RICS Level 2 Survey in IG7

A RICS Level 2 survey - previously marketed as a HomeBuyer Report - is the survey recommended for most conventional residential properties that are in reasonable condition and have not been significantly altered. Our inspectors carry out a systematic visual inspection of all accessible areas of the building, both inside and outside, rating each element using the RICS traffic-light condition system.

Every element receives a condition rating: 1 means no repair is needed, 2 means repair or maintenance is required in the near term, and 3 indicates a defect requiring urgent attention. This structured approach gives you a clear, prioritised list of concerns to raise with your solicitor, negotiate on price, or arrange further specialist investigation.

• Structural elements: load-bearing walls, floors, ceilings, and roof structure
• Roof covering: tiles, ridge mortar, flashings, fascias, soffits, and rainwater goods
• Damp and moisture: electronic readings at ground floor and external walls
• Windows, doors, and external joinery: condition and security
• Drainage and plumbing: visual inspection, condition of fittings and connections
• Heating and services: age, type, and general condition assessment
• Subsidence indicators: crack patterns, floor levels, and structural distortion
• Environmental risks: flood risk, ground stability, and hazardous materials notes
• Legal section: matters to raise with your solicitor including compliance concerns
• Recommendations for further specialist investigations where appropriate

All RICS Level 2 surveys we produce comply with the RICS Home Survey Standard and are backed by professional indemnity insurance. After receiving your report, our surveyor is available to discuss the findings with you directly - a standard part of our service.

IG7's housing stock spans from pre-1919 Chigwell village properties through to post-1980 developments, with the largest proportion being 1930s to 1960s suburban brick-built homes. At this age range, certain defects are consistently identified during surveys across the area.

• Subsidence cracking at window and door openings due to London Clay shrink-swell movement
• Cavity wall tie corrosion in properties built between 1945 and 1980, where original steel ties are now rusting and expanding
• Deteriorated roof coverings - cracked, slipped, or porous tiles, and worn ridge mortar requiring repointing
• Flat roof defects on garages, extensions, or lean-to structures: blistering, splits, and pooling water
• Damp penetration through failed pointing in older solid-walled properties or through bridged cavity walls
• Rising damp in ground floor rooms where original damp-proof courses have degraded or been bridged by render
• Outdated consumer units with rewirable fuse holders rather than modern miniature circuit breakers and RCD protection
• Aging single-skin or solid-walled extensions added in the 1970s or 1980s without full building regulation compliance
• Lead or cast iron drainage runs showing age-related deterioration or root intrusion in older properties
• Timber decay in window frames, fascias, and sub-floor ventilation areas in poorly maintained homes

Many of these issues are common across properties of this age and are not necessarily deal-breakers - but knowing they exist, their severity, and the likely remediation cost is critical information for any buyer at IG7's price levels.