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RICS Level 3 Surveys

RICS Level 3 Building Survey Fareham

For older homes, extensions and unusual builds in PO14 and PO16

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RICS Level 3 Building Survey Fareham - Homemove

A deeper survey for Fareham buyers

Fareham's mix of older streets in PO16 and newer schemes such as Oakcroft Chase in PO14 makes a RICS Level 3 Building Survey the right choice for buyers who want a proper view of the structure. Our RICS-qualified building surveyors inspect the loft, sub-floor where access allows, external walls, roofs, joinery and visible services, then set out what is defective, what is urgent, and what can wait. The report is written in plain English, but it still gets into the detail buyers need when the price tag is high and the risks are not small.

A house on Trinity Street can hide a very different pattern of wear from a new terrace at 3 Marshall Cres in Stubbington, or a later-altered home near Southampton Road in Titchfield. That is why our reports suit buyers who are taking on an older property, a listed building, a home with extensions, or a place they plan to remodel after completion. We look beyond the gloss. If the building has movement, damp, failed roof details or tired alterations, we tell you what it means in practice.

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Fareham property snapshot

£350,303

Average sold price

£334,000

March 2026 average

£504,001

Detached average

£285,741

Terraced average

508

Sales in the last 12 months

2.1%

12-month price change

Using listing data from home.co.uk and property data from homedata.co.uk

What a RICS Level 3 Survey Covers

Our RICS-qualified surveyors carry out the most detailed visual inspection of all accessible parts of the property. That means the roof void, floors where they can be reached, walls, ceilings, doors, windows, chimneys and the visible parts of services. A Level 3 is not a quick walk-through, and it is not written for a casual reader. It is built for a buyer who wants to know what the house is made of, where it has failed, and where the next repair bill may land, whether that is a PO16 terrace or a larger house near Longfield Avenue.

We comment on construction, materials, visible defects, likely repairs and the order in which those repairs should be tackled. The report also explains the consequences of leaving a problem alone, which matters on homes that already show damp staining, slipped coverings, cracking, rot or tired extensions. If an issue might worsen, we say so. If the defect is cosmetic rather than structural, we say that too. The point is not alarm. The point is to show you where the real risk sits before you exchange on a house in Titchfield, Stubbington or central Fareham.

A Level 3 survey does not involve destructive opening up, lifting carpets, pressure testing services or sending a drainage camera through the system. We do not give you a structural engineer's report either. If our surveyor sees movement, significant cracking or another sign that needs specialist analysis, the report will recommend the next step. That can be a structural engineer, a damp specialist, an electrician, a gas engineer or a drainage CCTV inspection, depending on what the building shows on the day.

Accessible roof spaces
Sub-floor voids where safe to enter
Visible external walls and joinery
Chimneys, flashings and rainwater goods
Evidence of damp, movement and timber decay

Typical Homemove Level 3 pricing in Fareham

Under £300k from £650

£300k to £500k from £800

£500k to £750k from £950

£750k to £1M from £1,100

Over £1M from £1,300

Homemove Level 3 pricing tiers for Fareham homes

When You Need Level 3 Not Level 2

A Level 3 is the better fit for homes built before 1920, listed buildings, heavily extended houses and unusual construction such as timber frame, steel frame, cob or thatch. In Fareham, that can mean a property in PO16 with a line of later alterations, or a house in Stubbington that has been enlarged more than once and now hides junctions, patched roof details and a few generations of repair. The more complex the building, the more important it is to have a survey that can read the fabric properly.

Level 2 is often enough for a newer home at Oakcroft Chase in PO14, where the construction is standard and the finish is recent. Once age, movement, visible defects or a plan to alter the place enters the picture, the more detailed Level 3 route starts to make sense. If you are thinking about opening up rooms, replacing sections of roof or adding a loft conversion, you want a report that tells you what the existing structure can realistically handle.

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Level 2 vs Level 3 in Fareham

Feature	Level 2	Level 3
Depth of inspection	Visual inspection of accessible parts	Deeper visual inspection of accessible parts, with fuller commentary on defects and condition
Advice given	Good for standard maintenance and obvious concerns	Detailed advice on repairs, maintenance priorities and the consequences of leaving defects alone
Ideal use case	Newer or conventional homes in reasonable condition	Older, listed, extended, altered or unusual properties, plus homes with visible defects
Typical cost	Usually lower	From £650
Turnaround	Often shorter	Typically 7 to 10 working days
Specialist follow-up	Less common	Often recommended if movement, damp or service concerns are seen

Booking Your Level 3 Survey

Get your quote

Tell us the purchase price band, age and postcode, such as PO14 2FN or PO16, and we will price the survey for the property you are buying in Fareham.

Instruct the survey

Once you are happy with the quote, you instruct us and we confirm the surveyor, the scope and the inspection date.

Arrange access

We work with the estate agent or vendor so the roof space, loft hatch, boiler cupboard and other accessible parts can be checked on the day.

