Trusted homebuyer surveys for Derby's mix of Victorian terraces, inter-war semis, and Derwent Valley heritage properties
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Derby's average house price sits at £205,000 — well below the national average — making it one of the East Midlands' most accessible property markets. But affordability does not mean simplicity. The city's housing stock spans centuries, from Georgian mill workers' cottages in Darley Abbey to dense Victorian terraces in Normanton and post-war estates across Spondon and Chaddesden. A RICS Level 2 Survey gives you a clear, structured assessment of a property's condition before you commit, flagging defects that a basic mortgage valuation will never pick up. In a city built on Mercia Mudstone clay — a soil type prone to seasonal shrink-swell movement — that visibility matters.
£205,000
Average House Price
2,250
Properties at Flood Risk
River Derwent corridor
From £395
Level 2 Survey Cost
Derby pricing
16
Conservation Areas
Across the city
Derby sits on the southern edge of the Derbyshire coalfield, and parts of the city — particularly to the north and east — fall within the Coal Authority's development high-risk area. Shallow mine workings beneath residential streets can cause localised ground instability that shows up as cracking in walls or uneven floors. Combine this with the city's position on Mercia Mudstone, a clay-rich geology that swells when wet and shrinks during dry spells, and you have two separate ground-movement risks that many buyers outside the area simply do not expect. A RICS Level 2 Survey is designed to flag these visible signs of structural distress early in the buying process.
The Level 2 report covers the full visible condition of the property — roof, walls, windows, floors, ceilings, services, and external areas — using a traffic-light rating system. Each building element receives a condition rating from 1 (no repair needed) to 3 (serious defects requiring urgent attention). For Derby properties, this structured approach is particularly useful when assessing the condition of Victorian bay-fronted terraces in areas like Normanton and Rose Hill, where decades of weathering on exposed red-brick facades can mask deeper issues with pointing, lintels, and dampness.
Derby also lies within the flood risk corridor of the River Derwent, which runs directly through the city centre. The Environment Agency has identified 2,250 properties at risk of flooding in Derby, and the £95 million Our City Our River scheme is still being delivered in phases to improve defences. Buyers looking at properties near the river — in areas such as Chester Green, Little Chester, and the Meadows — should treat a Level 2 survey as a minimum starting point. The surveyor can note proximity to flood zones and visible signs of past water damage, helping you make a properly informed decision.
Source: ONS Census 2021. Derby has a notably higher proportion of houses (85.6%) compared to the national average (77.9%).
Derby is built on Mercia Mudstone, a clay-rich bedrock that expands when saturated and contracts during prolonged dry weather. This shrink-swell cycle places consistent stress on building foundations, particularly on older properties with shallow footings. The British Geological Survey classifies parts of Derby as having moderate to high shrink-swell hazard potential. At the same time, areas on the city's eastern fringe sit above former coal workings from the Derbyshire coalfield, where shallow mine shafts and voids can cause localised settlement. Your Level 2 surveyor will check for visible cracking, distortion, and movement that could point to either of these ground conditions.
| Survey Type | Derby | National Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICS Level 2 | From £395 | From £395 | £0 |
| RICS Level 3 | From £595 | From £619 | -£24 |
| Valuation Only | From £240 | From £250 | -£10 |
RICS Level 2
Derby
From £395
National Avg
From £395
Difference
£0
RICS Level 3
Derby
From £595
National Avg
From £619
Difference
-£24
Valuation Only
Derby
From £240
National Avg
From £250
Difference
-£10
Prices based on a standard 3-bed property. Derby pricing is broadly in line with national averages, reflecting the city's mid-range property values.
The surveyors we work with in Derby are based in and around the city and have hands-on experience with the local housing stock. They know the difference between a well-maintained 1930s semi in Allestree and a Victorian end-terrace in the Arboretum ward that has had decades of piecemeal repairs. They understand Mercia Mudstone ground behaviour, recognise the telltale signs of coal mining settlement, and can assess whether a property near the Derwent has a flood history. That local knowledge translates directly into a more useful survey report — one that gives you the context you need to negotiate or walk away.
