Condition ratings
The limitation says snow covered the flat roof. Why is that sentence not a rating 1 for the covering?
That sentence is not rating 1 because it is a limitation. Snow covered the flat roof, so the covering was not inspected. NI means not inspected, not a pass. Rating 1 means no repair currently needed, and that is a judgement on something seen. The snow hid the covering, so no such judgement was made. The sentence explains why. It does not award rating 1 and it does not call the flat sound underneath.
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?
A limitation records what the survey could not do. Snow kept this covering outside the inspection. Rating 2 would mean defects that need repair but are not serious or urgent. Rating 3 would mean serious and/or urgent repair, replacement or investigation. None of those can be given to a surface that was not seen, and rating 1 cannot either. Do not promote the snow sentence into rating 1. Unseen is NI, and NI is not a pass.
Tell the solicitor the flat roof is not rating 1. It was not inspected because of snow. A lender should not be told the covering passed. When the snow has gone, the roof needs a look if you want a rating. The survey has not guessed the covering under the snow and has not added a lifespan. The limitation is only the reason the covering is NI.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Is the flat roof marked NI rather than rating 1?
- Could any edge be seen where the snow was thinner?
- What has to change before the covering can be rated?
What are the typical next steps?
- Read the snow sentence as a limitation, not as rating 1.
- Do not tell the lender the flat roof passed.
- Arrange another look when the covering is clear.
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 NI the same as rating 1 when only the weather stopped the look?
No. NI means not inspected, not a pass. Snow explains why the flat was not seen. It does not turn the limitation into rating 1. Rating 1 means no repair currently needed, which requires an inspection. The weather is the reason for NI. It is not a grade for the hidden covering.
Does snow on the flat mean the covering is new?
No. Snow hides whatever is underneath. It does not show age, cracks or a new layer. The survey has not called the flat new and has not given it rating 1. NI means not inspected, not a pass. The build-up waits until the surface can be seen. The limitation is not a clean bill of health.