around the house to write his report back. If they saw a crumbling floor or whatever would they not report back / adjust the loan? So yes it is a survey but I suspect we are talking semantics as I know what you are saying which is why I said the lender will have theirs for valuation purposes.

I know what a valuer does for mortgage purposes as I have worked for surveyors. When a mortgage valuer does a "walk round" for the company you can ask for a survey of any level at the same time if they are a suitably qualified surveyor.