Inspection Level 3 - Residential House

Question 1

Describe the property

Answer 1

Vacant Victorian detached 4 bedroom house
solid brick construction
bay windows
pitched roof

Question 2

Talk me through your inspection

Answer 2

I undertook an inspection of a vacant detached 4 bedroom Victorian house for the purposes of a receivership appointment

I carried out due diligence of the property prior to inspecting, I checked the EPC, location plan, title document.

I arranged access with the client and updated by diary in accordance with my firms lone working policy.

I carried out an inspection of the local area noting down agency boards on houses along the same road.

I carried out an external inspection of the property, I checked for any defects in the brickwork and cracking.

I then carried out an internal inspection of the property, the ground floor was in good condition however I then noticed the basement was heavily soiled, there was limited light, and areas of damp. I deemed that the basement level was unsafe to inspect I did not enter, I took photographs from a safe distance, ended the inspection and notified my supervisor and the client.

Question 3

What advice did you provide?

Answer 3

The basement was heavily soiled, broken glass and limited light. I advised that the client should instruct an environmental clean as soon as possible as this would increase the saleability of the property as currently it was not safe for viewings to take place.

I also advised their was rising damp coming from ground floor level and that a building surveyor should inspect this once the environmental clean had taken place.

Question 4

How did you know it was safe to go inside?

Answer 4

I undertook a dynamic risk assessment, externally and at ground floor level I saw nothing that indicated that it was unsafe to enter the property.

Question 5

How did you identify the rising damp?

Answer 5

It was 1.5m above ground floor level on internal wall, damp patches and musty smell, paint work peeling off.