Main sections of the Single Survey
Information and scope
Property type, accommodation, age, construction, location and limits to inspection.
Condition
Repair categories and notes for roof, walls, damp, windows, services, grounds and internal areas.
Valuation and conveyancer issues
Market value, reinstatement cost and points for a solicitor or licensed conveyancer to check.
Limits of inspection
The surveyor normally inspects visible and accessible areas only. They do not usually move heavy furniture, lift fitted floor coverings, expose foundations, test services or inspect inaccessible communal spaces.
For buyers, “not inspected” or “limited inspection” does not automatically mean a defect exists, but it does mean you should understand what the surveyor could not see.
How to use it
- Read the condition category and the written notes together.
- Compare the valuation with the asking price and local market.
- Send solicitor points to your conveyancer early.
- Get specialist estimates where the report recommends them or where cost is uncertain.