Condition Reports
Whenever you buy or lease a new property, there’s always a chance of uncovering hidden issues after you’ve completed the purchase or signed the lease.
Whether they’re minor flaws or major structural defects, the problems could go as far as leading to unplanned costs, unexpected delays and unwanted stress.
Our team can lower the level of risk when it comes to moving into a new building by putting together a condition report of the property. You can then move forward confidently, protect your investment, and get to grips with the reality of the structure you’re working with.
What is a Condition Report?
A condition report is a professional assessment of a building’s current state. It is sometimes also known as a building condition report, home condition report, house condition report or property condition report.
Within the report is a clear and concise description of the property’s state of repair, based on a non-intrusive visual inspection of accessible areas.
Condition reports offer an accurate picture of the condition of the property, making it an easier process to budget for repairs or provide as evidence to renegotiate the sale price. Unlike a basic mortgage valuation, a report will highlight practical insights into the building’s circumstances. As for rented properties, a schedule of condition report can be created instead of a simple condition report, supporting with efforts to renegotiate the rental price or encourage a landlord to arrange or allow for repairs.
Condition Reporting
At the point of inspecting a property, the condition reporting process involves thoroughly analysing the building to identify defects and necessary maintenance.
Every time we do this, we use a systematic approach to ensure that no detail is missed. More information on how we create condition reports is laid out in the space below.
Condition Survey Report
Across a survey of a building’s condition, we will look at every aspect of the structure’s fabric, focusing especially on providing the client with actionable information. The main components of a condition report survey are:
- Identifying Defects – pinpointing areas of disrepair and deterioration
- Maintenance – listing the required remedial works and providing a plan for future maintenance
- Compliance – checking for potential problems relating to building control issues
- Next Steps – advising on any specific parts of the property that require further investigation
Condition Report Certificate
Straight after a survey has been carried out, the building surveyor will put together a condition report certificate.
The certificate is a formal document that confirms the date of the assessment and acts as proof that a professional condition report has been conducted on the premises.
Schedule of Condition Report
In the case of rented properties, a more specialised report is available to help clients who are renting a property and want to make sure it’s safe and suitable, as well as not being wrongly priced.
A schedule of condition report is a legally binding document that records the precise state of the property before you enter into a rental agreement.
It is essential for protecting you, whether you are a tenant checking that the property is as it was advertised or a landlord showing that the property was in the same state from advertising to tenants moving in. Using the document, disputs over dilapidations can be avoided, and the evidence will be available for legal advisers if any disagreements arise at the end of the tenancy.
Traffic Light System
A condition rating traffic light system within the property condition assessment report is used to open up immediate clarity over the building’s current standard.
Based on the traffic light rating, it is possible to see the severity of any defects quickly and clearly, leading to focusing on the most urgent issues first without needing to wade through pages of technical text.
Condition Ratings
- 3: Defects are serious and urgent, and need repair, replacement or investigation
- 2: Defects aren’t serious or urgent but may need repair, replacement or investigation
- 1: No repairs, replacements or investigations needed
- NI: Not Inspected at all
Condition Report Software
For reports to be delivered in a way that is fast and accurate, our chartered surveyors use industry-leading condition report software, allowing us to compile effective data on-site.
Our use of modern technology is part of our commitment to you, ensuring the highest standards of detail in the demanding environment of a condition report in construction planning or another key area.
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
Although our focus is on the structural condition of buildings, we can help with providing a separate periodic inspection of circuits, electrical systems and wiring, as part of what is known as an electrical installation condition report (EICR).
Any type of electrical condition report must be carried out by a registered electrician, and it comes with its own documentation. An electrical installation condition report certificate will confirm the current state of a building’s electricals, ensuring safety and highlighting any need for repairs or replacements.
RICS Condition Report Service
As expert chartered surveyors, we provide a professional and trustworthy service that goes beyond any other type of inspection.
We are ready to provide our RICS condition report services to anyone dealing with a residential home or a commercial property, with the purpose of the report and the requirements of the client dictating how we choose to approach the process.
Among a list of several land and building survey services, a property condition report falls within the rigorous standards of RICS, meaning you receive actionable advice from trusted professionals.
Our team empowers you to proceed with confidence, knowing for certain that you have a full understanding of the condition of your property, helping to give you peace of mind or relay data to legal advisers.
How Long Does a Condition Report Take?
Between property transactions, rental applications or legal disputes, it is critical to be as fast as possible without compromising quality.
The on-site inspection we carry out usually takes somewhere between two and four hours, but the actual time will be dependent on the size and complexity of the filming.
After that, we aim to get the completed report to you within five working days of the inspection. That said, we will always confirm a specific timeframe with you before we start, so you can manage expectations accurately and realistically.
How Much is a Condition Report?
The price for a condition report will be based on the size, type and location of the building. Fortunately, however, we have building surveyors all over the country, preventing you from having to pay any unnecessary fees for our team’s expenses.
Prices start from a set fee, which will be provided as a fixed-fee quote with no hidden extras prior to scheduling the inspection. When we’ve collected the details of your property, we can give you the full cost right away, and if you require further information on our pricing or what’s included, feel free to ask our helpful team.
Understand the Condition of the Property You’re Working On
Regardless of if you’re a landlord or someone looking to rent or buy a property, a RICS condition report can be created to help you with meeting your goals. On top of that, we can go on to provide any other land or building survey services you need.
Simply get in touch with our team, give us as much information as possible about your building, and our team can work with you to decide on a time to undertake a comprehensive survey and create a report on the condition of the property.
Contact our team by emailing us, completing a quote form online or calling our team directly. We will then take any details from you, give you a free quote for a condition report based on your building, and give you our current availability.
