Specific Defect Report

Building survey reports typically offer pre-purchase or pre-lease guidance. Examples include Commercial Building Surveys, Level 3 Residential Building Surveys, and Level 2 Homebuyer Reports. They involve comprehensive inspection of the entire property. 

If, however, your concerns are targeted toward a specific aspect or defect of a property, then opting for a Specific Defect Report might be more suitable. This may be particularly relevant to individual concerns such as:

• inadequate or unusual construction
• structural movement and cracking
• decay and rot
• damp and condensation

The specific defect report provides detailed insight into the area in question so as to address and resolve concerns. However, such a report will not cover the many other elements of the property, which a Full Building Survey does.

Where movement is suspected to be progressive — for example widening cracks or dropping floors — a subsidence investigation may be the more appropriate instruction; the surveyor will advise which route fits your situation.