Condition ratings
What does NI mean if the loft hatch was painted shut?
NI means not inspected. A painted-shut hatch is a reason the loft was not inspected. It is not a pass for the roof timbers, the insulation or the wiring in the loft. If the surveyor is worried, they should say what further investigation is needed.
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 uses NI where an element was not inspected. The usual causes are no access, stored items, or a risk in entering. A hatch that will not open is no access. The roof covering may still have been seen from the ground. The structure underneath has not. Do not tell a lender the loft was fine.
Ask the seller to free the hatch and ask the surveyor what a return visit would cost, if you need the loft before you commit. That fee is the firm’s. If you proceed without it, do so knowing the limitation. A later leak is not something the report ruled out.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- What exactly was NI: the loft, the roof covering, or both?
- What further investigation are you recommending?
- What could you see of the roof from outside despite the hatch?
What are the typical next steps?
- Free the hatch if the seller agrees, and look, or pay the surveyor to look.
- Do not paint over the limitation in your own notes.
- If you exchange without access, accept that you did.
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?
No. Rating 1 means inspected and no repair currently needed. NI means not inspected. They are opposites in that sense.
Can a painted hatch hide spray foam?
It can hide whatever is up there, including foam, rot or a straightforward empty loft. That is why NI is not a pass.