Older, solid-walled homes
Plymouth has a large older stock (23% pre-1919). Budget for the things old houses need: repointing, chimney work, timber repairs and sorting out unsuitable modern coatings.
Source: VOA, Mar 2025
Surveyors · Plymouth, Devon
Surveyors in Plymouth
Home surveys in Plymouth: the local risks, the price picture and the right survey level, from a surveyor-led Devon practice.
Our suggestion for Plymouth
Level 2 or Level 3, depending on age
About a fifth or more of Plymouth's homes are pre-1919, so the right survey depends on the house. If the house is Victorian or older, listed, or has been heavily extended, go Level 3. Otherwise a Level 2 normally does the job.
- 23% of homes in the 169 neighbourhoods where Plymouth homes sold were built before 1919.
- 726 listed buildings in and around Plymouth, 99 of them Grade I or II*.
Plymouth market snapshot
In 2025, 3960 homes sold in Plymouth at a median price of £226,000, up 3% on 2024's £220,000.
- Median price, 2025
- £226,000
- Sales, 2025
- 3960
- Median vs 2024
- +2.7%
- Leasehold share
- 19%
- Residents, Census 2021
- 266,970
| Type | Median |
|---|---|
| detached | £390,000 |
| semi-detached | £260,000 |
| terraced | £210,000 |
| flat/maisonette | £136,500 |
Sales mix: terraced 42%, semi-detached 28%, flat/maisonette 18%, detached 12%. PL1, PL6, PL4, PL5, PL3, PL2, PL7. HM Land Registry, 2025, ONS built-up area. Residents: Plymouth built-up area, ONS Census 2021.
What to look out for when buying in Plymouth
Listed buildings
Historic England lists 726 buildings in and around Plymouth, including Brewhouse, Royal William Victualling Yard (Grade I); Charles Church (Grade I); Church Of St Andrew (Grade I). If the home you're buying is listed, alterations (even past ones) may have needed listed building consent; ask for the paperwork.
List entries: Brewhouse, Royal William Victualling Yard · Charles Church · Church Of St Andrew
Source: Historic England
Conservation areas
Conservation areas here: Adelaide Street/Clarence Place, Barbican, City Centre, Devonport, Ebrington Street and others. Inside a conservation area, things like replacement windows and roof changes can need permission, which matters if you're planning work.
Source: planning.data.gov.uk
Flood risk (rivers and sea)
Only 1 of the 100 postcodes we checked have their centre in Flood Zone 2 or 3. That's rivers and sea only; surface water is mapped separately, so still check the address.
Source: Environment Agency
Radon
The 1 km radon map square at the centre of Plymouth is class 3: an estimated 3 to 5% of homes are above the radon Action Level. 98% of the sold postcodes we checked fall in a radon Affected Area. A three-month radon test is cheap, and fixes (often a sump or better underfloor ventilation) are well understood.
Source: UKHSA/BGS
Mundic
Mundic (decaying concrete made with mine waste) is mainly a Cornish issue, but lenders also ask about it in parts of Devon such as Plymouth. A pre-1950 concrete-block home here may need a mundic test.
Source: RICS
Ground and building stone
Under most of Plymouth the bedrock is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone (84%). Older homes are often built of local stone; check pointing, wall heads and chimney stacks.
Source: BGS 625k
Ground stability
The BGS GeoSure 5 km hexagon covering Plymouth shows moderate slope instability (landslides) potential. That's a broad screen, not a site assessment; look for cracking, sticking doors and leaning walls.
Source: BGS GeoSure
Coastal exposure
At roughly 0.1 km from the open sea, exposure matters: check render, chimneys, window seals and metalwork for salt and weather damage.
Source: Natural Earth
Leasehold flats
19% of 2025 sales in Plymouth were leasehold. Check the lease length, ground rent, service charges and any planned major works before you commit.
Source: HM Land Registry
When Plymouth's homes were built
Plymouth LSOAs with 2025 sales. VOA, Mar 2025.
Selling in Plymouth?
For Plymouth sellers, 2025 medians were detached £390,000, semi-detached £260,000, terraced £210,000, flat/maisonette £136,500. A free, in-person appraisal tells you where yours sits.
Need an EPC in Plymouth? EPCs in Plymouth. Request a quote for your sale or let.
Plymouth survey questions
How much do houses cost in Plymouth?
Based on HM Land Registry Price Paid Data, 3960 homes sold in Plymouth in 2025 with a median price of £226,000 (up 3% on 2024's £220,000). The most common type sold was terraced (42% of sales).
Which survey do I need for a house in Plymouth?
We carry out RICS Level 2 and Level 3 surveys. Which you need depends on the age and type of the house. 23% of homes in the 169 neighbourhoods where Plymouth homes sold were built before 1919. 726 listed buildings in and around Plymouth, 99 of them Grade I or II*. The house itself decides it, so use the chooser or ask us.
Is Plymouth in a radon Affected Area?
Largely, yes. The central square is class 3, meaning 3 to 5% of homes are estimated above the Action Level, and 98% of checked postcodes are affected.
Does Plymouth flood?
1 out of 100 checked Plymouth postcodes sit in Flood Zone 2 or 3, 1 of them in Zone 3. That's river and sea flooding; surface water is separate.
How many listed buildings are there in Plymouth?
Historic England's list shows 726 listed buildings in and around Plymouth: 23 Grade I, 76 Grade II* and 627 Grade II.
How do I get a survey quote in Plymouth?
Online, in a couple of minutes: Survey Booker gives an instant price for Plymouth homes. You can also call us.