1. Technical Inspections of Buildings from a
European perspective
The Home Condition Report and other
assessments in UK
David Dalby, FRICS
Director – RICS Professional Groups
2011 1
Agenda
1. Background
2. The relationship mortgage valuations and condition reporting
3. England & Wales and Scotland – different requirements
4. Inspection and reporting levels
5. The market for condition reporting
2011 2

2. Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Gap in market
The mark of property professionalism worldwide
Consumer reliance on 000 professionals (qualified, trainees and
140 MV
students) operating in 146 countries
Relatively poor take-up of HBR or BS
Advancing global standards in land, property and
Raised consumer construction andcondition issues
awareness of the environment
Professional regulation, consumer protection
External competition
and advice
Changing lender/conveyancer attitudes (tcf)
Impartial thought leadership in the public interest
Cutting edge research and economic analysis.
2011
2011 3
Home Inspection Process
New Homes
Inspections linked to compliance with appropriate
standards (Building Regulations)
Further inspections by Warranty providers
Existing Homes
Mandatory inspections only required for alterations and
extensions
Inspections on sale/purchase only compulsory for lending
– valuation, not condition.
2011 4

3. Home Inspection Process
Historically there has been no formal requirement for the
condition of a home in private ownership to be assessed
However properties owned by municipalities and social
housing providers are often subject to regular condition
review
Such Stock Condition Surveys are used for planning
maintenance programmes
2011 5
Government Initiatives
Home Information Packs [HIPs] - England & Wales
Introduced August 2007
Proposals originally included a Home Condition Report
Suspended May 2010
Home Report [HR] - Scotland
Introduced December 2008
Includes Single Survey and Energy Assessment
2011 6

4. Home Information Packs (England & Wales)
What was included?
Legal documents regarding use and charges
Energy Performance Certificate [EPC]
Home Condition Report (withdrawn before Home
Information Pack introduced)
Seller questionnaire
Following withdrawal of HIP, only requirement is for EPC
on all homes for sale or rent
2011 7
Home Report (Scotland)
What is included?
Single Survey & Valuation
Energy Report
Property Questionnaire
A valuation report for mortgage lending (optional)
2011 8

5. The Energy Performance Certificate
Ratings based on:
o the age and size of the property
o the activities going on within the different
spaces
o the materials used in its construction
o how it is heated, cooled and ventilated
o how lighting is provided
NOT – how occupation/lifestyle impacts on
energy use
2011 9
Scope of the Home Condition Report & Single Survey
Assesses and grades the condition of individual
elements of the property (roof, walls, windows, etc)
Sets out details of construction, any defect and
applied a Condition Rating (1, 2 or 3)
Does not provide advice on repair, costs or value
Identifies risks to occupiers
Gives information to be passed on to legal advisors
regarding servicing agreements, guarantees and
warranties
2011 10

6. Condition Report – Condition Ratings
Condition Rating 1 – No repair is currently needed. The property
must be maintained in the normal way.
Condition Rating 2 - Defects that need repairing or replacing but
are not considered to be either serious or
urgent. The property must be maintained in
the normal way.
Condition Rating 3 - Defects which are serious and/or need to be
repaired, replaced or investigated urgently.
2011
11
o Following withdrawal of the Home Condition Report, a
number of providers developed their own report layouts,
based on the HCR format.
o RICS already had two types of report available, both more
detailed that the HCR
o RICS has now introduced it’s own Condition Report as part
of a suite of home surveys
2011 12

7. Reporting Levels
Condition Report
o A basic report, similar to the HCR
o No repair advice, valuation or rebuilding cost
HomeBuyer Report
o Similar format to Condition Report
o Identifies major defects only
o Includes repair advice, valuation and rebuilding cost
Building Survey
o Detailed individual report, tailored to customer’s requirements
o Describes all aspects of construction and condition
o Can include repair cost information
2011 13
Qualification Requirements
Surveyor is not a protected term
Home Condition Reports could only be prepared by qualified
Home Inspectors
Scottish Single Surveys can only be produced by Chartered
Surveyors
Voluntary Condition Reports are not restricted to a particular
qualification
RICS survey products can only be produced by RICS
members
Danger of public confusion around different reports and
quality of those producing them
2011 14

8. Condition Report – Scope of Inspection
Careful surface inspection of all accessible external and
internal elements
Heavy furniture and fixed floor coverings not moved
Services (electricity, gas, drainage, heating systems)
inspected but not tested
2011
15
Scope of Report
Construction & condition on date of inspection
Defects that need urgent attention or are serious
Matters needing further investigation to prevent serious
damage to the fabric of the property
Defects or deficiencies which may be safety hazards and
where further enquiries are needed
2011
16

9. Condition Report - Sample Page
2011
17
Condition Report - Sample Page
2011
18

10. Costs
No fixed scale of charges
Average cost of Condition Report: €240-300
Average cost of Homebuyer Report: €360-500
Average cost of Building Survey: €720-1,000
Average cost of Scottish Single
Survey (including the energy
assessment: €600-840
2011
19
The market for the Condition Report
Less than 20% of homebuyers in England & Wales
obtain independent condition advice
In Scotland, the Single Survey is mandatory, yet 15-
20% of homebuyers still commission a separate report
RICS Condition Report introduced April 2011
Initial trials suggest take-up rate is increasing to 40%
Objective is to increase voluntary take-up to point
where majority of properties are sold with a report
2011 20

11. Link
www.rics.org/homesurveys
Questions?
ddalby@rics.org
2011 21