Level 2 Home Survey
A Level 2 Home Survey provides clear information about the visible condition of a property, helping you understand defects and maintenance concerns before you buy.
What is a Level 2 Home Survey?
A Level 2 Home Survey is designed to provide buyers with a clear overview of the visible condition of a property before exchange.
It can be suitable for many conventional houses, flats and maisonettes that appear to be in reasonable condition and do not require the greater reporting depth of a Level 3 Building Survey.
Level 2 Survey explained
Dunford Penrose carries out the same level of property inspection for both Level 2 and Level 3 surveys. The main difference is the depth of the written report. Level 3 provides more detailed reporting and estimated repair costs where appropriate.
If you want a fuller explanation of what is included, read our guide to what a Level 2 Survey covers .
When should you choose a Level 2 Survey?
A Level 2 Home Survey may be appropriate where the property is conventional in construction and appears to be in reasonable condition.
Conventional homes
Suitable for many houses and flats of standard construction where there are no obvious signs of major defects.
Properties in reasonable condition
A Level 2 report can give you clear information about visible defects and maintenance concerns without the extra reporting detail of Level 3.
Buyer reassurance
The report can help you understand the condition of the property before exchange and identify areas that may need attention.
Clear next steps
Where further investigation is appropriate, the report can explain what additional advice may be needed before purchase.
What does a Level 2 Home Survey cover?
The surveyor considers the visible and accessible parts of the property and reports on condition concerns and defects that may require attention.
- Roof coverings and chimneys
- Gutters and rainwater goods
- External walls and finishes
- Windows and external doors
- Floors, ceilings and internal walls
- Accessible roof spaces
- Visible signs of dampness
- Cracking and possible movement
- Maintenance concerns
- Areas requiring further investigation
For more detail about the inspection itself, read what surveyors look for in a house survey .
What will your Level 2 report tell you?
Visible defects
The report identifies visible defects and explains areas of the property that may require repair or maintenance.
Condition concerns
Issues such as dampness, cracking, deterioration or roof defects can be highlighted where visible during the inspection.
Further investigation
Where the cause or extent of an issue cannot be established visually, specialist investigation may be recommended.
Supporting photographs
Relevant photographs can help make findings easier to understand and show where defects are located.
What is the difference between Level 2 and Level 3?
With Dunford Penrose, the same level of inspection is carried out for both survey types. The difference is primarily in how much detail is provided in the written report.
Level 2 Home Survey
Clear reporting on visible defects and condition concerns, suitable for many conventional properties in reasonable condition.
Level 3 Building Survey
More detailed reporting for older, altered, extended, unusual or more complex properties, with estimated repair costs included where appropriate.
You can also read our Building Survey vs Homebuyers Report comparison.
Is a Level 2 Survey worth it?
A Level 2 Survey can be valuable because it gives you independent information about the condition of the property before you become legally committed.
Even properties that appear well maintained can have defects or maintenance requirements that are not obvious during a viewing.
Read our full guide: Is a Level 2 Survey Worth It?
See what a Level 2 Home Survey report looks like
If you want to see the format and type of information included before booking, you can view an example Dunford Penrose Level 2 Home Survey report.
When should you arrange a Level 2 Survey?
Most buyers arrange their survey after an offer has been accepted and before exchange of contracts.
This gives you time to review the report, ask questions and investigate any significant findings before becoming legally committed to the purchase.
Read our guide to when you should get a house survey .
What happens after you receive the report?
Once the report arrives, review the main findings and identify anything that needs clarification, further investigation or a repair quotation.
If significant issues are identified, you may decide to raise questions, obtain specialist advice or discuss the findings with the seller before exchange.
Our guides to reading a house survey report and what happens after a survey explain the next steps.
More property survey guidance
For more advice on choosing a survey, survey costs, the buying process and understanding property defects, visit our Property Survey Help Centre .
Level 2 Home Survey FAQs
What is a Level 2 Home Survey?
It is a property survey that provides clear reporting on visible defects and condition concerns and can be suitable for many conventional homes in reasonable condition.
What does a Level 2 Survey cover?
It considers visible and accessible areas of the property, including roofs, walls, windows, internal surfaces and visible signs of defects such as dampness or cracking.
Is a Level 2 Survey suitable for an older house?
It can be, but older, altered, extended or more complex properties may benefit from the greater reporting detail of a Level 3 Building Survey.
Does a Level 2 Survey inspect less than Level 3?
No. Dunford Penrose carries out the same level of property inspection for both survey types. The difference is the level of detail in the written report.
Does a Level 2 Survey include repair costs?
Estimated repair costs are not a standard feature of the Dunford Penrose Level 2 report. These are included where appropriate in the Level 3 Building Survey.
When should I arrange a Level 2 Survey?
It is usually best to arrange the survey after your offer has been accepted and before exchange of contracts.
Need a Level 2 Home Survey?
Tell Dunford Penrose Surveyors about the property you are buying and we can help you decide whether a Level 2 Survey is the right option.
