Seeing the words “you may wish to reconsider” or “we advise caution / you should consider withdrawing” in a Level 3 Survey can be a real shock—especially if you’ve mentally moved in already. But it’s important to remember what a Level 3 Survey is for: to protect you before you’re legally committed.
A recommendation to walk away isn’t a personal judgement or an overreaction. It’s usually a professional way of saying that, based on the evidence available, the property’s risks and likely costs may be out of proportion to the benefit—unless new information changes that picture.
Here’s a detailed, step-by-step way to handle it calmly and make the right decision.
1) Understand what the surveyor is actually saying (and why the wording matters)
Surveyors often use careful wording. “Walk away” may appear as:
- “You should consider whether to proceed”
- “We recommend you reconsider your purchase”
- “The risk profile is high”
- “Further investigations are essential and may be costly”
- “The repairs may be extensive”
Your first job is to clarify whether the recommendation is based on:
A) Confirmed major defects
Where the surveyor has enough evidence to conclude the defect is real and serious (for example: extensive movement, major roof failure, widespread damp with associated deterioration, unsafe alterations).
B) Unacceptable uncertainty
Where the surveyor couldn’t confirm the extent but the risk is high and the cost of opening up or investigating could be significant.
C) Cost vs value imbalance
Where the repair scope appears so large that the property may no longer make financial sense at the agreed price.
Action: Re-read the summary and the specific defect sections and note whether the conclusion is “confirmed” or “risk-based”.
2) Identify the “deal-breaker” items (it’s rarely everything)
Even in a report that advises walking away, there are usually only a small number of findings driving that view. Common deal-breakers include:
- Structural movement that appears progressive or severe
- Major roof defects or long-term water ingress affecting structure
- Widespread damp with signs of timber decay or hidden deterioration risk
- Unsafe or questionable alterations (open-plan structural changes, loft conversions without clear support strategy)
- Large-scale building disrepair (especially in flats, where costs can land via service charge)
- Very high uncertainty, where confirmation requires major opening up works or specialist input and the likely cost is unknown
Action: Make a shortlist of the top 3–5 issues that are driving the recommendation.
3) Don’t panic—pause the purchase timeline properly
If your survey advises walking away, the worst thing you can do is continue on autopilot.
Action steps:
- Tell the estate agent you’ve had a survey with serious findings and you’re reviewing next steps.
- Tell your solicitor you are pausing progression until you’ve assessed the survey issues.
- Avoid booking removals, giving notice, or committing to dates until you regain clarity.
This protects you from feeling pressured into exchange.
4) Speak to your surveyor and ask direct questions
A post-report conversation is one of the most valuable things you can do here. You want clarity, not reassurance.
Ask:
- “If you were buying this property, would you proceed? Why or why not?”
- “Which issues are the main reason you recommend walking away?”
- “Are these defects confirmed, or risk-based due to limitations?”
- “What further investigations could change your view?”
- “What is the realistic range of worst-case cost/disruption?”
- “Is this property ever viable at the right price, or is it fundamentally high-risk?”
This turns a scary sentence into an actionable plan.
5) Decide whether further investigations could “rescue” the deal
Sometimes “walk away” is the correct final answer. But other times, the surveyor is effectively saying:
“Do not proceed unless you can prove the risk is manageable.”
So the next question is: can specialist investigations reasonably clarify the risk before exchange?
Examples:
- Structural engineer assessment to define movement cause and seriousness
- Roofer inspection with proper access (scaffold/cherry picker) to confirm roof condition
- Drainage CCTV to confirm whether drains are leaking or collapsed
- Damp/timber specialist to determine cause and whether decay is present
- Electrical inspection (EICR) if the installation appears unsafe
Action: If investigations can convert uncertainty into facts, get them done before you decide.
6) Turn the findings into numbers (without underestimating)
A “walk away” recommendation is often driven by cost and risk. To decide rationally, you need a realistic budget, not guesswork.
Action:
- Get written quotes for significant repairs (not ballpark verbal comments).
- Consider access costs (scaffold, opening up, making good).
- Add contingency (many buyers use 15–30% on older/complex repairs).
- Factor in time and disruption, not just money.
If the cost + disruption is too high for you, walking away becomes an easy decision.
7) If you still want the property, renegotiate properly—or don’t renegotiate at all
If the issues are real and costed, the property may still be viable at the right price. But renegotiation should be evidence-led.
A strong renegotiation approach includes:
- a short excerpt of the report summarising the key defects
- relevant photos
- specialist reports (engineer, roofer, damp) if obtained
- written quotes
- a clear ask (price adjustment is usually the most realistic outcome)
Important: Some situations aren’t “renegotiation” situations—they’re “this is not a safe purchase for me” situations. If the risk remains high or the seller refuses to engage, it’s often better to step back cleanly.
8) Consider the lender and insurance implications
A survey warning can affect:
- mortgage approval (lender may request further reports or condition repairs)
- insurance (some risks must be disclosed; premiums/exclusions can change)
If the defect is structural, related to ongoing water ingress, or suggests major repairs are needed, assume you may face lender conditions. This alone can derail a purchase timeline.
9) How to walk away without regret (and without wasting momentum)
Walking away feels like failure until you reframe it correctly: you paid for a Level 3 Survey to protect you.
To exit cleanly:
- tell the agent promptly and politely
- confirm to your solicitor that you’re withdrawing
- keep the report for your records (useful learning for future viewings)
- ask your surveyor what “red flags” you should watch for on the next property
Buyers who walk away for good reasons often avoid far bigger costs later.
10) A simple decision framework to keep you grounded
If your survey advises walking away, ask yourself:
- Can the risks be clarified before exchange?
- If clarified, can I afford the repair cost plus contingency?
- Can I tolerate the disruption and timeline?
- Is the property still good value compared with alternatives?
- Would I feel comfortable if these issues were discovered after completion?
If two or more answers are “no”, walking away is usually the right decision.
Quick action checklist (save this)
- Identify the top 3–5 deal-breaker issues
- Pause the purchase timeline with agent/solicitor
- Speak to your surveyor for clarity
- Commission targeted specialist checks if they could change the picture
- Obtain written quotes and add contingency
- Decide: renegotiate or withdraw
- If withdrawing, do it cleanly and promptly
Need help deciding whether to renegotiate or walk away?
Email mail@howorth.uk or call 07794 400 212. If you share the report summary and the key defects, we can help you interpret the risk, identify the most useful follow-up checks before exchange, and decide whether the purchase is still viable—or whether walking away is the smarter move.