How to Read a House Survey Report
Learn how to work through your house survey report, identify the findings that need attention and decide what questions or further action may be required before exchange.
Where should you start?
A property survey report can contain a lot of information, particularly if the property has several defects or maintenance concerns.
Quick answer
Start with the summary and the most significant findings, then work through the report section by section. Pay particular attention to defects requiring repair, recommendations for further investigation and anything that could affect your decision before exchange.
What should you look for in the report?
Significant defects
Look first at defects that may require substantial repair, specialist investigation or further consideration before you purchase.
Recommended investigations
Where the surveyor cannot fully determine the cause or extent of an issue visually, the report may recommend specialist advice.
Repair requirements
Identify work that may be required immediately as well as longer-term maintenance that should be allowed for.
Areas not inspected
The report may explain where access was limited or where parts of the property could not be inspected visually.
Which survey findings matter most?
Not every defect has the same significance. Some findings may simply reflect normal maintenance, while others could require substantial expenditure or further investigation.
Consider the likely urgency, potential repair cost and whether the issue could affect your willingness to proceed with the purchase.
For examples of the defects that can appear in reports, see Common Issues Found in Surveys.
What does “further investigation” mean?
A house survey is a visual, non-invasive inspection. There are therefore situations where a surveyor can identify evidence of a potential problem without being able to confirm its full cause or extent.
The report may recommend that an appropriate specialist investigates the issue before exchange.
That does not automatically mean the property is unsuitable to buy. It means more information may be needed before you can make a fully informed decision.
How should you use repair-cost information?
If you have commissioned a Dunford Penrose Level 3 Building Survey, estimated repair costs are included where appropriate.
These estimates can help you understand the potential scale of work and decide whether contractor quotations should be obtained before exchange.
For Level 2 surveys, you may still decide to obtain quotations where significant defects are identified.
What should you do next?
Once you understand the findings, decide whether anything needs to be investigated before the purchase proceeds.
Possible next steps can include speaking to your surveyor, obtaining specialist advice, requesting repair quotations or raising relevant enquiries with your solicitor.
You may also decide to discuss significant repair requirements with the seller.
Read our guides to what happens after a house survey and renegotiating after a survey.
Can you speak to your surveyor after receiving the report?
Yes. If anything in the report is unclear, it is sensible to ask for clarification rather than trying to interpret technical findings yourself.
The surveyor can explain the significance of findings and why further investigation or repair may have been recommended.
More help with property surveys
Visit our Property Survey Help Centre for guidance on survey types, costs, defects and the property-buying process.
Reading a House Survey Report FAQs
What should I look at first in a house survey report?
Start with the summary and significant findings, then review defects, recommended investigations and repairs that could affect the purchase.
Should I worry about everything listed in the survey?
No. Properties often have routine maintenance requirements. The important task is understanding which findings are significant, urgent or likely to involve substantial repair.
What if I do not understand part of the survey report?
Ask your surveyor for clarification. It is better to understand the finding and its significance before making a decision about the property.
Can I renegotiate after reading the survey?
Potentially. Significant defects or repair requirements may lead you to obtain quotations or discuss the findings with the seller before exchange.
What happens if the report recommends further investigation?
You may wish to arrange the recommended specialist inspection before exchange so you understand the issue more fully before committing to the purchase.
Need a property survey?
Arrange a Level 2 Home Survey or Level 3 Building Survey and get clear information about the property before you commit to the purchase.
