If you are buying a flat, you may wonder whether you need to arrange a survey. If so, what type of survey should you choose and are there any special considerations? We cover all these issues and more to help put your mind at rest and guide your next move.
What is a survey?
Surveys are inspections to assess the condition of a property and check for current problems or any that may arise in the future. They are extremely useful to reveal information about a property that may influence key decisions e.g. whether or not to purchase/whether to negotiate price.
Do you need a survey when buying a flat?
While you do not legally require a survey to buy a house or flat, the short answer is yes. You should arrange a relevant survey with a Chartered Surveyor when buying a flat to check for any issues, just as you would for a house. This avoids unexpected issues and costs down the line.
Flat survey vs house survey
Essentially, flat and house surveys are the same: your surveyor will look for issues such as damp, cracks, timber defects and other problems. The big difference when surveying flats is that your surveyor is limited in terms of access.
Your surveyor will inspect:
- The inside of the flat i.e. checking for cracks, mould etc. This is the same as a house survey. Roof spaces will only be inspected if they are specific to the flat under report.
- A more detailed assessment of the exterior of the specific flat under report
- A more general assessment of the condition of the other outside parts of the building, to identify any major issues or backlog maintenance items that may require resident contributions through service charge or a Section 20 process.
- Shared access, communal areas and common outbuildings such as garages, car ports, bin stores, and cycle stores.
- Your surveyor will also inspect services including drains, lifts, fire alarms and security systems in commercial areas where these are accessible.
Your surveyor will not inspect:
- While checking the general condition, your surveyor will not inspect exterior wall systems e.g. cladding. They will recommend a specialist investigation if they think it is necessary.
- Your surveyor is limited when inspecting a flat, and they may not be able to inspect areas that you will be expected to contribute towards, e.g. service charges, including possible payments for general maintenance/repairs. They will explain their limitations to help you make any decisions.
What are the different types of flat surveys?
Exactly the same as house surveys, there are different levels of flat surveys relevant to different types of property:
Level 1 survey: Home Condition Report
This survey is designed for conventional and newer properties.
Level 2 survey: Homebuyers Report
Available with or without a valuation, this survey is for standard properties in reasonable condition and without significant alterations.
Level 3 survey: Building Survey
Sometimes referred to as a Structural Survey, this inspection is for older properties (typically 100+ years old), those in poor condition or with significant alterations.
This guide explains more about the different survey options and how to choose the right one.
What type of survey do you need for a leasehold flat?
Most flats are leasehold, which means you essentially lease the property from the owner for a defined period of time. You may or may not be responsible for all maintenance costs or be able to make changes to the flat. Find out more about the differences between leasehold and freehold here.
The type of survey required for a leasehold flat is no different to freehold but depends on the building. Often, a Level 2 survey is an appropriate choice, going into sufficient detail to reveal issues with the property. However, you should contact your Chartered Surveyor for advice, and they will help you choose the right flat survey.
Get in touch
So, there are not really huge differences between house surveys and flat surveys. In essence, your surveyor checks for any issues that may influence your decision to buy. There are limitations to what they are able to inspect, but these are clearly highlighted in your report, and all the information you gain is extremely valuable as you proceed.
If you are interested in arranging a flat survey or have any questions, please get in touch by calling 01962 880426 and talking to our friendly team. We will be happy to help.