Inspection Flashcards
What standards and guidance exist regarding Japanese Knotweed?
“Japanese Knotweed and Residential Property” 1st Edition, January 2022. Effective 23 March 2022
More detailed guidance on identification and rectification - Property Care Association, Japanese knotweed: Guidance for Professional Valuers and Surveyors,
Which act made it an offence to plant or spread Japanese Knotweed?
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Classed as controlled waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990
What conclusions were reached by the 2020 DEFRA report in response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee’s request for more research in to the Japanese Knotweed problem?
- UK treats knotweed uniquely in the international property sales market
- UK approach is not disproportionate
- However, excessive burden stems from the stigma around it unduly impacting attitudes of buyers, sellers and lenders
- RICS to reassess guidance
- Reframe as a mitigatable environmental issue rather than a property or social issue
What is paradoxical about the approach of valuers to knotweed?
Valuers must follow not lead the market. They must strike a balance between considering the market sentiment and the facts relevant to the property being valued
What should be noted if knotweed is located on an inspection?
- Proximity to structures, hard landscaping, drainage, and damage
- Location, height and areas of all stands
- On or off site, cross boundaries?
- Evidence of previous management
- Lots of photos!
What guidance are you aware of relating to inspections?
Surveying Safely 2nd Edition (2018)
COVID-19 guide to surveying services (physical inspections for residential valuations and condition-based surveys
How did you undertake a risk assessment prior to attending one of your LRA inspections?
Potential risks identified:
- Agreed to be a non-invasive inspection in TOE
- Lone working - buddy system, tenant details
- COVID-19 - asked if any symptoms, anyone high risk or isolating, asked if they could be out
- Transport arrangements
- Asked tenant and client re potentially unsafe or derelict areas
- Animals
How did you undertake a dynamic risk assessment?
A dynamic risk assessment is fairly straightforward: it involves continually re-evaluating the work, the working environment, and the competence of themselves and others to continue with the work activity.
Risks looked out for:
- Property defects - damages
- Slip/trip hazards - slippery surfaces, cracked flooring, etc
- Live/unsecured services
- Aggressive tenants/ animals
- Asbestos
- Vermin
How did you account for COVID in your inspection?
In accordance with COVID-19 Guide to Surveying Services
- Checked if anyone had symptoms or was self-isolating / shielding / vulnerable
- Sanitise equipment before and after
- Maintain social distancing
- Ask occupier to keep pets to one room and ventilate property
- Ask occupier if possible to leave for duration of inspection
- Minimal contact with surfaces
What does Surveying Safely cover?
Surveying Safely (2nd Edition) 2018:
- Personal and firm responsibilities - e.g. safe person concept
- Relevance
- Assessing risks and hazards
- Place of work
- Occupational health and hygiene
- Visiting premises
- Fire safety
- Contractor management
How do you identify damp?
Rising damp - capillary action of ground water through plaster and brick - white salty deposits, brown/yellow staining above skirting, rotting floorboards / skirting, flaky paint
Penetrating - localised patches, mould, discolouration, above skirting level, external evidence
Condensation - often in bathrooms with no ventilation, black spores, high humidity
Water damage - ceilings, walls, along water pipes
How do you identify subsidence?
External factors:
• clay soil
• large trees or bushes
• evidence of previous mining activity
Internal factors:
• new or expanding cracks in plasterwork
• new or expanding cracks in outside brickwork
• doors or windows sticking for no
particular reason
• ripping wallpaper that isn’t caused by damp.
How should a leaseholder go about challenging a service charge?
- Review the lease
- Pay the service charge but make it clear that payment does not amount to an admission that the disputed charges are payable
- Write a letter to the landlord / agent
- Make a formal complaint if dissatisfied
- Make an application to the FTT
- Be aware that they have rights under Section 21 to request information, and inspect accounts under Section 22
