Inspection Flashcards
Talk me through the inspection you carried out on x property (any example)
Which part would you like me to focus on? In my experience there are four parts to an inspection:
1st part: desktop research
2nd: locality
3rd: exterior
4th: interior
What would you look for in the 1st part of the inspection (desktop research)
- Know where the property is and how to get there
- Arrange access with relevant people
- Carry out a static risk assessment
- Know what to bring with you e.g. PPE, restrictions of photos/notes
- Read the full latest legal documentation (lease, assignment, license for alterations, plans, measurement, EPC…)
- Use internet resources (Google maps, competitor evidence, land registry, VOA for floor measurements and rating, env agency website for risks like flooding)
- Check for any other property to visit
What would you do in the 2nd part of the inspection (locality)
- Transport links relevant to that unit
- Market transactions and activity (agent boards to further check for new comparables)
- Neighbouring uses
- Area amenities
- Checking water courses (flooding), contaminants (sub stations…)
What would you look for in the 3nd part of the inspection (exterior)
- Building construction (age, type of materials, )
- Parking provisions
- Roof, windows, cladding, drainage, how it’s adjoined to neighbouring properties
- Common service areas, how they are used (properly or improperly used)
What would you look for in the 4th part of the inspection (interior)
- Spec
- Condition
- Common parts
Brickwork: how to tell whether it’s solid or cavity
Solid wall: mix of headers and stretcher bricks apparent
Cavity wall: only showing stretcher brick sides
What are the two sides of a brick
Headers and stretchers
Tell me about the rights of way / road ownership outside your case study
Road is owned and managed by the H&F Highway Authority
What are the three types of damp
- Penetrating damp (water leaks)
- Condensation (east putney arch)
- Rising (water rises through floor building material)
Describe the property in your case study
(ask building surveyor for key features)
Deleterious vs hazardous materials
Deleterious = affects the structure of the building
Hazardous = harmful to human life
Asbestos is a hazardous material
When was asbestos banned?
2000
What are the three types of asbestos?
- Brown
- White
- Blue
What is Japanese Knotweed?
Japanese Knotweed is a hardy deciduous perennial plant, which is a bit like bamboo. It grows extremely quickly (up to over 2m during the Spring and Summer months) and can spread underground through rhizomes or shoots.
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is an offence to ‘plant or otherwise cause Japanese Knotweed to grow in the wild’. This means that Japanese Knotweed is typically classified as ‘controlled waste’ under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Contaminated soil, therefore, needs to be removed by a licensed contractor at an additional cost.
Why is Japanese Knotweed an issue?
COSTS
1) Japanese Knotweed treatments are expensive and disruptive
In particular, soil contaminated by Japanese Knotweed requires removal and disposal by a licensed contractor, at not insignificant cost.
2) Potential cost of legal proceedings
There are also issues over the control and treatment of Japanese Knotweed outside the boundary of a property, e.g., on adjacent land. This can lead to expensive legal proceedings given the impact on the neighbouring land and lack of control over the treatment by the affected owner. This is compounded where the issue affects a block of flats, leading to an impact on saleability if the issue is not dealt with appropriately.
3) Public perception of value
Despite the physical impacts of Japanese Knotweed, public perception means that its presence currently has a significant impact on saleability and value – irrespective of the actual structural damage that it may or may not cause to dwellings. In the worst case scenario, a property can be blighted for some time by the stigma of being associated with Japanese Knotweed.
How can a surveyor identify Japanese Knotweed?
Prior to inspecting a property, surveyors should be undertaking comprehensive desktop research. This could include publicly available resources, e.g., some local authorities publish maps indicating local Japanese Knotweed infestations. Aerial maps and online street views can also show the property at different times of years, helping surveyors to establish if Japanese Knotweed may be present.
When on site, surveyors (and their clients’ legal advisors) should also make enquiries of the vendor/owner or their agent in relation to the presence of Japanese Knotweed.
It is also important to note that Japanese Knotweed can present differently throughout the year.