Inspection day

The inspection usually takes most of the day on a larger house, a home with extensions or a building with awkward access, because the detail matters.

Read the report

Your report usually runs to 20 to 60 pages and arrives within 7 to 10 working days, with the main risks set out clearly before the technical detail.

Ask for a call before the report lands

Tell the surveyor you would like a phone call after the inspection and before the written report is sent. You get the headline issues while the property is still fresh in mind, which helps if you are looking at a PO16 terrace, a house near Southampton Road in Titchfield, or a place in Stubbington where a quick decision on price or repairs may be needed.

Local Construction and Defect Patterns in Fareham

Fareham's housing stock pulls in different directions. The new sites at Oakcroft Chase, Crofton View, Thackeray Lodge, Southampton Road and Welborne sit alongside older homes in PO16 and the longer-established pockets of PO14, so the inspection focus changes from one address to the next. A brand-new terrace near Marshall Cres is one thing. A house that has been extended, patched and re-roofed over time is another. Our surveyors read those changes carefully, because each layer of work leaves a clue.

On older homes, the usual faults are rarely mysterious. We pay close attention to roof coverings, chimney stacks, flashings, damp around walls, timber decay in roof spaces and movement at openings such as bay windows or rear extensions. In a place like Trinity Street or an older part of Titchfield, patch repairs, swelling paint, cracked render, uneven floors and stained plaster can point to leaks or structural movement that needs follow-up. That is the sort of detail a buyer needs before they commit to a price.

Fareham's lower-lying pockets and the edge of the town near Southampton Road mean surface water management also matters. Gutters, gullies, garden levels and the way rainwater leaves the building can tell you a lot, even when the finish looks neat. We are careful with homes that sit on busy alteration histories, because a conservatory, a loft room or a rear kitchen extension can hide poor junctions long after the decorating is finished. If the report shows a problem that needs specialist diagnosis, we point you in the right direction rather than guessing.

Roof coverings on older houses
Movement at bay windows
Failed flashings and chimney details
Damp staining to lower walls
Timber decay in roof spaces

Following Up on Findings

A Level 3 report often leads to the next step. If we spot cracking, deflection, damp staining or ageing electrics, we may suggest a structural engineer, damp specialist, electrician, gas engineer or drainage CCTV survey, depending on what the building shows. That matters on homes near Longfield Avenue, PO14, and on older stock around PO16, because the right specialist can save time and stop a minor issue being treated as the wrong one.

The report can also help with the purchase itself. If the survey picks up a roof issue, a failing wall finish or movement at an extension, you can go back to the seller with a repair request, a revised offer or a request for a specific condition before exchange. That is often the point of paying for a Level 3 in the first place. You want detail that can change the deal, not just a summary that sounds tidy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a Level 2 survey and a Level 3 survey?

A Level 2 survey is better for a more standard home in reasonable condition. A Level 3 goes deeper, gives more detailed advice and explains the likely consequences if a defect is left alone, which is useful on a PO16 terrace, a home in Titchfield with alterations, or a house in Fareham that already shows visible cracking or damp.

Which Fareham homes suit a Level 3 survey?

Pre-1920s homes, listed buildings, extended houses, altered homes, unusual construction and properties with visible defects are the clearest fit. A newer home at Oakcroft Chase in PO14 may only need a Level 2, but an older place near Trinity Street or a property you plan to remodel is a different proposition.

How long does the report take?

The survey itself usually takes most of the day when the home is larger, older or full of additions, especially if it has roof space and sub-floor areas to check. We typically deliver the written report within 7 to 10 working days, and you can ask for a phone call after the visit if you want the headline points sooner.

How much does a Level 3 survey cost in Fareham?

Our pricing starts from £650 for homes under £300k, then rises with the price band. A property in Fareham with more floor area, more roof to inspect or more complex access will usually sit in a higher bracket, which is why we ask for the address and purchase price band before quoting.

What is included and what is excluded?

We inspect accessible parts of the building, the loft where it can be safely reached, visible external walls, internal finishes and the parts of services that can be seen. We do not lift carpets, open up the fabric, run drainage CCTV, or test electrics, gas or plumbing, so those checks are still specialist follow-ups where needed.

Will my lender require a Level 3 survey?

No, mortgage lenders do not require a Level 3 survey. They use a valuation, and that is not a survey. In Fareham, a Level 3 is your choice, but it can be a sensible one if the home is older, altered or showing signs of defect that could affect your budget after completion.

Can I use the report to renegotiate?

Yes, if the findings are material and supported by the inspection. A detailed report can back a lower offer, a retention request or a condition for the seller to fix a specific issue before exchange, especially if the concern is structural, damp-related or linked to a tired roof detail in PO14 or PO16.

When do you recommend a specialist follow-up?

If the surveyor sees movement, we usually recommend a structural engineer, because a Level 3 is not a structural engineer's report. For damp, electrics, gas or drainage, the report will point you to the right specialist so the problem is assessed properly on the first pass.