This is an illustrative extract, created to explain the handover. It is not a completed survey, a client report or a testimonial. The property, observations and surveyor instructions below are fictional. A real instruction must be supported by the inspecting surveyor’s own evidence and assessment.
The Survey Edit’s surveyor report writing service prepares wording from supplied findings. The example shows how locations, restrictions and intended advice can remain consistent across sections. Condition ratings and the final professional advice are decisions for the inspecting surveyor.
1. Rainwater pipes and gutters
Notes and instructions supplied
Rear elevation: downpipe ends above paving at the base of the main wall. No connected gully or channel visible at the outlet. Staining on paving and lower wall. Dry weather; discharge during rain not observed. Underground connection not established. Surveyor’s assessment: possible concentration of rainwater at the wall base; do not attribute internal staining to this arrangement. Advice: contractor to establish a suitable discharge arrangement and quote before exchange.
Illustrative report wording
The rear rainwater downpipe terminates above the paving at the base of the main wall, with no connected gully or drainage channel visible at the outlet. Local staining was noted on the paving and lower wall. This arrangement may concentrate rainwater close to the building. Its performance during rainfall could not be assessed because conditions were dry, and the underground connection was not established. A suitable contractor should establish an appropriate discharge arrangement and provide a quotation for the required work before exchange of contracts.
Surveyor review: confirm the location, observed outlet and intended advice. The paragraph does not establish a connection to the drainage chamber below or a cause for internal staining.
2. Drainage
Notes and instructions supplied
Rear yard: accessible chamber cover lifted safely. Debris visible in the channel. Buried pipework not inspected; route and connection to rear downpipe unknown. No drainage test performed. Surveyor’s instruction: report the visible debris, retain the concealed-pipe limitation and recommend a drainage contractor investigate the chamber and connected run, including CCTV inspection, and quote for necessary work before exchange. Do not report a confirmed blockage.
Illustrative report wording
The inspection chamber in the rear yard was opened and debris was visible within its channel. The buried pipework was not inspected and no drainage test was carried out. The route and condition of the concealed run, and any connection with the rear rainwater downpipe, were not established. The observation does not confirm a blockage. Before exchange of contracts, a drainage contractor should investigate the chamber and connected run, including a CCTV inspection, and provide a quotation for any necessary work.
Surveyor review: the investigation comes from the supplied instruction. Confirm that its scope, timing and the selected condition rating reflect your assessment; a photograph of debris alone does not supply those decisions.
3. Internal walls
Notes and instructions supplied
Rear ground-floor room: local staining at low level on the rear wall. Accessible stained area checked with a moisture meter; readings low at the time. Dry-weather inspection. Cause not established; no evidence supplied linking it to the downpipe or drainage chamber. Surveyor’s instruction: record the staining and readings without describing the wall as permanently dry; appropriate damp investigation and quotation for any necessary work before exchange. Keep the cause unconfirmed.
Illustrative report wording
Local staining was noted at low level on the rear wall of the ground-floor rear room. Moisture-meter readings taken on the accessible stained area were low at the time of the dry-weather inspection. These readings do not establish the cause of the staining or exclude intermittent moisture. A causal link with the rear downpipe or the drainage chamber has not been established. Before exchange of contracts, an appropriately competent specialist should investigate the stained area, establish the cause and extent of any moisture problem and provide a quotation for any necessary remedial work.
Surveyor review: check the measurement record and the advice you supplied. The wording preserves a low reading without turning it into a guarantee or diagnosing a cause.
Read the sections together before approval
The example contains three observations, not a proven chain of causation. A downpipe arrangement, chamber debris and internal staining must not become a diagnosis of defective underground drainage causing dampness unless the surveyor establishes that relationship.
- Compare each statement with the inspection record and confirm what was seen, measured or left concealed.
- Resolve missing or conflicting information with the inspecting surveyor before the draft is approved.
- Confirm ratings and recommendations, including their purpose and timing, and reconcile the relevant summaries, risks and overall opinion.
- Read the completed report in your template, amend it and approve it before issue.
The drafting query guide and pre-issue review checklist cover those separate stages. For the scope of a Level 2 inspection, consult the RICS inspection scope. This extract does not replace the standard or the surveyor’s assessment.
Try the process with your next suitable report
Standard Level 2 drafting is £179 within three working days; Fast Track is £239 within 48 hours. Timing starts once the complete pack and required instructions have been received. Confirm availability and the agreed scope before booking. See the full fees and service details and prepare your inspection pack.
Discuss a first Level 2 instruction
You inspect. We write.