In this week’s party wall surveying blog post, we are going to be discussing Schedule of Condition reports, what they are, and when they are applicable.
A Schedule of Condition report involves a party wall surveyor visiting the properties that neighbour the building owner’s construction works in advance of those works commencing. The purpose of the inspection and subsequent report is to produce a thorough snapshot and record of the adjoining owner’s property prior to the building owner’s construction works commencing.
The purpose of the report is to ensure that in the event of any issue or damage, alleged or actual, there is a point of reference and agreed record for the building owner and adjoining owner to look back upon to determine if the damage is indeed new, and then to further determine if that new damage is a result of the building owner’s construction works.
Schedule of Condition reports will vary depending on the construction works that the building owner is undertaking and also the type of property that adjoins those works. However, generally the practise includes all areas both inside and outside of the property being fully inspected with the condition being recorded, usually via a dictaphone, and then finally fully photographed with detailed high definition images to ensure that the record is as comprehensive as it can be.
All elements of the property are inspected from roofs, to walls, to services, to windows, to doors, to grounds. Internally, likewise all elements of the respective rooms will be inspected, including ceilings, walls, floors, doors, and generally speaking any other elements of the property that are within the likely distances that damage can, or conventionally could, occur to.
Schedule of Condition reports are an imperative part of the party wall procedures, and here at Stokemont we believe should be undertaken in all instances, irrespective of the Party Wall Notice response.
If you would like to discuss how a Schedule of Condition report can be of assistance to you, give our team of experienced and qualified surveyors here at Stokemont a call now and we would be more than happy to assist you.
