RICS Level 3 Building Survey in Stockport

A RICS Level 3 survey is the most detailed visual inspection we offer. Our surveyors inspect all accessible parts of the property, including the loft, roof voids, sub-floor areas, walls, floors, joinery and any visible services. The report comments on how the building is put together, what materials have been used, what defects are present and which repairs need attention soon.

That depth matters because a defect is rarely just a defect on its own. A patch of damp in a bay window on a Stockport terrace can point to roof failure, poor ventilation, failing weatherproofing or a problem with the original wall build, and a Level 3 should say which of those is most likely. Our reports also explain the likely consequences of leaving an issue alone, so you can judge risk rather than react to a headline.

What we do not do is just as important. A Level 3 is still a non-intrusive inspection, so we do not lift carpets, open up floors, cut into walls, carry out drainage CCTV or test the electrics, heating or gas systems. If the surveyor sees something that needs a deeper look, such as movement, hidden damp or a roof defect that cannot be judged from ground level, they will recommend the right specialist follow-up.

• Roof coverings and flashings
• Loft timbers and insulation
• Sub-floor ventilation
• Cracks, settlement and movement

Stockport's housing mix leans heavily towards post-war and late-20th-century stock, with a 1970 median construction year and a large slice built before the 1940s. That is why our surveyors pay close attention to original masonry, roof coverings, timber ends and any later extensions that interrupt the original build. In SK8, where much of the stock is between 50 and 80 years old, small defects can hide a bigger maintenance bill.

Damp and black mould show up often in local disrepair cases, usually alongside leaks, failed ventilation and condensation. Older properties around the town centre can suffer from blocked gutters, tired flashings and cold bridging, while altered homes sometimes hide poor junctions where old and new fabric meet. If you see staining by a bay window, around a chimney breast or below a bathroom, a Level 3 should say what is driving it.

Stockport also faces subsidence risk, and the town's industrial history leaves a legacy of historic land contamination in some areas. Flooding is another local issue, with surface water, groundwater and fluvial risk from the Mersey, Goyt and Tame, especially in lower-lying parts of the borough and local centres to the south and west. Research from 2025 put river or surface water flood risk at 14.2% for the Stockport constituency, rising to 18.8% by 2050.

The common defects our surveyors keep an eye on are cracked plaster, tilted chimney stacks, worn roof coverings, unsafe electrics and poor ventilation. On a 1930s semi or a later extension off Jacksons Lane, those problems rarely sit alone, so we look for the pattern behind the symptom. A report that names the likely cause is far more useful than a neat box tick.

• Damp and black mould
• Leaking roofs
• Subsidence cracking
• Unsafe electrics