What is a Level 1 property survey?

The Level 1 survey, also known as the Condition Report, is, other than the Property Valuation Report, the most basic home survey available. Because less effort is required to assess the property and write up the findings, it is also the cheapest option.

When appointed to carry out a Level 1 survey, the chartered surveyor will perform a visual inspection of the property, highlighting immediately visible defects and giving an overall assessment of the building's general condition including the utilities.

The surveyor will examine both internal and external aspects of the building, looking for obvious defects. They will not inspect any area in detail: this survey provides only a basic overview of the property's condition. No testing of the building or its services will be carried out, which means no meter readings or measurements will be taken. The investigation is purely visual.

Areas typically covered include the roof, loft space, guttering and drainage, walls, windows, doors, visible utility services and floors. The surveyor will only make a visual inspection and will not enter any space where it is not safe to do so. Where access was not possible, this will be noted in the report.

The report gives a summary of the property's internal and external condition with photographs for clarity. It uses a traffic light rating system throughout: red for elements requiring urgent attention, amber for issues that need attention but are not immediately serious and green for elements with no current concerns noted.

The report will also include a list of documentation the surveyor recommends you request before exchanging contracts, which your conveyancing solicitor can follow up. There is a dedicated section covering anything of legal concern, including regulations, guarantees and warranties.

Finally, the report provides advice on next steps: how to get quotes for repairs to highlighted work, what further investigations may be needed for areas the surveyor could not fully access and who to contact.

A Level 1 survey is best suited to conventional properties in obviously good condition: modern homes built to standard construction with no unusual materials and no visible signs of serious problems.

It is not appropriate for older properties, listed buildings, those built with non-standard materials, those with a complex design or any property showing signs of neglect or structural concern. Properties built before 1960 in particular typically warrant at least a RICS Level 2 HomeBuyer Report, and often a RICS Level 3 building survey if there are visible concerns.

The limited scope of this type of home survey means that underlying defects which might surface later are not covered. If there is any doubt about the condition of a property, a more detailed building survey will give you significantly more confidence before committing to a purchase.

You can compare what each survey level costs on our survey cost page.

At Surveyor Local, we work exclusively with RICS-accredited chartered surveyors across England and Wales. Our team can advise on the right survey level for your property and arrange it quickly at a competitive price.

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