How we review a survey report
Every report goes through the same three-stage review, whoever wrote it and whoever uploads it. Nothing is judged on impression — every finding traces back to your report's own wording, and every score to recorded outcomes.
Identify
We establish the survey level, the property, its stated age and construction — and, where you confirm the address, its public record: the EPC construction data, conservation and listed status, flood zone and sale history.
Review
Every substantive section is reviewed against the five tests a competent report should pass — using your report's own headings and page numbers, and judged against what a property of that age and type demands, not a generic house.
Benchmark
A quality score is computed from the recorded test outcomes and the severity of what was found — never from an overall impression. The weightings are set by a chartered surveyor, and a report that meets the standard is told so in writing.
What every section is measured against
Five questions a survey section at this level must answer. Each one is recorded as a pass, partial or fail — and those outcomes, not opinions, drive your score.
Materials identified
Has the surveyor correctly identified the building component and what it is made of? "Pitched roof, natural slate on timber rafters" — not merely "the roof".
Materials explained
Does the report explain how those materials perform, how long they last, and the maintenance they need — so you understand how the building is meant to work?
Defects explained
Are defects not just listed but explained: their significance, the consequence of leaving them, and how urgent they are?
Evidence trail followed
Is each diagnosis reasoned rather than asserted — tracing the defect to its probable cause, with the observations that support that conclusion?
Proportionate recommendations
Are next steps complete and in proportion: urgency, the limits of the inspection, further investigation where needed, and the right specialist to instruct?
What that looks like in practice
Take a natural slate roof on a Victorian terrace. A good report explains that slate typically lasts 60–100+ years; that as slate roofs age, the fixing nails corrode — "nail sickness" — and slates begin to slip; that slipped slates let water in, decaying the timbers beneath; and that where the covering is likely original, a roofing contractor should inspect the fixings before that happens. A report that only says "the roof appears in fair condition for its age" has passed none of those tests — and our review will say so, quoting it.
How that section's outcomes are recorded
What we check your report against
A review is only as good as its benchmark. We use three — and none of them is our opinion.
The standard
The recognised expectations for your survey's level, including the RICS Home Survey Standard. A Level 2 report is judged as a Level 2 report — never marked down for lacking Level 3 depth.
The property
What a property of that age and construction actually demands. A pre-1919 terrace should prompt commentary on lime mortar, solid walls and original ceilings; a 1960s house raises different questions entirely.
The public record
The property's official record: EPC construction data, conservation area and listed status, flood zone, and sale history. Where your report and the record disagree, you see both.
What the review does not do
SurveyChecker does not inspect the property, verify whether a defect exists, replace professional advice, or make legal findings. It reviews the wording and completeness of the report you provide and highlights points that may need clarification — helping you have a better conversation with your surveyor, not replacing them.