Getting a structural survey when buying property

Buying a house is the biggest purchase many of us will probably make, whether it’s for a home, a rental or a property investment. So, knowing exactly what you’re getting for your money is essential before you exchange contracts, to manage your expectations of what the property offers.

If the purchase involves a mortgage, it’s easy to think that the survey they ask for will do the job, but it’s important to know a mortgage valuation survey is not the same as a structural survey. As the name implies, a structural survey will uncover any hidden issues that could cost thousands to fix, enabling you to make an informed decision or give you the basis to potentially negotiate the purchase price.

Choosing the right survey

The most common survey types are:

• RICS Level 2 Survey. This provides a general overview of the property’s condition, identifying the defects and maintenance issues that can visibly be seen.
• RICS Level 3 Survey. This one is also sometimes called a Building Survey and is the most comprehensive survey offered by an RICS surveyor. If your property is old, on the larger side or has had significant alterations, this is the one for you. You’ll get a detailed assessment of the property’s overall condition and if potential structural issues are suspected, a structural engineer may be instructed to carry out a structural survey to assess the problem and make recommendations on the best remedial action.

What is a structural survey?

In simple terms, a structural survey is a detailed assessment of a property’s structural condition and must be carried out by a qualified structural engineer. A basic mortgage valuation is exactly that – a valuation of the worth of the property to protect the mortgage lender’s investment. The structural survey is specifically for assessing the structural integrity of the building and investigates elements such as:

• Foundations
• Load-bearing walls
• Roof structure
• Floors
• Ceilings
• Structural movement
• Cracking
• Damp
• Previous structural alterations

Get a structural survey and your property purchase can be made in the knowledge of any existing or potential structural problems before you commit to buy.

Is a mortgage valuation enough?

We really don’t think so and it’s one of the most common misconceptions among homebuyers. Because a mortgage valuation is carried out solely for the benefit of the lender it doesn’t cover aspects of the property that will impact you. The mortgage lender simply needs to know that in the event there was a default on the mortgage that the property provides sufficient security to cover the mortgage. Its intention is not to identify any structural defects or give information on how they are best fixed, now or in the future. You’ll get a much more detailed report from a house structural survey so that you can understand the true condition of the property; understand any risks involved and have clear expectations in what kind of work you should expect to carry out.

What kind of problems does a structural survey identify?

The beauty and value of the structural survey is that it picks up the things you can’t see. Many structural issues are not immediately obvious during a viewing and can be disguised by fresh paint, new flooring or recently completed renovations. The kind of issues that a structural survey may identify include:

• Subsidence
• Settlement
• Structural movement
• Wall cracks
• Bowing walls
• Roof spread
• Timber defects
• Foundation problems
• Chimney instability
• Structural damage caused by water ingress
• Poor-quality structural alterations
• Inadequate support following the removal of internal walls

Knowing if any of these problems exist in the property you’re looking to buy will help you decide if you’re willing to take on any potential repair costs before proceeding.

Especially useful for older properties

Important for any property purchase, a structural survey becomes even more worthwhile when purchasing an older property. There’s every chance that a property built several decades ago will have experienced natural settlement and aging materials, or undergone previous extensions and alterations, and these will need to be assessed. Edwardian and Victorian period properties all have the potential to present unique structural challenges that go unnoticed during a standard viewing. And for the homes that have been significantly extended or converted, you’ll want to be reassured works were carried out correctly and are well supported.

The cost of the survey may be considerably less than what it saves you!

A structural survey may feel like ‘another’ expense’ but it truly can save you money in the long run. If structural issues are found before you exchange on your property purchase, it gives you the opportunity to:

• Renegotiate the purchase price
• Ask the seller to complete repairs
• Budget accurately for future work
• Decide not to proceed if the defects are bigger than you want to take on

Regardless, the peace of mind you’ll get from knowing you’ve had the right structural survey done is invaluable at a time when you’re making such a big financial commitment, giving you the confidence to proceed with the exchange and completion.

When to do a structural survey

Our recommendation is that you get in touch to arrange a structural survey once your offer has been accepted, but before exchanging contracts. It’s important to allow enough time to get the survey completed, review the findings and organise quotations for any recommended work. Time to discuss any concerns with the seller before becoming legally committed to the purchase is highly valuable. As we always say, ‘Act early to prevent costly surprises later.’

How DSA can help

We are an established structural engineering company with great expertise in residential properties. Choose us as your qualified structural engineer for your purchase and we’ll work together to understand any defects clearly, consider if they are cosmetic or structural, and then how they can be overcome using practical solutions. You’ll have all the information you need to decide if you want to go ahead or not. Our easy-to-understand report may also be useful when discussing repairs with solicitors, mortgage lenders or the property’s seller.

Don’t leave anything to chance

Buying a property can be an emotional experience and may indeed be love at first viewing, so it’s important to stay practical and investigate any hidden structural issues before it’s too late.

If you’re in the process of buying a property and would like our expert advice, we’re ready to help. Contact our team today to arrange a structural survey.