In short
In England, the seller does not have to provide a survey. The buyer is advised to consider an RICS Home Survey at Level 1, 2 or 3, and a lender's mortgage valuation is not the same thing as a survey. In Scotland, a home for sale normally comes with a Home Report made of a single survey and valuation, a property questionnaire and an energy report. The seller or agent must give it within nine days of a request, except for exempt homes such as off-plan new builds and seasonal holiday homes. In Wales, the guides read describe no seller-provided survey; the Home Report exists in Scotland only. A buyer can commission an RICS Home Survey at Level 1, 2 or 3, which differs from a lender's valuation. In Northern Ireland, the seller does not have to provide a survey in the guides read. nidirect lists getting the property surveyed as a step for the buyer, and the lender may also need a valuation. Seller must provide a survey: 1 of 4 nations (Scotland).
The table
| Nation | Seller must provide a survey | What exists |
|---|---|---|
| England | No | No seller survey; the buyer should consider a RICS Level 1, 2 or 3 survey (a lender's mortgage valuation is not a survey) |
| Scotland | Yes | Home Report: single survey and valuation (visual inspection by a chartered surveyor), property questionnaire and energy report; must be supplied within nine days of a request |
| Wales | No | No seller survey; the buyer should consider a RICS Level 1, 2 or 3 survey (a lender's mortgage valuation is not a survey) |
| Northern Ireland | No | No seller survey; nidirect lists getting the property surveyed as a buyer step, and the lender may require a valuation |
“—” means the guide does not state it. Download the data: home-surveys.json (CC BY 4.0, cite Payotte with a link).
- England: Guide says no equivalent of the Scottish Home Report in the sources read; not stated as an explicit English rule.
- Wales: Wales not discussed separately; 'no' rests on the guide saying England, Wales and Northern Ireland have no equivalent requirement in the sources read.
- Northern Ireland: 'No' rests on the guide saying there is no equivalent requirement in the sources read; the guide gives no NI-specific survey levels.
Other tables by nation
Sources
- Northern Ireland: House surveys: the costs, types and benefits of one (RICS)
- Wales: How to buy a home (GOV.UK)
- Scotland: Home Report (mygov.scot)
- Scotland: Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, Part 3 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Northern Ireland: Buying a home - step-by-step guide (nidirect)