Schedules of Dilapidations

For most people a house is the most expensive purchase they will ever make in their lives, and whilst there is no requirement to have a survey when purchasing a property, we would always recommend that a survey is undertaken. Houses are complex structures with many hidden elements, and it is only through a great deal of experience and knowledge that one of our RICS accredited chartered surveyors can provide a comprehensive report on its construction and condition.

A survey will serve a variety of purposes when purchasing a property, from making a purchaser aware of any defects and issues within the building, to helping negotiate a reduction in purchase price due to unforeseen issues, to walking away from the purchase altogether when the property has some serious issues.

In the first instance you should contact us to arrange an initial site inspection and letter report. As part of this we would undertake a site visit to analyse the boundary features on the ground, review available documentation, and provide initial advice on the dispute and your position. We would then be able to assist you in more detail going forwards if required, including writing to the neighbour on your behalf.

A market valuation will provide a value which the surveyor believes the property is worth at that specific time if it were to be sold. An insurance reinstatement valuation calculates how much it would cost to rebuild the property based on current labour rates and material costs.

A schedule of dilapidations will only list reinstatement, repair and redecorating works that a tenant or lessee is required to make good in accordance with the repair clauses in their lease. The report will also include reasonable costs for each identified breach which will be a reflection of the landlord’s financial loss as a result of the defects.

A schedule of condition is a descriptive report which records the construction and condition of the property on any given day. The report records both good and bad condition, and does not make any reference to the tenant or lessee’s repair liabilities. A schedule of condition will usually be accompanied by a photographic record.