Compare Homebuyer Surveys in Portsmouth

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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 Portsmouth? Save Up To 70% On Your RICS Level 2 Survey

When it comes to purchasing a property in Portsmouth, hiring a surveyor is an essential part of the process. We’ve helped over 300 home buyers find a reliable surveyor in the Portsmouth area over the last year.

The average property price in Portsmouth is currently £266,387 according to Rightmove. When buying a home, it’s vital to have as much information as possible about its condition. A surveyor will be able to provide you with a report, detailing any concerns or work required.

If the property you are looking to purchase is newer and in good condition, a RICS Level 2 (Homebuyer Survey) will suffice. For older and more unusual properties, such as steel frame properties, or those in less than ideal condition, a RICS Level 3 Survey (Building Survey) is strongly recommended.

We can connect you with up to 6 RICS registered property surveyors, each one having undergone our strict verification process before joining us. This ensures that you will only be matched with the best and most reliable property surveyors in Portsmouth.

Our Portsmouth Chartered Surveyors

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    FAQs About Surveying in Portsmouth

    Compare My Move’s team conduct research, aiming to answer any questions regarding your Portsmouth move. Our data shows that RICS Level 2 Surveys are most popular with Compare My Move users in Portsmouth, especially for terraced houses.

    We found that older homes have proved more popular with Portsmouth homebuyers, but that a RICS Level 3 Survey is highly recommended due to subsidence concerns in the area. Japanese Knotweed could be a concern in the area, most notably in central Portsmouth and around the docks. 

    According to Compare My Move’s data, the most popular survey type was a RICS Level 2 Survey which was taken out on terraced homes by 22.66% of users. This was over double the number of users using a RICS Level 3 Survey for the same type of property, at just 9.71%.

    The least amount of surveys were used for flats, with 10.07% of users opting for a RICS Level 2 Survey and just 1.08% arranging a RICS Level 3 Survey for this type of home. Detached properties saw considerably more of both surveys, with 19.42% for RICS Level 2 Surveys and 10.43% of users choosing RICS Level 3 Surveys.

    Higher again for RICS Level 2 Surveys were semi-detached properties, with 21.22% of Compare My Move user’s arranging one for a semi-detached home. For this type of property, just 8.63% arrange a RICS Level 3 Survey.

    When it comes to choosing the right survey for your home, take into account the age and condition of the property. Although RICS Level 3 Surveys cost more than a RICS Level 2 Survey, they can tell you so much more about the condition of the home and any issues to be aware.

    If the property you are looking to buy in Portsmouth is an older home or you have concerns about the structure or work that has been undertaken on it, a RICS Level 3 Survey is highly recommended.

    Popular Survey Types in Portsmouth
    Popular Survey Types in Portsmouth

    What Types of Historical Architecture Does Portsmouth Have?

    With numerous historic areas and buildings dating back hundreds of years, the city of Portsmouth has over 600 listed buildings and 30 conservation areas. Many of the older houses in conservation areas such as Old Portsmouth or Mile End are listed.

    A large majority of buildings in Portsmouth date from the Victorian and Edwardian eras when the city saw a major expansion of the dockyard and the new steam navy. These advancements led to a considerable amount of housing development which mainly took the form of terraced houses.

    Sadly, many historic buildings, including Georgian houses, were lost due to bomb damage during the Blitz in World War 2. This particularly impacted the areas nearest to the Dockyard such as Portsea, Landport and Old Portsmouth.

    The need to rebuild following the war, in addition to the urgency of rehousing people, led to the mismatch of building seen in the city today. Ancient or historical buildings are found alongside post-war and mid-century structures. This has only been emphasised in recent years with the development of more modern residential homes and public buildings.

    Nevertheless, “existing” properties have proved to be more popular for homebuyers than new-builds in Portsmouth.

    Architecture Overview From Listed Buildings to Sales of New Buildings
    Listed Buildings600
    Conservation Areas30
    New Build Sales*1
    Existing Property Sales*202

    *Based on data for 2023

    Is Subsidence an Issue in Portsmouth?

    Subsidence happens when the ground beneath a property “sinks”. This can either be caused naturally or it can also be a man-made issue as a result of industry. As Portsmouth has a long and proud industrial history, this is a crucial environmental search for those looking to buy a property in the area.

    A map of the UK Hotspots for Subsidence by Geobear has revealed that there is evidence of subsidence in and around the city of Portsmouth and across nearby Gosport. Compared to bigger cities in the UK such as London and Birmingham, the amount of subsidence shown on the map is relatively contained.

    However, if you are buying a house in this location, especially if it is an older property, a RICS Level 3 Survey is highly recommended. This will give you an overview of the condition of the property and the land it is built on and reveal if there is any risk of subsidence.

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

    Is Japanese Knotweed a Concern in Portsmouth?

    Japanese Knotweed is known for growing and spreading around waterways and therefore is a concern for an area such as Portsmouth. A heatmap of Japanese Knotweed by Environet revealed that there are 23 occurrences of the plant within 4km in the centre of Portsmouth, with infestations apparent in surrounding areas.

    Japanese Knotweed was originally introduced to the UK during the Victorian era as an ornamental plant for Botanical Gardens and later sold commercially to households. However, as it’s destructive nature has become clear, it is now considered an aggressive pest.

    Japanese Knotweed on your property can reduce the value of a home, with many lenders unwilling to approve a mortgage for homes with infestations. It has become such an issue across the UK that potential sellers must disclose by law if their property has, or ever has had, a Japanese knotweed infestation.

    Ensuring you hire a reliable and trusted surveyor is essential so that you are aware of whether Japanese Knotweed is present on the Portsmouth property you wish to buy. They will also be able to report on any infestations of the knotweed on neighbouring and surrounding grounds. This is particularly recommended for any properties close to the dock area and centre of Portsmouth where infestation cases are likely to be higher.

    Portsmouth Japanese Knotweed heatmap taken from Environet website
    Portsmouth Japanese Knotweed heatmap taken from Environet website