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An RICS Condition Report provides a concise overview of the condition of a residential property, highlighting areas that require attention without overwhelming the reader with technical detail. It is designed for newer homes and properties that appear to be in good condition.
This guide explains what an RICS Condition Report is, what it covers, and how it differs from a commercial schedule of condition. If you need a commercial condition record instead, see the schedule of condition service.
What It Is
A professionally prepared residential survey under the RICS Home Survey Standard, aimed at newer or well-maintained homes.
How It Reports
A traffic-light system applied to the main parts of the property, with plain-English commentary rather than technical jargon.
Why It Matters
Gives buyers and sellers a clear, proportionate view of condition without the depth — or cost — of a full building survey.
The key point
The RICS Condition Report is the lightest of the RICS residential survey products. It works well for straightforward modern properties but is not a substitute for a fuller survey where the building is older, heavily altered, or visibly in poor condition.
Not sure whether the RICS Condition Report is the right survey for the property? Send us the address and a few details and we will tell you honestly whether a different survey type is better suited.
Contact us →What an RICS Condition Report is
An RICS Condition Report is a professionally prepared document that assesses the condition of a residential property. It uses a straightforward traffic-light rating system to illustrate the state of different parts of the building, services, garage, and outbuildings, providing a clear indication of areas that need more immediate care.
It is the most concise of the RICS residential survey levels, sitting below the HomeBuyer Report and the full Building Survey in terms of depth.
Key features of the RICS Condition Report
- Clear, non-technical language so the report is accessible to non-specialist readers.
- An easy-to-follow format that keeps the structure consistent across properties.
- A traffic-light rating system — red, amber, green — applied to each part of the property.
- A focus on significant issues that need urgent attention or represent serious defects.
- No market valuation figure and no insurance rebuild cost in the standard report.
Who the report is for
The RICS Condition Report is particularly suited to newer properties and homes that appear to be in reasonable condition without significant modifications. It is an appropriate choice for sellers who want to give buyers reassurance, and for buyers considering a property that does not warrant a more detailed survey.
Typically suitable
Newer builds, recently built homes, and well-maintained modern properties with no obvious structural concerns.
Usually not suitable
Older properties, heavily altered homes, listed buildings, or properties showing clear signs of defect — a HomeBuyer Report or Building Survey is usually a better fit.
What the RICS Condition Report offers buyers and sellers
- Clear insights into the condition of the property enable informed purchase or sale decisions.
- A concise report that is typically cheaper than more detailed surveys.
- Identifies immediate issues that might otherwise incur avoidable cost later.
- The report is produced under a standard set by RICS.
- Delivers enough information to support a decision without the depth of a full structural survey.
The limits of the Condition Report
The Condition Report is deliberately concise, and that brevity is both its strength and its limit. There are contexts where a more detailed survey is clearly the right call.
- Not suitable for older, unusual, or heavily altered properties where more detail is needed.
- Does not typically provide repair cost estimates or detailed technical recommendations.
- Does not include a market valuation or insurance rebuild figure as standard.
- Limited investigation of concealed or difficult-to-access areas.
- Should not be confused with a commercial schedule of condition, which serves a different purpose.
RICS Condition Report vs commercial schedule of condition
The two documents sound similar, but they are entirely different. An RICS Condition Report is a residential survey product aimed at buyers and sellers. A schedule of condition is a commercial property record used before a lease completes, before works begin, or before any event where pre-existing condition needs to be evidenced.
If you are dealing with a commercial lease, a party wall matter, or a pre-works record, see the guide on what a schedule of condition is rather than relying on an RICS Condition Report.
Need a property condition report?
For residential purchases and sales, an RICS Condition Report is often a sensible starting point. For commercial leases, party wall matters, or pre-works evidence a different document is usually required.
See our schedule of condition service for commercial work, or compare this page with the guides on what a schedule of condition is and the schedule of condition report.
Related knowledge
Compare this article with the nearest matching pages if you want to follow the topic into related surveying questions.
A practical guide to schedules of condition — what they are, why they are used, what they contain, when to prepare one, how they connect to the lease, and what typically affects the fee.
A practical guide to the schedule of condition report — what it contains, how it is structured, why reporting quality matters, when more detailed reporting is justified, and common reporting issues to avoid.
A practical guide to photographic schedules of condition — what the record includes, when photographic evidence is most valuable, how high-level imagery is captured, why organisation matters, and common pitfalls to avoid.
A practical guide to how a schedule of condition and a dilapidations claim connect — how a baseline record limits tenant liability at lease end, when to instruct, why lease wording is critical, and what to do if no schedule of condition was prepared.
Key Services
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If this article relates to a live property issue, one of these service pages is likely to be the most useful next step.
Lease-end claims
Dilapidations
Landlord and tenant advice on schedules, quantified demands, lease interpretation, and negotiated settlement.
Explore DilapidationsNeighbourly matters
Party wall matters
Notices, adjoining owner response, schedules of condition, awards, and practical support before works start.
Explore Party wall mattersLease protection
Schedules of condition
Condition recording for lease commencement, pre-works evidence, and later protection against dispute over pre-existing condition.
Explore Schedules of condition