Property survey red flags

Thinking of skipping a property survey to save money? Think again. According to a recent survey by the HomeOwners Alliance, not getting a survey is a significant source of regret across all age groups, and that regret stems from discovering expensive problems after moving in.

At Surveyor Local, we have seen how a proper survey can save homebuyers thousands of pounds and prevent costly surprises. Here is everything you need to know about survey red flags and how to handle them.

Surveys are often the first casualty when buying a property, but this decision frequently leads to regret when buyers discover serious and potentially expensive problems with their new home.

The real cost of skipping a survey is this: having committed to the purchase and moved in, you will need to find the cash to sort out problems that could have been identified beforehand. But armed with survey information and potential remedial costs, you have a powerful tool to re-enter price negotiations or arrange compromises on how problems will be rectified and paid for.

When you take out a Level 2 HomeBuyer Report, you get detailed analysis of the building's condition from a chartered surveyor, though without detailed cost assessments for remedial work. A Level 3 building survey goes into much more detail, including assessment of any remedial work needed, evaluation of likely costs and categorisation of severity and necessity for immediate action. You can compare what each survey level costs on our survey cost page.

A survey red flag is a warning that there is a significant problem with the condition or stability of the property you are looking to buy. Some red flags might be obvious to spot yourself, while others require the trained eye of a professional surveyor.

Obvious problems you might notice include serious damp issues: the distinctive musty smell, black mould growing on walls and tiles, or dampness in the air. You might also spot subsidence warning signs like cracks in walls, particularly leading toward corners of doors and windows, or floors that are not level.

Problems only surveyors can identify include potential asbestos presence, decay in roof trusses, concerns about the age and condition of electrical wiring and gas system safety issues. They can also spot recent work that may contravene building regulations, such as extensions, window installations and roof work, and flag these as issues for your conveyancing solicitor to verify that all necessary planning and building regulation paperwork has been completed.

While surveyors will not dismantle gas or electrical systems for investigation, they can provide expert analysis of system conditions based on their experience with similar properties and assess whether systems are fit for purpose.

Should any serious problems be highlighted during the survey, your first step should be to talk to the surveyor to discuss the report in more detail. It is always worth reading through the report a couple of times and writing down your questions before setting up the session.

Even if a red flag has been raised, that need not mean you should be overly worried. Your surveyor may advise getting specialists in for asbestos removal, subsidence engineering, invasive plant removal or structural repairs, to give you an idea of costs and timescales.

Bear in mind that any of these red flags will have an understandable impact on the property's marketability and therefore its value, which may mean your mortgage lender is unwilling to lend at the current price.

Armed with this information, you can enter discussions with your seller, usually via solicitors and estate agents, to reach an agreement on how to move forward. In most cases, a suitable compromise can be reached, but be prepared to back out of the purchase unless you really want the property and are willing to pay for the remedial work.

It is a difficult stage in the home buying process, and we do not underestimate the level of stress involved. But approaching the survey with a clear purpose, to understand the property's condition from an expert, makes it a valuable step in your decision-making process.

Getting a detailed survey provides peace of mind at a reasonable price, helping you understand exactly what condition and problems you will be taking on with any purchase. At Surveyor Local, we only work with chartered surveyors who are members of RICS, ensuring your survey is always professionally delivered.

Our nationwide panel of qualified surveyors will work hard to identify all kinds of problems, including structural damage from prior flooding and other hidden issues that could cost thousands to rectify. For a full breakdown of what surveyors commonly find, see our guide to the most common house survey problems. If your survey has already flagged issues, our guide on what to do when your house survey reveals problems sets out your options.

Do not let survey red flags become expensive surprises after you have moved in. Our friendly team is happy to talk through your concerns about a planned property purchase and help you choose the right survey.

Call us on or get a survey quote online.