When you’re buying a house or flat in Southampton, you will need to hire a property surveyor. We’ve helped over 600 home buyers find a reliable property surveyor in the last year.
With an average property price of £266,142, there are a variety of new developments to choose from in Southampton, as well as a range of Victorian and Georgian properties.
You’ll need a RICS Level 3 Survey if you’re buying one of Southampton’s older properties, whilst a RICS Level 2 Survey will do for a modern property. The cost of living is fairly low compared to other major UK cities, making Southampton a popular area for many British movers.
We can connect you with up to 6 RICS property surveyors in your area. We put all of our surveying partners through a strict verification process before they can join us, so you’ll only ever get matched with the best surveys in Southampton.
Prinsegate Chartered Surveyors
9 Copsem Drive, Esher, KT10 9HD
Prinsegate Chartered Surveyors is a firm of RICS chartered surveyors, specialising in Full Building Surveys in Surrey and London, offering industry-leading standards of customer service.
Chris Mortlock
"All good, no problems , very helpful "
FP Surveying
The Finance Planning Group, Hurstwood Grange, Haywards Heath, RH17 7QX
FP Surveying have an in-depth knowledge of the chartered property surveying industry, offering a RICS building survey (Home Survey Level 3) and homebuyer report (Home Survey Level 2).
Alexandra Blowers
"Really quick turn around, reasonably priced, very thorough report. No communication beforehand as this was all handled through the estate agent. Overall, really happy with the service."
Camsure Homes
The Thatch, 3 Dock Lane, Cambridge, CB25 9JF
Based in Cambridge, Camsure Homes provide our RICS homebuyer report (Level 2 Survey), building survey (level 3 Survey) and valuation across Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and parts of Bedfordshire.
Ian Pitt
"Listed by CompareMyMove, otherwise would not have found them."
Bartley West Limited
Bartley West, Unit 12, Woodlands, SO40 7GY
Bartley West Limited are a MRICS regulated chartered surveyors offering a RICS homebuyer report (Level 2 Survey) across the South of England.
Sally Musselle
"Polite and efficient.Report was detailed with photographs backing it up."
Ark Surveyors
Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3AX
Ark Surveyors are a team of professional and reliable RICS surveyors offering a first-class surveying service.
Abigail Knight
"Dan was great - really thorough report. No hassle and prompt at returning everything. We really appreciated his help."
Design & Build Group
24 Upper Golf Links Road , Broadstone , BH18 8BX
With over 30 years of experience in the construction and surveying industry, Design & Build Group is a professional property and construction consultancy offering quality surveying services across Bournemouth.
Alex Turner
"Very convenient and competitively priced. Very happy with Design & Build Group service"
Dunford Penrose Surveyors
Meadow End, Chattisham Road, Washbrook, Suffolk, EC1V 2NX
Dunford Penrose Surveyors are a firm of property surveyors covering London, East Anglia, and the South East.
Emily Chambers
"Very happy with the survey I received from Dunford Penrose. I received a call from the surveyor within a few hours after he had visited the property. He promptly answered my questions I had noted prior to the survey and include many pictures for me to inspect the results. I would highly recommend!"
Countrywide Home Surveys
Title Absolute Ltd, Broadhurst House, Manchester, M1 6EU
With over 450 in-house RICS qualified surveyors, Countrywide Home Surveys operates one of the largest, most trusted property surveying and valuation practices in the UK.
Maureen Tataryn
"Very easy to deal with quick and very accommodating, Easy to understand "
Nuven Surveyors Ltd
Unit 23 Graylands Estate, Graylands Estate, Horsham, RH12 4QD
Nuven Surveyors Ltd are a team of experienced Chartered Surveyors and RICS Valuers located across Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire and Kent.
Nicole Bailey
"Efficient and helpful service. Report and surveyor provided helpful advice on next steps tailored to the property"
Countryview Chartered Surveyors
6 Crown Square, Poundbury, Dorchester, DT1 3EN
Countryview Chartered Surveyors is an independent firm of Chartered Surveyors. We specialise in the survey and valuation of residential properties throughout the counties of Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset and Wiltshire.
Hitchin & Bayford Chartered Surveyors
9 Park Avenue, Camberley, GU15 2NG
With years of experience in the industry, Hitchin & Bayford are a team of experienced and qualified Chartered Surveyors covering a variety of areas across the UK.
Julian Russell
"I am in the process of selling my grade two listed property and because of its age wanted a thorough level 3 report prepared.I compared the various quotes and chose Hitchin and Bayford as they were the most competitive.I cannot stress how helpful and accommodating they were.Their report was both thorough and detailed covering every aspect of the property as well as uncovering many hidden features which added to the value of the property.I would not hesitate to recommend their service "
Woods Chartered Surveyors
15 Pier Street, Lee-On-The-Solent, PO13 9LD
Woods Chartered Surveyors are a multi-disciplined surveying practice based in Hampshire. Our services cover all areas of Bournemouth. Whether you’re purchasing a new home or an old home, we are able to assist you with the surveying process.Our surveyors are RICS accredited and we have been offering our specialist services since 1981. We are able to provide our expert advice on home surveys and valuations. You can rest assured when using our services as we are professional and meet high expectations.
