RICS Home Surveys · Newcastle, Northumberland & the North East
Know the house before it is yours.
RICS Level 1, 2 and 3 home surveys inspected, written and signed personally by a chartered surveyor — with the option of repair cost estimates from a chartered quantity surveyor on every defect we find.
Three levels of RICS Home Survey
Choose the depth of report your property deserves.
Newer homes in good order
Level 1 Condition Report
A clear traffic-light snapshot of the property's condition. Ideal for modern houses and flats where you want an independent chartered eye before exchange.
from £295+ VAT · repair costs from £125
Level 1 detailsConventional houses, bungalows & flats
Level 2 HomeBuyer Survey
The right choice for most inter-war and post-war homes across the North East. Condition ratings on every element, defects explained, and the matters your solicitor should chase.
from £425+ VAT · repair costs from £175
Level 2 detailsPeriod, stone, extended or unusual
Level 3 Building Survey
The most detailed report RICS defines — construction, condition, cause of defects and repair options. Built for Victorian terraces, sandstone farmhouses and anything out of the ordinary.
from £775+ VAT · repair costs from £250
Level 3 detailsAll surveys available with or without repair cost estimates. See the full fee schedule.
Exclusive to a QS-led practice
A survey that tells you what it will cost — not just what is wrong.
Every home survey rates defects. Very few can price them. Because Lovatt is led by a chartered quantity surveyor, you can add a repair cost estimate against each rated defect — indicative, evidenced figures you can take into your negotiation, your mortgage conversation and your first year of ownership.
- Budget figure against every Condition Rating 2 and 3 item
- Priority order: what to fix before you move in, what can wait
- Written by the surveyor who inspected the house, not a call centre
- Optional on any level — or instruct the survey alone
“Most surveys tell you the roof is failing. Ours tells you it's roughly £6,800 to put right — and that it can wait until spring.”
Dave Lovatt MRICS · Chartered Surveyor & Chartered Quantity Surveyor
More than a home survey
Independent, chartered, and on your side.
Drone roof survey
High-resolution aerial inspection of roofs, chimneys, valleys and flashings a ladder can't safely reach. Add it to any survey or instruct it alone.
from £95+ VAT as an add-on · £195 standalone
Drone surveyProperty & builder disputes
Overcharged, half-finished or badly built? An independent chartered quantity surveyor values the work actually done, the cost to put it right, and gives you an evidenced position.
from £350+ VAT initial review · expert reports quoted
Dispute supportExtension cost planning
Know what your extension, loft conversion or renovation should cost before you commit to an architect, a planning fee or a builder's quote.
from £495+ VAT · budget cost plan
Cost planningHow it works
Four steps from enquiry to report.
Instant estimate
Enter the postcode, size, price and age online and see the fee for each level, with drone and cost-report add-ons. We confirm it as a fixed fee within one working day.
Inspection
We arrange access with the agent and inspect — typically within a week. Drone and moisture readings where they add value.
Report
Plain-English report to the RICS Home Survey Standard within five working days, with the matters that affect your decision on the front page.
Call
A follow-up call with Dave is part of every instruction. Ask anything — including how to use the findings in negotiation.
Local knowledge
We survey the North East's housing stock every week.
Tyneside flats in Heaton and Byker. 1930s semis in Gosforth and Low Fell. Sandstone terraces in Morpeth and Hexham. Former colliery housing in Ashington and Blyth, and the coal-mining ground beneath much of Northumberland and Durham. Each has its own pattern of defects, and knowing them is the difference between a generic report and a useful one.
Common questions
Asked before instructing.
How much does a home survey cost in Newcastle?
Our RICS Home Survey fees start from £295 for a Level 1 Condition Report, £425 for a Level 2 HomeBuyer Survey and £775 for a Level 3 Building Survey, plus VAT. Every quote is a fixed fee confirmed in writing before you instruct.
What makes Lovatt different from other surveyors?
The practice is led by a chartered surveyor who is also a chartered quantity surveyor. Most home surveys tell you a roof is defective; ours can also tell you roughly what putting it right should cost, so you can negotiate with evidence.
Do you carry out valuations?
No. We provide survey-only reports under the RICS Home Survey Standard. Your lender will arrange its own mortgage valuation, and an RICS Registered Valuer can provide a market valuation alongside our report if you need one.
How quickly can you inspect and report?
Inspection is typically arranged within a week of instruction, subject to access with the estate agent, and the written report follows within five working days of the visit. Urgent turnarounds can usually be accommodated — ask when you enquire.
Which areas do you cover?
Newcastle upon Tyne, Gosforth, Jesmond, Morpeth, Ponteland, Cramlington, Blyth, Ashington, the Northumberland coast, Hexham and the Tyne Valley, North Tyneside, Gateshead and County Durham. Travel is charged by drive time from Morpeth — included within 30 minutes, then a flat £40, £80 or £130 by band.
Get an instant estimate.
Enter the postcode, property details and asking price and see your survey fee in seconds — then we confirm it as a fixed fee in writing within one working day.
Instant estimate Ask a question Call 07888 824248