Do you need a survey when selling a house?

You do not need to provide a survey when selling a house. It is the buyer's responsibility to arrange and pay for their own survey.

However, as a home seller there are situations where getting an independent valuation or pre-sale survey can work in your favour, helping you price accurately, avoid last-minute price reductions and give buyers greater confidence in the property.

No. There is no legal requirement for a seller to commission a survey or provide one to a buyer. The buyer arranges their own survey as part of their due diligence before exchange of contracts.

That said, as we mentionned, there are situations where a seller's survey or valuation can be a practical tool, particularly if you want to price confidently, get ahead of potential issues a buyer's surveyor might flag or satisfy a specific requirement such as a Help to Buy or shared ownership transaction.

Pricing the property accurately: an independent Property Valuation Report gives you a professional, RICS-accredited view of what your property is worth before you list it. This is particularly useful if you are unsure of the market value or want an independent opinion separate from an estate agent's appraisal.

Getting ahead of defects: if you suspect the property has structural issues or defects, commissioning a survey before you list can help you understand what a buyer's surveyor is likely to find. This gives you the opportunity to carry out repairs in advance or factor known issues into your asking price, reducing the risk of a buyer using survey findings to renegotiate significantly later in the process.

Help to Buy and shared ownership: if you are selling a shared ownership property, a RICS valuation is required to determine the market value that the selling price will be based on. 

No. A survey commissioned by the buyer is carried out for the buyer's benefit and the results are not shared with the seller. The buyer is under no obligation to share the findings, though they may use them as grounds to renegotiate the price or request repairs before completion.

If you want an independent assessment of your own property's condition, you would need to commission your own survey separately.

Getting an independent survey or valuation before selling can give you several practical advantages:

• Accurate pricing: an independent valuation ensures you are marketing the property at the right price for current market conditions, rather than relying solely on an estate agent's appraisal.
• Fewer surprises during the sale: if you are aware of any defects before listing, you can address them in advance or disclose them upfront, reducing the likelihood of a buyer using survey findings to chip the price later in the process.
• Greater buyer confidence: a pre-sale survey can reassure prospective buyers about the condition of the property, potentially speeding up the sale process.
• Identifying hidden defects: issues such as damp, rot or structural movement may not be visible during viewings. Knowing about them in advance gives you more control over how they are handled.
• Local expertise: all surveyors on the Surveyor Local panel are RICS-accredited with local knowledge of the area and property types in their region, ensuring an accurate and relevant assessment.

House surveys cost from £381 on average for a Property Valuation Report, £560 for a RICS Level 2 Survey and £786 for a RICS Level 3 Survey. Costs vary depending on the size, value and location of the property.

See our house survey cost guide for a full breakdown by survey type and property value.

All surveys booked through Surveyor Local are carried out by RICS-accredited surveyors with local knowledge of the area and property types in their region. We work with over 100 surveyors across England and Wales.

To arrange a survey, call us on or fill the form below and we will get back to you.