Most buildings insurance is based on a figure the owner guesses — or inherits from a previous owner. A reinstatement cost assessment gives you the professionally calculated figure that actually reflects the cost of rebuilding your property from scratch.
RICS Qualified · Add-on to Level 2 or Level 3 Survey · Only £50
The problem
When people insure their home, they typically use the purchase price, the estate agent's valuation, or a figure inherited from a previous policy — none of which reflect what the property would actually cost to rebuild. The result is under-insurance, and most people never realise until they make a claim.
Under-insurance at claim: if your insured sum is lower than the true reinstatement cost, your insurer can reduce your payout proportionally — leaving you to cover the shortfall
Market value is not rebuild cost: the price you paid or the property's market value has no reliable relationship with what it would cost to demolish and rebuild from scratch
Online calculators are unreliable: generic online tools don't account for your property's specific construction, size, features, or location
The under-insurance gap — a typical example
£50,000 under-insured. In a total loss claim, your insurer could reduce your payout by the same proportion — leaving a six-figure shortfall to cover yourself.
Figures are illustrative only. Actual values depend on property type, size, construction, and location.
The solution
A reinstatement cost assessment carried out by a RICS-qualified surveyor uses BCIS (Building Cost Information Service) rebuild cost data alongside the specific characteristics of your property to calculate the true cost of rebuilding it — not its market value, not a generic estimate.
Added to your Level 2 or Level 3 survey, it costs just £50 and requires no separate appointment — your surveyor carries out the assessment during the same inspection visit.
Insure for the right amount — neither under-insured nor paying unnecessarily high premiums
Protect yourself at claim — a professionally assessed figure removes the risk of proportional payout reduction
Satisfy your lender — many mortgage lenders require an accurate reinstatement figure as a condition of lending
Your reinstatement cost assessment is carried out by a RICS-regulated professional — giving your insurer and mortgage lender a figure they can rely on.
We use Building Cost Information Service data — the industry standard for professional rebuild cost calculations — rather than generic online estimates.
The assessment is carried out during the same inspection visit as your survey — no additional access to the property is required and no extra time is needed.
How to add it
Available as a £50 add-on to either of our residential surveys — simply request it when you book.
Our thorough, traffic-light rated survey for conventional homes in reasonable condition — with a professionally calculated reinstatement cost included in the same report.
Our most detailed structural survey for older, altered, or complex properties — with a professionally calculated reinstatement cost included in the same report.
What is a reinstatement cost?
A reinstatement cost — also called a rebuild cost — is the total cost of demolishing a property and rebuilding it to its current specification from the ground up. It is not the same as the property's market value, and in many cases the difference is significant.
Reinstatement costs include demolition, site clearance, materials, labour, professional fees, and VAT. They are affected by the property's size, construction type, age, and features — and by local build cost rates. None of these factors are captured by the purchase price or an online calculator.
Why market value misleads
Our survey services
The reinstatement cost assessment is available as a £50 add-on to our Level 2 and Level 3 surveys. Browse the full survey below and request it when you book.
For conventional homes in reasonable condition. Traffic-light rated, plain-English report in 3 business days.
Learn more →The most detailed survey for older, altered, or complex properties. Investigates causes, not just symptoms.
Learn more →For landlords acquiring a rental property — RICS condition assessment with 21-category HHSRS hazard awareness review.
Learn more →Request a reinstatement cost assessment when you book your Level 2 or Level 3 survey — no extra visit, included in the same report.
Book Your Survey & Add Reinstatement CostGet in Touch
Fill in the form and let us know you'd like to add a reinstatement cost assessment — we'll confirm your quote with it included. No separate visit or appointment required.