Based on an inspection as defined below, the Surveyor, who will be a Chartered Surveyor, will advise the client by means of a written report as to his opinion of the visible condition and state of repair of the subject property. Appropriate photographic evidence will be incorporated.
Description of the Scheduled Condition/Dilapidations Service
The Service
Subject to express agreement to the contrary and any agreed amendments/additions, the terms upon which the Surveyor will undertake the Condition Survey are set our below.
Based on an inspection as defined below, the Surveyor, who will be a Chartered Surveyor, will advise the client by means of a written report as to his opinion of the visible condition and state of repair of the subject property. Appropriate photographic evidence will be incorporated.
It is confirmed that the surveyor has no interest in the property or any other conflict that will prevent the instruction being undertaken.
The Inspection
The surveyor will follow the guidance given in the RICS Practice Standards, UK, Surveying Safely, 1st Edition Guidance Note 2011.
(a) Accessibility and Voids
The surveyor will inspect as much of the surface area of the structure as is possible but will not inspect those areas which are covered, unexposed or inaccessible.
(b) Floors
The surveyor will lift accessible sample loose floorboards and trap doors, if any, which are not covered by heavy furniture, ply or hardboard, fitted carpets or other fixed floor coverings. The surveyor will not attempt to raise fixed floorboards without permission.
(c) Roofs
The surveyor will inspect the roof spaces if there are available hatches. The surveyor will have a ladder of sufficient height to gain access to a roof hatch or to a single storey roof, not more than 3.0m (10’0”) above the floor or adjacent ground. It may therefore not be possible to inspect roofs above this level. In such cases, pitched roofs will be inspected with the aid of binoculars.
(d) Grounds, Boundaries and Outbuildings
The inspection will include the above so far as they are accessible.
(e) Services
The surveyor will carry out a visual inspection of the service installations where accessible. Manhole covers will be lifted where accessible and practicable (if they are set within paved inserts, they will not be lifted). No tests will be applied unless previously agreed. The surveyor will report if, as a result of the inspection, the surveyor considers that tests are advisable and, if considered necessary, an inspection and report by a specialist should be obtained.
(f) Areas Not Inspected
The surveyor will identify any areas which would normally be inspected but which the surveyor was unable to inspect and indicate where the surveyor considers that access should be obtained or formed. Furthermore the surveyor will advise upon possible or probably defects based upon evidence from what the surveyor has been able to see.
Deleterious & Hazardous Materials
(a) Unless otherwise expressly stated in the report, the surveyor will assume that no deleterious or hazardous materials or techniques have been used in the construction of the property. However, the surveyor will advise in the report if, in the surveyor’s view, there is a likelihood that high alumina cement (HAC) concrete has been used in the construction and that, in such cases, specific enquiries should be made or tests carried out by a specialist.
(b) Lead water supply pipes and asbestos will be noted, and advice given, if these materials can be seen but it must be appreciated that such materials are often only visible after opening up – see paragraph 6 (a).
Contamination
The surveyor will not comment upon the existence of contamination as this can only be established by appropriate specialists. Where, from local knowledge or the inspection, the surveyor considers that contamination might be a problem, advice will be given as to the importance of obtaining a report from a specialist.
Consents, Approvals & Searches
The surveyor will assume that all by-laws, Building Regulations and other required consents have been obtained. The surveyor will not verify whether any such consents have been obtained. The client and his/her legal advisers should make all necessary enquiries. Drawings/specifications will not be inspected by the surveyor.
Fees & Expenses
The client will pay the surveyor the agreed fee for the report and any expressly agreed disbursements in addition. The fee is subject to VAT at the current rate.
Restriction on Disclosure
The report will be provided for the stated purposes and for the sole use of the named client. It will be confidential to the client and his professional advisers. The surveyor accepts responsibility to the client alone and the report will be prepared with the skill, care and diligence reasonably to be expected from a competent chartered surveyor, but accepts no responsibility whatsoever to any person other than the client himself. Any such person relies upon the report at his own risk. Neither the whole nor any part of the report or any reference to it may be included in any published documents, circular or statement nor published in any without the surveyor’s written approval of the form and the context in which it may appear.
Complaints Procedure
If you have any dissatisfaction with our service, JPA Surveyors Ltd, has a complaints procedure in accordance with the requirements of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. A copy of this can be provided on request.
Service Enquiry
