What Is a Home Condition Report?
The home condition report is an important document that was developed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to help surveyors carry out a relatively short, surface-level inspection of a building. The report gives a concise overview of the building by highlighting any areas of significant concern that needs attention.
The report uses a traffic light system to identify defects. However, beyond identifying defects, the report is rather limited. Furthermore, as a basic survey report, the report does not offer recommendations or advice for repair or even the likely costs of fixing different items.
The challenge of relying on the RICS Condition Report is that you cannot use it to negotiate on the price of the home as it does not provide likely costs. The Condition Report also does not highlight minor defects that may become areas of concern in the future. That said, as long as the building was built after the 1960s and the building has not been extended, altered or allowed to fall into disrepair, a Condition Report is an effective tool in identifying defects.
Although most people will think of a Condition Report when buying an old home, it is also very beneficial to commission a home condition report when buying a newly built home.
With an all-clear report, you can confidently and with peace of mind exchange contracts knowing that you are buying a home with no defects. If the Condition Report highlights defects, it is recommended that you commission a separate, specific report.
If the building was built before the 1960s or it has been altered or renovated, you should request a comprehensive Building Survey as a likely number of defects common with these types of buildings are not covered by the condition report. If you are not sure how old the building is or whether it has undergone renovations, you should contact our friendly customer service team for assistance. Our team of professionals will go through the property details and provide you with a free quote detailing the issues.
What does a Home Condition Report entail?
The Condition Report is issued by a RICS certified surveyor and provides an overview of the building on the date of the inspection. Some of the things you will find in the report include the construction and condition of the building, features that may need further investigation and defects that need urgent attention.
While conducting the survey, the surveyor will inspect the exterior and interior of the building including the visible utility systems and the roof space. However, it is important to note that the condition report is a visual assessment only and thus, it does not involve the surveyor inspecting wall hangings, floor coverings or inaccessible areas. The chimney and roofline will also be inspected from the ground-level.
After the inspection, the report is presented using a traffic light system to highlight the severity of the found defects.
The Homebuyer Condition Report is recommended for newer buildings or properties that do not require much work. If you are planning to buy an older building, a larger property, a property with non-standard construction, or if you are planning to carry out extensive renovation or refurbishment work, you should opt for a full RICS Building Survey. The RICS Building Survey is a comprehensive type of residential survey that gives a comprehensive report as well as recommendations and advice on both the visible and potential hidden defects.
Find out more about RICS surveyors.
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What To Do After a Bad Survey Report
Are you looking for an Independent Chartered Surveyor in Kent? Follow this link to find an RICS Surveyor near you.