RICS Home Surveys
RICS Level 3 Building Survey
Previously the RICS Building Survey, sometimes called a full structural survey. Our most comprehensive inspection.
Quartz provides the RICS Level 3 Home Survey (previously the RICS Building Survey, sometimes called a full structural survey) for residential property across the UK. It is the most comprehensive inspection we offer, from an independent, RICS-regulated practice.
If you are purchasing an older, extended or unconventional property, a Level 3 survey examines the structure in detail, so you negotiate with evidence, not estimates.
What is a Level 3 Building Survey?
A RICS Level 3 Building Survey is a detailed inspection and written report on the structure, fabric and services of a residential property. It explains defects, their likely causes and the options for repair, and it advises on the consequences of leaving problems unaddressed. It is the deepest level of survey the RICS defines.
What the survey covers
- The structure and fabric of the building, examined in detail in all accessible areas
- Defects, their likely causes and the options for repair
- The probable cost implications of significant defects, where they can be assessed
- Services including heating, electrics and drainage, visually inspected
- Advice on maintenance, alterations and matters for your legal adviser
Which properties need a Level 3 survey?
A Level 3 survey is the right choice wherever age, alteration or construction raises questions a Level 2 Home Survey is not designed to answer. We recommend it for:
- Victorian, Edwardian and other pre-1930s houses
- Extended, converted or visibly altered properties
- Listed buildings and homes in conservation areas
- Properties of non-standard construction, such as timber frame or concrete
- Buildings in visibly poor condition, or with known or suspected defects
- Any purchase where you intend significant renovation work
If you are unsure whether the property justifies a Level 3 survey, describe it to us. We will advise on the right level before you instruct, and we will tell you plainly if a Level 2 survey would serve you just as well.
Read a sample Level 3 report
The specimen below shows the structure, condition ratings and depth of advice a Level 3 report gives you. You can read it here, page by page, before you instruct us.
Sample RICS Level 3 Building Survey
Read the report page by page in your browser, with zoom and keyboard navigation. A download link is available inside the reader.
How instruction works
Send us the property address and we will confirm the fee and timescale. Once instructed, we agree access with the estate agent or seller, carry out the inspection and prepare your report. Every report is written for the property in front of us, never assembled from templates. We then remain available to talk the findings through with you.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Level 3 survey the same as a full structural survey?
In everyday use, yes. The RICS Level 3 Home Survey is the current name for the RICS Building Survey, which many people still call a full structural survey. It is the most detailed survey the RICS defines, examining the structure, fabric and services of the property.
How much does a Level 3 building survey cost?
The fee depends on the size, age, value and construction of the property, because these determine the time the inspection and report require. We provide a clear written quotation before you instruct us, with no obligation. Please contact us with the property address and we will confirm the fee.
When is a Level 3 survey worth it?
A Level 3 survey is the sound choice for properties built before about 1930, extended or visibly altered homes, listed buildings and anything of non-standard construction. It is also worth considering wherever the purchase price is significant, because the report gives you evidence to negotiate with.
How long does a Level 3 survey take?
The inspection itself typically takes several hours on site, depending on the size and condition of the property. We will confirm the timescale for your report when we quote, so you can plan the survey around your conveyancing timetable.
Can I use the report to renegotiate the price?
Yes. This is one of the most common outcomes of a Level 3 survey. The report sets out defects, their likely causes and repair options, so you negotiate with evidence rather than estimates. Buyers regularly recover the cost of the survey many times over.
Request a Level 3 survey quotation.
Tell us the property address and we will confirm the fee and timescale, with no obligation.