Enter the property details — address, type, approximate age, and number of bedrooms. You'll receive an instant price. For properties suited to a Level 2 survey, you can book and pay online straight away. We contact the seller or their estate agent within 24 hours to arrange access.
A local RICS surveyor visits the property for a thorough visual inspection. For a typical Derby semi-detached or terraced house, the visit takes around 2 to 4 hours depending on the property's size and complexity. Larger detached homes in areas like Littleover or Mickleover may take a little longer.
Your Level 2 report arrives within 2 to 6 working days. It uses a clear condition-rating system to highlight defects, flag areas needing urgent repair, and recommend further investigation where needed. Our bookings team is available to walk you through the findings and help arrange any follow-up services, such as a more detailed Level 3 survey or a specialist damp inspection.
The UNESCO Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site stretches from Matlock Bath south into Derby city centre, encompassing areas like Darley Abbey and the Silk Mill. Properties within or adjacent to this designation may face additional planning restrictions — permitted development rights can be limited, and alterations often require Heritage Impact Assessments. Your Level 2 surveyor will note the property's proximity to the World Heritage Site in the report, helping you understand any constraints on future modifications before you exchange contracts.
Derby's built environment tells the story of the Industrial Revolution and the railway age. Darley Abbey's terraced cottages were built to house workers at the Evans cotton mill in the late 18th century — some of the earliest planned industrial housing in England, now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Victorian expansion of the railway industry under the Midland Railway brought waves of red-brick terraced housing to areas like Normanton, Rose Hill, and the Arboretum ward, much of it built between 1870 and 1910 with solid walls, slate roofs, and minimal foundations by modern standards. The inter-war period added substantial semi-detached estates across Chaddesden, Allestree, and Littleover, while post-1945 council building programmes created large developments in Mackworth and Sinfin.
Each of these eras brings different survey considerations. Georgian and early Victorian cottages in the Derwent corridor may have lime mortar joints that deteriorate over time and solid stone or brick walls with no cavity. Late Victorian terraces often feature bay windows with timber lintels that rot and crack under load. The 1930s semis that dominate much of suburban Derby were generally well built, but many now have ageing roof coverings, single-skin rear extensions added without building regulation approval, and cavity walls that have never been insulated. A Level 2 survey addresses all of these visible issues in a structured, rated format — giving you a property-specific checklist rather than generic advice.
Explore our full range of property services available in Derby
From £595
A full structural survey for older, larger, or non-standard Derby properties that need deeper investigation.
From £500
Detailed building surveys covering Derby's Victorian terraces, heritage properties, and converted mill buildings.
From £65
Energy Performance Certificates for Derby homeowners, landlords, and sellers — a legal requirement for all property sales.
From £350
RICS valuations for Derby homeowners looking to repay, remortgage, or staircase their Help to Buy equity loan.
At Derby's average house price of £205,000, a Level 2 survey starting from £395 represents less than 0.2% of your total spend. Set that against the cost of common repairs in Derby properties — repointing a Victorian terrace runs £3,000 to £6,000, replacing a failing roof covering on a 1930s semi costs £5,000 to £12,000, and underpinning a property affected by ground movement on Mercia Mudstone starts at £10,000. A single serious defect uncovered during the survey could save you tens of thousands in unexpected costs, or provide the evidence you need to renegotiate the purchase price downward.
Without a survey, you are relying entirely on the mortgage lender's valuation — a brief check that confirms the property is worth the loan amount and nothing more. The valuer is not there to protect you; they are there to protect the lender. Damp penetration through solid walls, cracked lintels above bay windows, or settlement caused by former mine workings — none of this will appear in a valuation unless it directly affects lending security. A Level 2 survey exists specifically to give you that missing layer of information, written by a qualified RICS surveyor who has physically inspected every accessible part of the building.