PFM Inspections
Unit 1, Sovereign Business Park, Poole, BH15 3BT
PFM Inspections, are a professional surveying company based in Bournemouth. The company was set up in 2020 and has helped many clients with all their surveying needs.
Compare My Move work hard to answer the questions on surveying in Southampton. Our own data shows that the most popular survey for our Southampton users is a RICS Level 2 Survey, with most people needing one for a semi-detached property.
Our research shows that Southampton suffers from a subsidence problem, but there is a low risk of Japanese Knotweed in the city. Your property surveyor will highlight these risks and other hidden defects when you have a property survey.
According to our data, over 75% of our Southampton users were looking for verified surveyors to perform a RICS Level 2 Survey, making it the most popular survey type in the area. The remaining percentage of users were searching for surveyors to conduct RICS Level 3 Survey.
As many of the homes in Southampton are not over 80 years old or in high-risk areas, it’s understandable that homeowners would prefer the RICS Level 2 Survey over the RICS Level 3 Survey. Subsidence is a cause for concern in this area, but unless there are obvious cracks or damage, a RICS Level 2 Survey is enough to highlight the issue.
However, our data also revealed that those purchasing a semi-detached home in Southampton were more likely to require a RICS Level 3 Survey compared to other property types. Whilst only 4.79% of terraced homeowners searched for RICS Level 3 Surveys, almost 10% of semi-detached owners required our services for this more in-depth survey type.
The lowest property type that required RICS Level 3 Surveys was flat owners. A RICS Level 2 Survey is often required for flats and so it’s understandable that the demand for RICS Level 3 Surveys would not be high. Some Southampton flats that are considered as listed buildings may require a more specialist survey, however.
If you’re considering buying a home in Southampton, it’s important to note that the older coastal properties are more likely to suffer from rising damp. This type of damp can be rather difficult to remove which is why it’s important to seek the help of our professional Southampton surveying partners before committing to the purchase.
Many of these properties will require a separate damp survey, due to the difficulty that this type of damp poses. If this increased risk is something you’d like to avoid, the city offers a range of other property types to view, ranging from new developments such as Fen Meadow to traditional Victorian houses that are perfect for those moving with families.
There are over 450 listed buildings in Southampton. Due to their historic importance, you would require a specialist surveyor, one who could conduct a Listed Building survey. It is also important to note that Southampton has over 20 conservation areas. There are also a number of converted flats and council flats that may also feature on the property market.
There are also a number of Georgian properties still, all within the areas of Southampton that survived the second world war. You may require a RICS Level 3 Survey to uncover any damage caused by the extensive remodelling and repair.
Listed Buildings | 450 |
Conservation Areas | 20 |
New Build Sales* | 6 |
Existing Property Sales* | 180 |
*Based on data for 2023
Subsidence is one of the most dreaded words for homeowners. When the ground beneath your property compresses or sinks, an unbalanced foundation is created and subsidence occurs. One of the major causes of subsidence is clay soil which shrinks, cracks and even shifts during warm weather. This, in particular, is an issue in Southampton.
When viewing Geobear’s UK Subsidence Map, you can see that Southampton suffers from a fair amount of subsidence as many cities have increased pressure on the ground due to the number of buildings in condensed areas. If you’re buying a property in Southampton, it would be wise to have a RICS Level 2 Survey to highlight any potential signs of subsidence.
Southampton also suffers from high levels of clay hazards. In the Map of the Distribution of Clay Over the UK, you can see that Southampton is labelled as being a ‘Hazard Level D’. This means that a small change in conditions could cause ground movement and, as a result, subsidence. This could be for a number of reasons such as the slope weakening from added water.
When purchasing a property in Southampton, inspect the building closely. If there are no obvious signs of cracking, a RICS Level 2 Survey should suffice, highlighting any signs of subsidence. However, if there are already obvious signs, it will be more beneficial to have a RICS Level 3 Survey as it will thoroughly examine the building’s structure, assessing the extent of the damage.
Japanese Knotweed is a dangerous plant that can force its way through concrete, foundations, walls and drains. This can cause a range of problems, including subsidence. When looking at Environet’s Japanese Knotweed Heatmap, you can see that Southampton doesn’t necessarily have a huge infestation of Japanese Knotweed. However, there is a hotspot slightly above the main city that homeowners should be aware of.
As one of the most densely populated UK cities, Southampton has had several developments approved and built to help with the rise in demand. This paired with other developments and repairs across the county can increase the likelihood of Japanese Knotweed - so it’s important to research the local area before purchasing a home.
Several of Southampton’s parks and green spaces have suffered from Japanese Knotweed, ensuring the local council has an effective removal system. If you suspect your home could have Japanese Knotweed, do not try removing it yourself as you could spread the roots to surrounding areas. Instead, hire a property surveyor to inspect the area first and read the report carefully in case they highlight any signs of Japanese Knotweed. You can then follow the right precautions and have it professionally removed.
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