Guide
Types 1, 2, 3 and 4 Explained
| Type | Where | Opened up? | Usually for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 | Common parts only | No | The standard assessment for almost every block; what conveyancers, lenders and insurers ask for |
| Type 2 | Common parts only | Yes, sampled | Doubt about the construction: compartmentation, fire stopping, walls between flats and corridors |
| Type 3 | Common parts and a sample of flats | No | Risk inside the flats: converted houses, older layouts, a landlord who controls the flats too |
| Type 4 | Common parts and a sample of flats | Yes, sampled | A known defect, a serious incident, an enforcement notice |
"Type 1 and 3"
People searching for "type 1 and 3" or "type 1 4" are usually comparing the two non-destructive options: do we look only at the common parts (Type 1) or inside a sample of flats as well (Type 3)? For most blocks the answer is Type 1. Type 3 earns its extra cost where the flats themselves carry the risk and the person commissioning the assessment controls them.
Our rule
We recommend the type the building needs, in writing, before you book. A Type 3 sold to a block that needs a Type 1 is an upsell; we do not do it, and we will say so if someone has told you otherwise.