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Attached to the Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement is a Schedule of Condition, which effectively records the property’s condition before any work starts. It’s a written document that often has photos and/or drawings to support it.
An area-specific Schedule of Condition is a detailed “snapshot” that highlights existing defects. A Schedule of Condition can then be checked post-works to establish whether new damage has taken place.
A Schedule of Condition can serve various purposes and will appear in different formats depending on what it is intended for, but generally, they only cover what is likely to be affected by the works. Thus, the Schedule of Condition will normally only cover the area of the works and anything that is likely to be affected by those works. For example, a Schedule compiled for a Party Wall alteration would be very similar in detail to one for a tenant vacating a building, but the first would cover a lot less area because the works to be done in the area of the Party Wall aren’t going to affect much more than the Party Wall itself, while the second would cover a lot more area because the tenant uses a lot more space.
An extension on the ground floor, a conversion of the loft, or a basement alteration each have distinctive effects on a building. There are many points for you to consider in your conversations with your architect or designer to ensure that you arrive at the result you desire. Our panel of surveyors has done many condition schedules for clients. You should definitely discuss with them what you think the problem area of your building is before they make the decision on how to conduct your Schedule of Condition.
The document will be made up of descriptive text, complemented by images, diagrams, or other visual aids. The information must be presented in a manner that ensures full understanding, and visuals alone will not suffice for that to happen. Text and images together will serve as effective communication of the property condition. The schedule will also be organised and laid out in a manner that makes it easy to navigate. There will be clear references made in the text to any visuals included. If the kind of defect being surveyed can not be easily described or pictured, then the surveyor will write a general note about it.
Party Wall Surveyors know how to prepare the Schedules of Condition for both landlords and tenants, as well as adjoining owners. These are comprehensive reports regarding the condition of a building or part of a building at a specific date and time. A tenant or adjoining owner may wish to have a Schedule of Condition prepared for a building or part of a building and appended to a lease/award to demonstrate that the property was in good condition at the time that the lease commenced or before works were carried and that the relevant damage is not the tenant’s or adjoining owner’s responsibility.
Whether you’re a landlord, tenant or adjoining owner in Notting Hill, surveyors are available to create Schedules of Conditions for your properties. If you need such a Schedule and want to obtain a quotation, reach out to them today.
The most standard condition report for a home is the RICS HomeBuyer Report (Level 2), which runs approximately from about £700 to £1,300. It provides a general assessment of the property’s condition and points out anything that could potentially affect its value. The RICS HomeBuyer Report does not focus on the minute details, as it is not a snagging survey; rather, it gives an overall picture of the problems. To accomplish this, the report employs a traffic light rating system that indicates the severity of the property’s defects and safety issues.
For larger buildings, a “RICS Level 3 Building Survey” might run you between £800 and £1,500, with some rare instances pushing the cost even higher. Because this survey offers a detailed breakdown of any defects, it is not your least expensive option. If, for instance, your building is at the top of a hill with a steep, sloping yard, or the property is large, expensive, old or even newly built, then a Level 3 RICS building survey is definitely the right call and will let you know if there’s been any movement in the foundation.
Surveys that are more in-depth and of better quality do cost more, but they could ultimately save you certain amounts of cash if they allow you to avoid potential costly issues in the future. If you have your eyes on a property in Notting Hill, a homebuyer’s or full building survey would be a good investment.
Our panel is composed of expert and local RICS surveyors in Notting Hill, who are experienced in conducting residential property surveys.
The surveyors provide several types of services, including a HomeBuyer Survey and Valuation. This inspection is more thorough than the average home inspection and tends to focus more on the potential impact (positive or negative) that certain property conditions might have on the property’s value.
Accreditation/qualification: The Notting Hill Surveyors panel consists of qualified, experienced chartered building surveyors accredited by RICS, CIOB or RPSA. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is a global professional body of over 200,000 members, the preeminent authority on professional land, real estate, construction, and environmental issues. Other members of our panel of surveyors belong to accreditation bodies that are similarly influential and issue similar accreditations. All of these accreditations and memberships can be seen as marks of the highest possible standards of expertise and integrity in the valuation, management, and development of professional land, real estate, construction, and environmental issues.
