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A defect report is a kind of building survey that is done to find out a specific problem, or potential problem, with a property’s condition or structure.
When a defect report is being prepared, the surveyor preparing the report is investigating the condition of a property and trying to determine if there are any issues that would affect the property’s value—so they’re looking at defects.
Unlike a full building survey, which might be done by a chartered surveyor or an engineer when a potential buyer wants to know the condition of the whole building and its surroundings, a defect report is much more focused on one particular defect: what the problem is and how to fix it.
Many factors influence how much a defect report for your Notting Hill property will cost. They include the suspected problem type, the size and type of property, whereabouts it is located, and how accessible it is.
The fee for a focused defect report should be less than that for a Homebuyer Report (Level 2) or a Building Survey (Level 3). It is usually between £600 and £1,000.
Our experienced panel of highly trained surveyors can usually detect the report building from just one inspection of your property. For any questions you might have, please feel free to get in touch with Specific Defect Report Surveyors in Notting Hill.
You might be concerned about your property and want to check it over for any needed repairs. Or you might be in the process of buying a house and have just received a somewhat alarming building survey. In either case, a structural engineer or building surveyor can help you get to the bottom of the problem and tell you just how serious it is and what it will take to fix it if it can be fixed.
They can also give you a rough estimate of how much the repairs will cost. You’ll then be in a much better position to make decisions about your property, whether you’re trying to maintain it, protect your investment, or figure out how to deal with it under the terms of your mortgage or insurance.
Furthermore, defect reports can offer a measure of professional reassurance before you decide on any renovation or redecorating project. Suppose you’ve noticed a potential problem—like a wall that has developed a crack. You’ve attempted to remedy the situation, but your repair wasn’t up to your own standards. To feel better about your next move, you might consider calling in an expert who would objectively assess the situation and tell you whether how urgent problems really are.
A defect survey reports on some possible problems with a building. These may be surface defects, or they may go deeper and be indicators of serious underlying issues. The survey reports on problems that might require a building specialist to investigate further, with the possibility of needing to make significant repairs to restore the building to a safe and sound condition. The kinds of defects the survey looks for include:
A surveyor might not be able to see everything, such as concealed wiring and plumbing, and so is somewhat limited by what is visible. Because property surveys are done non-invasively of the property, a surveyor can not see all hidden defects.
It could spare you thousands of pounds in very expensive maintenance and repair bills, if it uncovers hidden defects or shoddy construction practices that a routine mortgage evaluation wouldn’t catch. The surveyor doesn’t, however, pull up floorboards or move carpets unless they are loose and you opted for a Level 3 survey.
RICS recommends a Home Buyer’s Survey for fairly new, conventionally built properties that are in good condition. For older homes, more expensive, non-standard construction, and/or more run-down properties, they recommend the more detailed Level 3 Building Survey.
The Full Building Survey report includes the following:
When it comes to the detail that the surveyor will go into concerning defects, repairs, and maintenance, the Homebuyer Survey is fairly standard. Full Building Surveys, however, are more refined and go into more detail about possible and likely defects. Repairs and maintenance are covered in more detail. The Survey cost depends on the age, size, and value of the property.
The analysis they undertake is a visual inspection. This means that, for the most part, the building components that can be seen will be looked at and assessed in accordance with the surveyor’s remit. The Home Survey Report will show you the visible defects and then go on to discuss the kinds of partially hidden or totally hidden defects that the surveyor thinks you should be aware of. It will also try to clarify what kinds of repair work need to be done and the nature of the repairs. The survey is effectively a way to consider “defects” and their potential impact on the building.
A Building Survey Report contains the most important information for understanding the condition of a property. The surveyors that undertake the work follow a set procedure. The first part of the report contains a general overview of the property and its surroundings. The second part details the major and minor problems with the property’s components, inside and out. These problems range from serious structural defects to issues with doors or windows that don’t close properly, and everything in between. The report is written in clear English, complemented by diagrams and photographs. If any of the problems found are what a surveyor might consider important, that’s what the report indicates—using clear and unambiguous language.
Surveyors usually use a tick box to indicate methods of repair when drafting a building survey report. They are also required to comment on the timescale of any repairs. A condition rating is typically included: what needs to be addressed immediately, what is in the process of deteriorating but is in reasonable condition, and what has not deteriorated at all.
A building surveyor is responsible for a variety of checks and tests during a building inspection. These could be checks or tests for damp and woodworm, or they could be visual inspections of the building’s structure. In building surveying, there are visual inspections of roofs – checking for tiles and slates (if applicable) and also checking for leadwork (if applicable) and looking at the junctions between roof and wall. If the wall structure has brick in it, the surveyor will visually check for any “spalling” (brick breaking apart visibly) and any bulging (brick failing to hold its place visibly), for example.
If defects need fixing immediately, then the options recommended for this survey specify what to repair and give some idea of how long the problem has existed. For the most part, this survey describes recommended repair approaches that are standard in the industry and that do not require excessive expenditure. Future maintenance is also discussed, including what to expect when the problem being surveyed is not repaired and what to expect with repairs that are made but with questionable methodology.
Your surveyor will explain some of the legal aspects of purchasing the building, covering—in as much or as little detail as you desire, and their implications, but this is subject to your solicitor verifying.
You might consider having a separate market valuation done to determine whether the property’s asking price is warranted. You’ll also need a reinstatement cost valuation for insurance reasons.
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.
The commercial building surveyors on our panel possess a profound understanding of how properties are owned and managed. Because of this, they are able to furnish you with clear, sensible, and profound information that renders the property you’re buying intelligible to you and also describes the legal and regulatory environment that’s applicable to it.
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!
