What is a RICS Level 2 Survey?
A RICS Level 2 survey (also called a HomeBuyer Report) sits in the middle of the three RICS Home Survey standards used in the UK. Like the Level 1 report, it uses a traffic-light rating (red/amber/green) for the condition of each part of the property, but it goes further by including advice on defects, their implications, and a market valuation.
It's suited to conventional properties in reasonable condition — houses and flats built from common materials, with no major extensions or unusual construction — making it the most commonly chosen survey for typical UK home purchases.
What it includes
- Condition ratings for the main parts of the property (structure, roof, walls, services, etc.)
- A market valuation and rebuild cost for insurance purposes
- Advice on any defects found and their urgency
- Legal/other matters the surveyor thinks a conveyancer should investigate
How it compares
- Level 1 (Condition Report): Basic ratings only, no advice or valuation.
- Level 2 (HomeBuyer Report): Ratings plus advice, defect explanations, and a valuation.
- Level 3 (Building Survey): Most detailed; recommended for older, larger, or non-standard properties.
A Level 2 survey works well for most typical purchases. For older, altered, or unusual properties, a Level 3 Building Survey is usually the better choice.