Level 2 surveys in Derby start from around £395 for a standard 3-bedroom property. The final price depends on the property's value, size, and age. Larger homes or those valued above £300,000 typically cost more, with prices ranging up to £600 or beyond for substantial detached properties. Derby pricing sits in line with the national average because property values here are mid-range compared to the wider UK market.
Derby sits on the southern edge of the Derbyshire coalfield, and parts of the city fall within the Coal Authority's defined development high-risk area. Your conveyancer will typically order a coal mining search as part of the standard legal checks, which reveals whether the property sits above recorded mine entries, shallow workings, or areas of past subsidence claims. The Level 2 survey complements this by checking for visible signs of ground movement — cracking, distortion, or uneven floors — that could indicate mining-related settlement affecting the building itself.
The on-site inspection typically takes 2 to 4 hours for a standard Derby semi-detached or terraced house. Larger detached properties in areas like Allestree, Darley Abbey, or Littleover may take up to 5 hours. The written report follows within 2 to 6 working days after the inspection. Victorian properties with more building fabric to assess tend to sit at the longer end of that range.
For a standard Victorian terrace in reasonable condition — the type found throughout Normanton, Rose Hill, and parts of the city centre — a Level 2 survey is usually appropriate. It covers all visible defects and rates them by severity. If the property is older than 1900, has been heavily altered, shows signs of structural movement, or you are planning significant renovation work, a Level 3 survey provides the deeper structural analysis you would need. Your surveyor can recommend upgrading to a Level 3 if the initial inspection suggests more complex issues.
The surveyor will note any visible evidence of past flooding or water damage, and will flag the property's proximity to the River Derwent and its tributaries. Derby has a well-documented flood history, and the £95 million Our City Our River scheme is improving defences across the city in phases. The Level 2 report does not include a formal flood risk assessment, but it will record any water-related damage observed during the inspection. For a full flood risk picture, your conveyancer should order an environmental search alongside the survey.
Our network of RICS surveyors covers the entire Derby city area and surrounding districts. This includes central Derby, Normanton, Littleover, Mickleover, Allestree, Darley Abbey, Spondon, Chaddesden, Chellaston, Sinfin, Mackworth, and Oakwood. Coverage also extends to nearby towns in Derbyshire, south Nottinghamshire, and north-east Staffordshire. When you enter the property postcode during booking, we match you with the nearest available surveyor who has local knowledge of that specific area.
If your surveyor rates any building element at Condition 3 — indicating serious defects requiring urgent attention — they will explain the issue in the report and recommend further investigation or specialist assessment. Common Condition 3 findings in Derby include active damp penetration in solid-walled properties, roof covering failure, and cracking linked to ground movement. You can use the report to renegotiate the purchase price, request that the seller carries out repairs before completion, or in some cases, decide not to proceed. Our bookings team can also help arrange follow-up services such as a detailed damp survey or structural engineer's inspection.
Yes. The RICS Level 2 Home Survey replaced the former RICS HomeBuyer Report in 2021. The content and purpose are the same — a visual inspection of the property with a structured condition-rating report — but the format was updated to give clearer, more consistent output. Some surveyors and estate agents in Derby still refer to it as a HomeBuyer Report or HomeBuyer Survey, but when you book a Level 2 through Homemove, you receive the current RICS-standard report format.
Most surveyors take 1–2 days to quote.
We'll price your survey in seconds.
We'll price your survey in seconds.
Homemove is a trading name of HM Haus Group Ltd (Company No. 13873779, registered in England & Wales). Homemove Mortgages Ltd (Company No. 15947693) is an Appointed Representative of TMG Direct Limited, trading as TMG Mortgage Network, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 786245). Homemove Mortgages Ltd is entered on the FCA Register as an Appointed Representative (FRN 1022429). You can check registrations at NewRegister or by calling 0800 111 6768.