Specialty: the group of surveyors provides clear and direct opinions on property conditions and values. They are unfailingly familiar with the unique aspects of Notting Hill property. Their work is of the highest quality and involves an incredible amount of detail. The inspection is visual and takes place in all accessible parts of the building. Any potential problems are clearly noted, from serious issues like subsidence or dampness to much less worrisome problems like missing caulk in shower stalls. To avoid trouble after purchasing a property, buy a detailed report to know of any serious or potentially expensive problems that exist before the sale goes through.
Clarity: the inspection yields a report that is easy to read, free of jargon, and clear in its comprehensiveness. If defects are found, the report details them and provides professional advice on repairs and maintenance. These features make the report a useful, potent tool during any negotiations concerning the price of a property.
Post survey support and advice: your surveyor should not merely hand you a report at the end and then take their leave. They ought to offer as part of their service, a post-survey consultation. In this, you can go through the report together, discuss its content and potential ramifications, and receive some handy advice as to what it all might mean for you in the near future.
Value for Money: getting a HomeBuyer Report is an extra cost, but it can actually help save you money in the long term. If any problems show up in the report, you now have the opportunity to either negotiate for the seller to fix the problem or get a price reduction. Both choices help counteract the home’s cost issues.
To ensure you can select your new home wisely, engage well-respected surveyors to conduct the HomeBuyers Survey! The Notting Hill property market is among the most diverse, and it’s one of the fastest paced of the price bracket in the whole UK. Thus, it is essential to have a professional take you—from the outside appearance of the home down to its structural bones.
The Notting Hill property market is complex. Thus, before any decisions are made, it is always good practice to gain valuable insight. A Home Buyer’s Report, supplied by your qualified chartered surveyor, will do just this, giving you an authoritative, accurate, and up-to-date perspective on the property to assist you in making the correct decision for your family and your future.
For a mere £700, you can secure the services of a CIOB, RPSA or RICS HomeBuyer Report, granting you peace of mind regarding the financial future of your property and the comfort and safety of your family. This survey can also potentially save you thousands of pounds off the price of your property. The team of surveyors currently provides two distinct options for residential property survey reports. The RICS HomeBuyer Report is the most basic offering, and we also provide the very comprehensive Level 3 Survey and Roof Surveys. You are welcome to contact us for a propitious quotation on any survey you may choose from this suite of services.
RICS’s industry guidelines suggest building surveys for properties that are large, very old, in some disrepair, or have unusual features. Building surveys are also recommended if you plan to do any significant renovations or extensions.
If you’re purchasing a relatively modern home that’s in decent shape and built to ordinary standards, then a Home Buyer Survey is an acceptable choice. If you want the assurance of an inspection and report that are pretty much guaranteed to turn up any issues that might be hidden or just hard to see, then you should go for a Full Building Survey instead.
The Full Building Survey is more detailed; it is more specifically tailored to the property your surveyor would be inspecting. It also comes with more advice on the visible defects found and on the potential hidden defects that they suspect may be present. Your surveyor will illustrate reports with photographs so that you can clearly see what has been discovered. Both the Home Buyer and Full Building Surveys describe the repairs needed, the order in which the repairs should be done, and the kind of “maintenance measures” that will be required to keep the property in good condition.
A HomeBuyer Report does include a market valuation as well as reinstatement costs. However, a Full Building Survey does not. The main reason for the differences in what is and isn’t included in the two types of reports is how focused the reports are on the condition of the property. The Full Building Survey is the most in-depth and comprehensive survey of a property that you can have done.
If you’re uncertain whether a dilapidation survey is necessary or what steps to take next, we can assist. Our expert panel of dilapidation surveyors is ready to provide independent, unbiased advice about your situation. Your surveyor will have experience working for both landlords and tenants. They have helped both parties come to amicable agreements without resorting to the courts. We invite you to reach out and find out how we can help you.
Looking for a Chartered Surveyor? If you are buying a property, contact us for a building survey. Our panel of CIOB, RPSA and RICS surveyors will help you with the Level 2 or Level 3 property survey you need in Notting Hill. We can also assist you in Red Book Valuations, Party Wall Awards and other services. Reach out to us today for building surveyors, valuers and party wall surveyors in London!
