Survey costs

The consumer guide's words about Level 1 fees describe the survey invoice. Do they also budget the slate repair?

No. They describe the survey invoice, not a budget for the slate repair. The consumer guide says cost is variable, and that Level 1 sits at the lower end and starts at a few hundred pounds. Those words are about what a Level 1 survey can cost. They are not money set aside for slates, and they are not a cap a roofer must respect. The repair still needs prices from contractors who have seen this roof.

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?

Level 1, which used to be called a Condition Report, is a visual overview for a conventional home. It notes defects, risks and urgent matters. It generally does not tell you how to manage them, and it does not test the fabric or the services. That narrow job is why the fee words sit at the lower end of survey charges. A slate repair is a building contract, priced by access, materials and labour. Nothing in the sentence about a few hundred pounds transfers across to become the roofer's budget or a sum you can deduct with a straight face.

Cost is variable for the survey itself, because houses and firms differ. Variability of the survey fee is not a formula for the repair. If the report has flagged the covering, ask roofers for quotes and keep those quotes out of the Level 1 fee discussion. Paying at the lower end of survey fees does not mean the slates will be cheap, and paying more for a higher level would still not publish a slate price. The guidance is describing invoices for surveys. It is not offering a repair tariff.

What should you ask your surveyor?

Does this Level 1 tell me how to manage the slate defect, or only that it exists?
Which parts of the roof were outside this visual overview?
Should I treat your fee as any kind of allowance for the covering?

What are the typical next steps?

Read the Level 1 fee words as survey pricing only.
Commission quotes for the slates from roofers.
Do not deduct a few hundred pounds as the repair.

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

If the Level 1 fee is higher than a few hundred pounds, is the slate budget higher too?

No. The fee words are not a slate budget at any point on the scale. Repair quotes are separate.

Does a cheap Level 1 mean the roof must be inexpensive to fix?

No. A lower survey fee reflects the limited product. It says nothing about the roofer's bill.