Level 1

Question 1

RICS Survey Practice Note

Answer 1

Essential guidance on best practices for building surveyors, particularly focusing on conducting inspections effectively and adhering to professional standards.
*Surveying Safely
*asbestos

Question 2

Key Methods

Answer 2

Preparation: Understand the client’s objectives, review relevant documents, and assess health and safety risks.

Inspection Types: Visual inspections, non-destructive testing, invasive inspections, and specialist inspections if required.

Systematic Approach: Conduct a thorough, logical inspection from exterior to interior, using condition ratings for clarity.

Cause Analysis: Identify the root causes of defects to determine appropriate remedies.

Standards and Regulations: Refer to relevant British Standards and regulatory guidelines to ensure compliance.

Report Writing: Provide a clear, concise report with prioritized recommendations, cost estimates, and any need for further investigations.

Follow-up: Communicate findings with the client, schedule follow-up inspections, and ensure repairs are completed effectively.

Question 3

What are dilapidations and what is the RICS guidance?

Answer 3

The term “dilapidations” is often confused with “defects”. Dilapidations are in-fact a debt between the landlord and the tenant of a lease hold property. A dilapidation inspection can be carried out at varying stages within a lease period and identifies potential claim items for failure to repair or maintain the building as specified within the lease.

RICS Dilapidations 7th edition - Guidance Note

Question 4

What is a schedule of condition?

Answer 4

A “condition survey” and a “schedule of condition” are often confused with one another. The “schedule of condition” will simply record the current condition of the property and include a photographic record and brief written schedule. Schedules of condition are primarily produced for party wall awards and prior to clients entering a lease.

Question 5

Explain a defect analysis?

Answer 5

A Building Surveyor may be called in to carry out a focused inspection of a specific defeat (or defects) within a building. This quite often involves the use of specialist equipment. Includes penetrating and rising damp or timber decay. This element again involves detailed diagnosis; prognosis and recommendations to resolve.

Question 6

RICS Guidance Note Technical Due Diligence of Commercial Property.

Answer 6

‘Systematic review, analysis, discovery and gathering of information about the physical characteristics of a property and/or land’ such as
TDD.
This covers instructions such as Building Surveys, Condition Inspections, Pre-Acquisition Surveys and Vendor Surveys. The term Structural Survey should not be used.
The aim of a TDD report is to facilitate the client (e.g. prospective purchaser or occupier) in making an informed decision from a technical perspective.