Defects in properties can cost many thousands of pounds to repair, and the cost of damage to goods caused by a defect or having to vacate while remedial works are undertaken can also cost many thousands of pounds. Even more importantly building and the material and services within them can be very dangerous and even kill you. For these reasons if you are considering leasing or purchasing a property it is essential that it is surveyed before you commit yourself to purchase.

Homebuyers Survey/ Condition Report

Prepared in an easy to read jargon free standard format designed by the RICS covering important defects which need to be attended to as a matter of urgency to protect the property or are likely to have an effect on the properties future saleability. The report includes special sections covering:

• Significant movement of external walls and suspected foundation failure
• serious timber defects such as dry rot and woodworm
• Condensation, penetrating, and rising dampness.

These three factors have been found to cause potential purchasers most concern.

Other sections of the report cover: -

Construction, accommodation, location, chimney stacks, roofs, gutters, external joinery, external decoration, roof voids, ceilings, chimney breasts and fireplaces, internal walls, floors internal joinery, decoration, cellars, electric's, gas, water, drainage and heating, external buildings, grounds and boundaries.

Urgent repairs, matters requiring further investigation and maintenance matters are summarized in a handy list.

There is also guidance as to legal matters that you solicitor should be investigating such as right of way, rights to light and maintenance responsibilities for shared service, drives and walls etc.

There is also a summary as to whether the property is a good prospect for purchase, a valuation and estimate of rebuilding costs for insurance purposes.

This type of survey is suitable for most one to four bedroom properties built after 1850 and constructed of brick or stone walls with slate, clay or concrete tile roofs.

Building Surveys: (Erroneously known as Structural Surveys)

Carried out in accordance with the RICS standard terms of engagement. A Building Survey is suitable for all types of property as it includes:
A detailed description of the construction.
Inclusion of detailed matters that are not necessarily difficult or costly to rectify and would be considered unimportant by many purchasers.
An attempt to accurately determine the cause of the defects discovered. Suggested remedial works and possibly estimates of cost.
A valuation in accordance with the RICS standard terms of engagement for valuations can be added to the survey if required by the client.

It is likely to be needed for properties that have been extensively altered, are dilapidated, of unusual construction, very large or old, or if major alterations are required.

Structural Surveys:
Normally carried out by a Chartered Building Surveyor or Structural Engineer who has been asked to further investigate defects which have shown up in a survey or valuation but which the cause of is not immediately clear. Usually specific to certain elements of the property and limited to defects which the surveyor or engineer has been asked to investigate. If you need one of these you really ought to be considering if the property is really worth the extra fees. The defect is likely to reduce future salability as many people will be put off by the defect and the property may be difficult to mortgage.

Survey Reports in connection with CPR Part 35 (Civil Procedure Rules): Survey reports for County Court have to be prepared in a special format ensuring that the Surveyor has for filled his duty to act impartially on behalf of the court. They also ensure that matters that the Surveyor has decided for him self, matters of fact and opinion and information received from other parties are all clearly explained to the court.

Reports are often prepared for
Construction Disputes
Poor Workmanship
Defective Materials
Negligent Surveys