Detailed structural surveys for Birmingham's Victorian terraces, Edwardian semis, and post-war estates
Regulated
Birmingham's property market spans everything from Victorian back-to-back terraces in Balsall Heath and Aston to large Edwardian semis in Moseley and Harborne, interwar council estates across the outer ring, and post-war concrete tower blocks in Newtown and Castle Vale. Around 40% of the city's housing stock was built before 1945, much of it with solid brick walls, shallow foundations, and no damp-proof course. The RICS Level 3 Building Survey examines these older structures in the detail they require — checking for subsidence, damp, and the structural consequences of decades of alteration.
£236,000
Average House Price
40%
Homes Built Pre-1945
Victorian, Edwardian & interwar stock
From £619
Level 3 Survey Cost
Birmingham pricing
29
Conservation Areas
Including Jewellery Quarter & Bournville
Birmingham's building history created a city of contrasts. The inner ring — Sparkbrook, Aston, Handsworth, Balsall Heath — contains dense Victorian terraced streets built rapidly during the industrial boom, many with solid 9-inch brick walls, no cavity insulation, and foundations as shallow as 30cm on Mercia Mudstone clay. The outer suburbs added thousands of Edwardian and interwar semis with bay windows prone to structural spreading. After 1945, Birmingham underwent the most aggressive slum clearance programme outside London, replacing terraced streets with system-built concrete estates — many now showing signs of structural fatigue after 60+ years.
A Level 2 survey uses a traffic-light system to flag visible defects, which works well for newer, standard-construction homes. For Birmingham's older terraces, Edwardian properties with complex roof structures, or post-war concrete panel buildings, the Level 3 goes where Level 2 cannot. The surveyor lifts floorboards where accessible, enters roof voids, inspects behind fittings, and traces each defect to its structural cause — producing a full narrative of the building's condition rather than a checklist.
Source: ONS Census 2021. Flats include purpose-built, converted, and council tower block properties.
Parts of south and east Birmingham fall within the Coal Authority's Development High Risk Area, where historic shallow mine workings can cause ground instability. Properties in affected postcodes — including parts of Selly Oak, Bartley Green, and Northfield — may show cracking, uneven floors, or foundation settlement linked to old mine shafts and tunnels. Your surveyor will assess visible signs of mining-related subsidence and recommend whether a Coal Authority search or specialist ground investigation report is needed before you proceed with a purchase.
| Survey Type | Birmingham | National Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICS Level 3 | From £619 | From £619 | £0 |
| RICS Level 2 | From £395 | From £395 | £0 |
| Valuation Only | From £250 | From £250 | £0 |
RICS Level 3
Birmingham
From £619
National Avg
From £619
Difference
£0
RICS Level 2
Birmingham
From £395
National Avg
From £395
Difference
£0
Valuation Only
Birmingham
From £250
National Avg
From £250
Difference
£0
Prices based on average 3-bed property. Birmingham prices are broadly in line with the national average.
The RICS surveyors we work with across Birmingham have hands-on experience with the city's distinctive housing types. They recognise the difference between a well-maintained Edwardian semi in Harborne and one that's had decades of poor repairs. They know what to look for in the Jewellery Quarter's converted industrial buildings, understand the structural limitations of post-war system-built homes, and can assess whether a canal-side apartment conversion has been properly waterproofed. Based locally across the West Midlands, they can typically reach your property within days of booking.
Fill in the property details — address, type, approximate age, and number of bedrooms. You'll get a price immediately. If the property suits a Level 3 survey, you can book and pay online. We'll contact the seller or their agent within 24 hours to arrange access.
A local RICS surveyor inspects the property. For a typical Birmingham Edwardian semi, expect the visit to take 3–5 hours. Larger properties or those with cellars, extensions, or signs of structural movement may take 6–7 hours. Post-war concrete-panel properties often need additional time to assess the building system used.
The written report arrives within 2–6 working days. It covers structural condition, defects found, repair cost guidance, and recommendations for your solicitor. Our bookings team can walk you through anything in the report and help arrange follow-up specialist inspections if needed.
Birmingham has 29 conservation areas, and two of the most notable are the Jewellery Quarter and the Bournville Village. The Jewellery Quarter contains hundreds of Grade II listed Victorian workshops now being converted into residential lofts — these conversions vary wildly in quality. Bournville, built by Cadbury from 1895, has strict design controls on its Arts and Crafts cottages. Your Level 3 survey report will flag listed building status and conservation restrictions that limit what you can change after purchase.
Your lender's mortgage valuation confirms the property is worth what you're borrowing against. It does not check the structure. With Birmingham's average property price at £236,000, a Level 3 survey — typically £619 to £1,200 depending on size and complexity — represents less than half a percent of the purchase price. Underpinning a subsiding Edwardian semi in Moseley costs £10,000–£20,000. Treating widespread rising damp in a solid-walled Victorian terrace in Aston runs £5,000–£8,000. Remediating concrete spalling on a post-war block can exceed £15,000 per unit. The survey pays for itself the moment it uncovers one of these problems before you complete.
Level 3 surveys in Birmingham start from around £619 for a standard 3-bed property. Expect to pay £800–£1,200 for larger homes, older period properties, or anything with significant extensions or outbuildings. Birmingham pricing sits close to the national average — unlike London and the South East, where costs are notably higher. The price reflects the time and expertise needed: a Victorian terrace with a cellar takes longer to survey than a 1990s detached house.
It depends on the construction type. Birmingham has a large stock of non-traditional post-war housing — concrete panel systems, prefabricated reinforced concrete (PRC), and steel-framed builds. Many of these are now 60–70 years old and showing signs of structural fatigue, including concrete carbonation, reinforcement corrosion, and panel joint failure. Some mortgage lenders refuse to lend on certain PRC property types without a structural report. A Level 3 survey identifies the exact construction system and its current condition, which is critical for both your purchase decision and your mortgage application.
For a typical Edwardian or interwar semi — the most common survey request in Birmingham — the on-site inspection runs 3–5 hours. Victorian terraces with cellars or attic conversions may take longer, as will any property showing obvious signs of structural movement. The written report follows within 2–6 working days. Properties in the Coal Authority Development Area sometimes require additional desktop research into mining records, which can add a day to report delivery.
Your surveyor will look for visible signs of mining-related ground movement — stepped cracking, uneven floors, doors and windows that no longer close properly. Parts of south Birmingham, including Selly Oak, Bartley Green, Longbridge, and Northfield, sit within the Coal Authority's defined coalfield area. If the surveyor suspects mining-related movement, they will recommend a formal Coal Authority mining report and potentially a ground investigation survey. These additional reports are not included in the Level 3 fee but the surveyor will specify exactly what is needed.
Birmingham has more canal miles than Venice — 35 miles of navigable waterway running through the city. Many former warehouses and industrial buildings along the canal network have been converted to residential use, particularly around Gas Street Basin, Brindleyplace, and Digbeth. These conversions vary significantly in build quality. Common issues include inadequate tanking and waterproofing below the water line, damp penetration through original brick walls, and shared structural elements that are the freeholder's responsibility rather than yours. A Level 3 survey will assess the conversion quality and flag any damp or structural concerns specific to waterside living.
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.
