Full survey on 80s build house?

trakky14

We've finally had an offer accepted on a house, it's 80s built and looks in good condition, just a conservatory added since built. My husband is keen for a full structural survey bit I'm not sure if it's really needed? We are a mortgage purchase so will be having a valuation anyway...would level 2/homebuyers report be sufficient? I don't mind either way happy to spend the extra if it's worth it 🙂

MaryNB

I bought a much older house and only got a level 2 report. However, based on a few posts I've seen on this forum, an extension like a conservatory would make me consider a level 3 report. Bear in mind, despite it being a level three report the surveyor is still limited in what they can examine so have a chat with a surveyor beforehand to see what you can expect from a more expensive report. They won't be able to drill into walls or break up a tiled floor to look underneath or anything. 

AdrianC

trakky14 said:

We've finally had an offer accepted on a house, it's 80s built and looks in good condition, just a conservatory added since built. My husband is keen for a full structural survey bit I'm not sure if it's really needed? We are a mortgage purchase so will be having a valuation anyway...would level 2/homebuyers report be sufficient? I don't mind either way happy to spend the extra if it's worth it 🙂

Only you can say what is sufficient for YOU.

The lender want a valuation to see if it's good security for the loan.
Anything above that is ENTIRELY your choice, to suit your requirements.

"1980s built" is a third of a century or more old. Plenty can be bodged or fail in that time.

trakky14

MaryNB said:

I bought a much older house and only got a level 2 report. However, based on a few posts I've seen on this forum, an extension like a conservatory would make me consider a level 3 report. Bear in mind, despite it being a level three report the surveyor is still limited in what they can examine so have a chat with a surveyor beforehand to see what you can expect from a more expensive report. They won't be able to drill into walls or break up a tiled floor to look underneath or anything. 

Thank you, good point we are considering extending it so probably worth the extra cost. 

trakky14

AdrianC said:

trakky14 said:

We've finally had an offer accepted on a house, it's 80s built and looks in good condition, just a conservatory added since built. My husband is keen for a full structural survey bit I'm not sure if it's really needed? We are a mortgage purchase so will be having a valuation anyway...would level 2/homebuyers report be sufficient? I don't mind either way happy to spend the extra if it's worth it 🙂

Only you can say what is sufficient for YOU.

The lender want a valuation to see if it's good security for the loan.
Anything above that is ENTIRELY your choice, to suit your requirements.

"1980s built" is a third of a century or more old. Plenty can be bodged or fail in that time.

Yes we've had various levels for previous purchases, I guess I was more of the mind to stick to level 3 for houses over 50+ years old but as you point out plenty can fail in 40 plus years. Thanks