What is a RICS Condition Report?


The RICS Condition Report is one of the three inspections and reports designed by the Royal Institution of Surveyors (RICS), the other two being the detailed RICS HomeBuyer Report and the comprehensive RICS Building Survey.

This basic Level 1 survey provides a clear and concise evaluation of the exact condition of the property you are planning to buy, assessing the basic construction and condition and advise on any obvious defects. Unlike a mortgage valuation, this is your independent survey.

The report is produced on the basis of a visual, non-invasive building inspection. This means our surveyor will not look behind floor coverings or hidden areas, drill holes or use any other invasive methods of investigation.

The RICS Condition Report is written with the end user in mind, using easy-to-understand language that everyone can understand. This makes it a valuable resource to help you:

  • Gain peace of mind of knowing there are no serious issues with the property
  • Be aware of any serious problems that may need urgent attention
  • Consider recommended further investigations before contracts are exchanged
  • Make an intelligent decision regarding whether and how to proceed with the purchase
  • Use the survey findings to revisit the agreed purchase price

When is a RICS Condition Report the best choice?

At SSJ Surveyors, we offer all three RICS home surveys and provide expert guidance to help you choose the best type of survey for you and your property’s needs. The RICS Condition Report is the least in-depth survey available and most appropriate for:

  • Conventional modern buildings
  • New-builds and nearly-new homes
  • Standard construction methods and materials
  • Buildings that are in a good state of repair

If you are thinking of buying a new or nearly new home and would like some peace of mind that everything is as it should be, a RICS Condition Report is likely to be the most suitable choice. Its aim is to document the construction and condition of the property on the date of inspection, verify that everything is in good order and flag any serious issues that need further investigation.

It is important to understand that a RICS Condition Report won’t provide as much detail as a RICS HomeBuyer Report or RICS Building Survey, which would generally be a better choice of survey for buildings that are more than 3-5 years old or show any noticeable signs of disrepair.

What does a RICS Condition Report contain?

Our surveyor will carry out a brief property inspection lasting around an hour to gather the required information for the final report.

The RICS Condition Report consists of an objective overview of the property’s main elements, and assign ratings to their condition. After a brief description of the building’s construction, internal and external elements will be listed with the given rating and some brief explanatory notes. To help us rate individual elements of the property and highlight areas of concern, we use a ‘traffic light’ colouring system of green, amber and red to outline any major defects.

If we have any specific concerns, this will be documented and made clear in the report. In particular, this includes any defects that need urgent attention or constitute a serious risk to health or safety, and anything that needs attention to prevent future building damage.

Our summary will also cover legal considerations regarding any risks associated with buying the property that your conveyancer should be aware of.

Contact us

Here are Silk Sharples Jennings, we have built our business around providing trusted impartial advice, based on our expert technical skills, professional building surveys and associated services. Please contact our friendly team regarding your next residential property investment in Shrewsbury and beyond, and let’s discuss how a RICS Condition Report can protect your interests.

Get A Quote

Get A Quote

Please get in touch using the form below