Compare Homebuyer Surveys in Liverpool

Save up to 70% off your surveying costs
Regulated Property Surveyors
Used by over 750,000 movers in the UK
Used by over 750,000 movers in the UK
Helping people save for over 10 years
Save up to 70% on the cost of moving

Moving House in Liverpool? Save Up To 70% On Your RICS Level 2 Survey

Looking for a surveyor in Liverpool? We’ve helped numerous homebuyers find a residential surveyor in the city over the last year.

When it comes to residential property, Liverpool has an eclectic mix of modern homes, new builds and flats, alongside older, historical homes such as Victorian terraced housing and Georgian townhouses. These older homes, in particular, will require a more thorough RICS Level 3 Survey, which can be arranged through our surveying partners. Newer homes are suited to a RICS Level 2 Survey, which can give a general overview of the home.

We can connect you with up to 6 of Liverpool’s best property surveyors, all of whom are verified by our dedicated business team before joining us as a partner.

Our Liverpool Chartered Surveyors

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    FAQs About Surveying in Liverpool

    Compare My Move has created this guide with a combination of research and our own data, answering any questions concerning surveying in Liverpool. Our data shows that the most common type of survey is a RICS Level 2 Survey, despite the large number of historic homes which would be better suited to a RICS Level 3 Survey. 

    We’ve also looked at the risk of subsidence and what your surveyor will be able to report back to you. Japanese Knotweed is a great issue in the city, causing problems for both buyers and sellers. To save time and money, make sure you use our form to compare Liverpool surveying quotes.

    Compare My Move’s data found that, overall, our users opted for the RICS Level 2 Survey for their potential property purchase in Liverpool. Despite the age of much of the housing in Liverpool, only 12.82% of users organised a RICS Level 3 Survey on a terraced home.

    RICS Level 3 Surveys are strongly recommended for homes over 100 years old and in less than perfect condition. Much of the terraced housing in Liverpool will be of this age or older, with many of these requiring modernisation and repair work.

    However, RICS Level 2 Surveys proved more popular for this type of housing, with 28.21% of users opting for this type of survey for a terraced home. Furthermore, 27.69% of users organised a RICS Level 2 Survey on semi-detached homes and 9.23% on detached homes. In comparison, 13.85% of Compare My Move customers opted for a RICS Level 3 Survey on a semi-detached property, with just 2.56% doing so for a detached home.

    Flats, many of which are more modern structures in the city, showed the least amount of RICS Level 2 Surveys across the board in Liverpool, with 5.64% of users hiring a surveyor for this type of survey and 3.59% hiring a Building Surveyor.

    Popular Survey Types in Liverpool
    Popular Survey Types in Liverpool

    What Types of Historical Architecture Does Liverpool Have?

    The City of Liverpool is also home to 2,500 listed buildings and 36 conservation areas protecting 19,000 properties. You will need permission if you plan on carrying out works to properties within a conservation area.

    A common sight throughout the City of Liverpool and the surrounding areas are Victorian terraced houses. Some of the most notable of these are found in the Welsh Streets of Toxteth. Originally built by Welsh workers to house Welsh migrants, the streets were named after villages and landmarks in Wales. Many of these homes had fallen into disrepair but have since been renovated. Nevertheless, for homes of this age, a RICS Level 3 Survey is highly recommended.

    A full RICS Level 3 Survey will give an overview of the condition of the home and highlight any work which is required. The terraced homes and Georgian townhouses of Liverpool will have been modernised and renovated to meet today’s standards and it is essential that you ensure that this work was done correctly and has not damaged the structure or makeup of the property.

    For the more modern buildings throughout Liverpool, such as luxury flats and new builds, built to house the increasing population of young professionals, graduates and families, a RICS Level 2 Survey will suffice.

    Architecture Overview From Listed Buildings to Sales of New Buildings
    Listed Buildings2,500
    Conservation Areas36
    New Build Sales*22
    Existing Property Sales*262

    *Based on data for 2023

    Is Subsidence an Issue in Liverpool?

    A map of UK subsidence hotspots by Geobear has revealed that large areas of Liverpool are at risk of subsidence, including both the city centre and the surrounding areas. Subsidence occurs when the ground beneath a property becomes unstable, either due to natural subsidence, such as topography or weather or by non-natural subsidence such as industry.

    As one of the key cities during the Industrial Revolution, industry over the years will have had an impact on the land in Liverpool. Liverpool has the fastest-growing city centre, with the population increasing 181% between 2002 and 2015 according to data from the Office of National Statistics. With many of the city's buildings in such close proximity and an increase in development and population, the foundations of the city centre are being put under increasing pressure.

    There are, however, no active mines in the City of Liverpool, so it will be unlikely that your surveyor will suggest organising a mining report on your future home. Furthermore, there is a low risk of properties being built on clay soil, which can also result in subsidence and damage to property.

    Nevertheless, a surveyor will be able to tell you if subsidence is an issue for the property you are looking to purchase, in addition to any subsidence which has taken place in the past and the impact it had on the home. Proceeding with a property purchase without analysis of the risk of subsidence could potentially result in costly repairs further down the line.

    UK subsidence map taken from Geobear's website
    UK subsidence map taken from Geobear's website

    Is Japanese Knotweed a Concern in Liverpool?

    A high-density urban area such as Liverpool, with residential, commercial and development spaces in close proximity, not to mention a large and busy port, has meant that Japanese Knotweed has become a significant issue in the city. A heatmap of Japanese Knotweed infestations across the UK created by Environet shows that there is a large presence of the plant in the city and neighbouring areas.

    Japanese Knotweed, otherwise known as Fallopia Japonica, was originally brought to Kew Gardens in London as an ornamental plant and was initially loved by plant enthusiasts. Once the plant was sold commercially across the UK, however, it became clear just how destructive it could be to both land and property.

    Today, Japanese Knotweed costs the UK around £150 million a year to treat and can reduce the value of a property by 10%. As a result, many lenders can and will refuse a mortgage for a home with an infestation. For this reason alone, hiring a surveyor to identify any trace of the plant on the land and neighbouring grounds is an essential part of the house buying process, especially in the Liverpool area.

    Your surveyor will be able to identify if Japanese Knotweed is present on the land in which the property you are looking to buy resides. They will also be able to inform you if it is found on neighbouring grounds and whether this could become an issue for you. Japanese Knotweed can be treated, but it is essential that you are aware of the severity of any infestations on the property you want to purchase.

    UK Japanese Knotweed heatmap taken from Environet website
    UK Japanese Knotweed heatmap taken from Environet website

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