Condition ratings
What does condition rating 2 mean if the defect is real but not urgent?
RICS defines rating 2 as defects that need repairing or replacing but are not considered to be either serious or urgent. The property must still be maintained in the normal way. The defect is real. The timing is not “drop everything”, and it is not “do nothing”.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.
What is the fuller explanation?
People skip rating 2 because it is not red, then act surprised when a tired roof becomes a leak. The definition says repair or replacement is needed. It also says it is not serious or urgent. Plan the work. You do not have to treat it as a reason to withdraw unless, in your finances, that repair is the thing you cannot take on. There is no RICS rule that a rating 2 equals a set price cut.
RICS’s “What to do now” advice about written quotations is aimed at the serious and urgent items. For a rating 2, a quotation is still how you find out the cost, if you want a cost. Ask a contractor. The survey will not price it. If you think the surveyor has underrated a dangerous defect, ask them to explain the number before you invent a 3.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Why is this a 2 and not a 3?
- What will happen if it is left for a few years?
- What maintenance stops it becoming urgent?
What are the typical next steps?
- Get a quote if you need to plan money. Do not demand one from the surveyor.
- Do not describe a 2 as an emergency in a letter to the seller.
- Do not ignore it in your own budget.
Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.
Also asked about this
Can several rating 2s matter more than one rating 3?
They can matter to your budget. They do not change the definition of each number. List them and price the ones you need to understand. Do not add them up into a fake score.
Should the seller repair every 2 before exchange?
That is a negotiation. Many buyers take rating 2s as future maintenance. There is no duty on the seller created by the number alone.