Seller-side surveys
What should a seller do if they disagree with the buyer’s rating of the roof?
Say what they disagree with, and produce the invoice, the guarantee or a contractor’s note if they have one. Do not paint the stain the night before a second look. The rating is the buyer’s surveyor’s opinion. It is not a court judgment, and it does not force the seller to pay. A calm correction of fact is more useful than a complaint about the surveyor’s manners.
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 condition ratings describe seriousness. A seller who has just re-covered the roof should show the paperwork, not a tin of paint. If the surveyor could not see the covering, say how access can be given. If the surveyor was wrong about a fact, ask for that fact to be looked at. Do not demand that the whole report is withdrawn because one sentence feels rude.
In Scotland, do not quietly rewrite the property questionnaire to match a hope. Correct it if it is wrong. The single survey is the surveyor’s. There is no RICS appeal fee stated for a domestic rating. Buyers should not treat a seller’s anger as a repair.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Which sentence is fact, and which is opinion?
- What access would let you see the covering you could not see?
- Are you willing to note a document the seller provides? Only if it is actually relevant.
What are the typical next steps?
- Sellers: send papers, not paint.
- Buyers: read the papers, and do not drop a real defect because the seller is cross.
- Solicitors: keep the argument on the element, not on a threat to publish the report.
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
Does a seller’s roofer outrank the survey?
They answer different questions. A roofer can price or explain the covering. They do not erase a limitation they did not see past.
Should the seller complain to RICS first?
A complaint is about the professional’s conduct or service. It is not the way to change a price this week. Use the facts.