Choosing a survey level
When is a Level 1 a poor fit, given how limited its inspection is?
A Level 1 is the shortest RICS home survey. The scope-of-inspection page for Level 1 is the list of what that visit includes and what it leaves out. It is a poor fit when you already know the house is old, altered, non-standard, thatched or in obviously poor condition, because you will pay for a report that was not designed to describe those problems in any depth.
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?
RICS’s consumer guide compares the levels so buyers do not buy on price alone. A Level 1 can suit a conventional modern home that looks in reasonable condition, if you understand you are not getting a Level 3’s description. It will not test services. It will not open the fabric. If the listing already shows a loft conversion, a flat roof and a crack over the bay, step up before you instruct, not after you are disappointed.
Ask the firm to say, in the quote, which level they are selling. “Homebuyer” is a word people use loosely for Level 2. Pin the level number down. If they suggest Level 1 for a house they have not asked about, tell them about the alterations before you pay.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Given what we have told you about age and alterations, why would Level 1 be enough?
- What would Level 2 or 3 add that this scope leaves out?
- Will the report use condition ratings, and will it say NI where you cannot see?
What are the typical next steps?
- Describe the house honestly when you ask for a quote: age, alterations, flat roofs, known cracks.
- If the firm still offers Level 1, keep their reason in writing.
- Do not upgrade by arguing after the inspection. Change the instruction beforehand.
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
Is a Level 1 the same as a mortgage valuation?
No. MoneyHelper says a mortgage valuation is not a structural survey. A Level 1 is a survey. It is still the most limited RICS home survey.
Can you add a drain camera to a Level 1?
Only if the firm agrees it as an extra. It is not hidden in the scope. Ask the price of the extra separately.