DSJ - SoE - Inspections Flashcards
What guidance do you follow for undertaking Building Surveys prior to 1st March 2021
RICS Covid 19 Guide to Surveying Services Version 3
Surveying Safely 2nd Edition
RICS Surveys of Residential Property 3rd edition
RICS Building Survey Practice Note 1st edition
RICS RICS professional standards and guidance, global
Technical due diligence of commercial property 1st edition, January 2020
Surveying Safely 2nd edition
RICS HomeBuyer Report – Survey (1st edition), RICS Professional Statement
RICS Condition Report (1st edition), RICS Practice Note
What guidance has recently come into effect for surveying residential property?
RICS Home Survey Standard 1st edition - November 2019
Effective from 1st March 2021
What guidance does the Home Survey Standard replace?
Surveys of residential property (3rd edition), RICS Guidance Note
RICS Condition Report (1st edition), RICS Practice Note
RICS HomeBuyer Report – Survey (1st edition), RICS Professional Statement
RICS HomeBuyer Report – Survey & Valuation (5th edition), RICS Professional Statement
RICS Building Survey (1st edition), RICS Practice Note
When carrying out services, what must members do?
Undertake appropriate pre-inspection research, e.g. requesting information from the property owner or agent such as any warranties, EPC or details of any alterations
Be familiar with property type and location
Inspect in accordance with the service level agreed
Provide accurate and comprehensive inspection notes to allow for reflection before the service is delivered
Satisfy all professional obligations, e.g. health and safety
Only recommend justifiable further investigation
Clearly state any limitations, caveats and actions available
Deliver a clear, property-specific report
Offer to discuss the findings following delivery
Ensure a complete audit trail is held on file in accordance with GDPR
How can members provide compliant reports?
- Clear presentation
- Following a logical structure
- Separating fact from the member’s opinion
- Use non-technical terms or provide a simple explanation if jargon is unavoidable
- Provide a balanced opinion of the property’s condition
- Include a summary or overall opinion
- Explain the service level
- Mention any safety risks to occupants
- Highlight relevant legal matters
What is the general scope of a level 1 survey?
No tests of the building fabric or services are undertaken.
The report objectively describes the condition of the building, its services and the grounds.
It highlights relevant legal issues and any obvious risks to the building, people or grounds.
The report is succinct and provides an assessment of the relative importance of the defects and problems.
Where the surveyor is unable to reach a conclusion with reasonable confidence, a recommendation for further investigation should be made.
A survey level one report does not include advice on repairs or ongoing maintenance and this, combined with the less extensive inspection.
What type of property would you recommend a level 1 survey for?
Usually better suited to conventionally built, modern dwellings in satisfactory condition.
It will not suit older or complex properties, or those in a neglected condition.
What is the general scope of a level 2 survey?
This intermediate level of service includes a more extensive visual inspection of the building, its services and grounds, but still without tests.
Concealed areas normally opened or used by the occupiers are inspected if it is safe to do so (typical examples include roof spaces, basements and cellars).
The report objectively describes the condition of the different elements and provides an assessment of the relative importance of the defects/problems.
At this level, although it is concise, the report does include advice about repairs and any ongoing maintenance issues. Where the surveyor is unable to reach a conclusion with reasonable confidence, a recommendation for further investigations should be made.
This level of service suits a broader range of conventionally built properties, although the age and type will depend on the knowledge and experience of the RICS member.
This level of service is unlikely to suit:
• complex buildings, for example those that have been extensively extended and altered
• unique or older historic properties – although survey level two services may be appropriate for some older buildings, the decision will depend on the RICS member’s proven competence and knowledge and the nature of the building itself. For example, a survey level two report on homes with traditional timber frames or those built much before 1850 is likely to be inconclusive and be of little use to the client or
• properties in neglected condition.
In such cases, a survey level two service will often result in numerous referrals for further
investigations, an outcome that many clients find disappointing.
Where the client is planning to carry out extensive repair and refurbishment work in the future, the RICS member should give advice on suitable additional services.
