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What
is a Home Condition Report?
Generally,
the report is similar to a detailed structural survey of a dwelling.
The surveyor will examine both the exterior and interior of the
property, together with the services connected to it (for example
drains connections). The
survey entails examining the fabric of the building including any
extensions and/or outbuildings surrounding the property. The type of
building construction is noted and the surveyor will access all
areas of the property including where possible, loft areas, loft
conversions, drains inspection, electrical wiring etc, and will
record all findings. The
main purpose of the home condition report is to find and record any
defects in the property. A detailed report will provide the home
seller with every aspect of the surveyors findings and any defects
will be noted. This
report can bring benefit to both home seller and buyer which is
detailed below.
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Do
I Need an HCR? No
- currently the UK Government has stated that this type of report is
an optional part of the home pack for the home seller. Who
can carry out a survey for HCR's?
Inspectors
must be qualified home inspectors or HI's under the ABBE
certification scheme for example, or certified surveyors which have been
accredited by RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors). |
Cost
of Condition Reports Estimates
vary dependent on area and location and type of dwelling
throughout the UK, however, it is considered that the costs of the
HIP HCR alone may amount to approx. £300-£500.
What is in a Home Condition Report?
The report is divided into several sections:
Section A
Explains the the home condition report content and extent of the
inspection of your home.
Provides definitions of the condition ratings provided in the
report.
Section B
General information about the property which is the subject of the
survey.
A Summary of the condition ratings.
The home Insurance reinstatement cost.
Section C
Conveyancer matters.
Health and Safety risks.
Other risks eg subject to flooding, or landslip.
Section D - Exterior aspects of the property
Chimneys, roof coverings, gutters, walls, windows, doors, other woodwork, external decoration, other aspects.
Section E - Internal aspects of the property
Roof structure, ceilings, internal walls, floors, fireplace/chimney breast, built in fitments, internal woodwork, bathroom fittings, dampness, other aspects.
Section F - Visual inspection of Services of the property including:
Gas, electricity, heating, water and drainage.
Each of these elements is given an objective statement and a condition rating.
A recommendation for a safety inspection or service by a registered engineer may be given in the objective statement.
Section G - Grounds and outbuildings
Permanent outbuildings and garages. Patio areas and garden walls. No condition ratings are
given for such buildings.
Section H - Energy Performance
Certificate.
An energy rating is applied to the property, the energy certificate
is included in the Home
Information Pack. The certificate can be issued by a Domestic
Energy Assessor or a Home Inspector.
Condition Rating Definitions
NI - Not Inspected
1 - No repair is presently required. Normal maintenance must be carried out.
2 - Some repairs or replacements are required but these are not considered to be serious or urgent.
3 - This is considered serious and in need of urgent repair or replacement. HCR
- The benefits
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For
Home Sellers: The
owner of the property can examine the report and, based on the
defects noted, may consider to have the necessary repairs carried
out to their home. This would add value to the property, as any
prospective buyer (who also has access to the report) who is
informed that the necessary repairs have been carried out what not
need to consider how much extra investment is required to bring the
home "up to scratch". The seller may well also obtain the
full asking price for their property when placed on the market. |
For
the Home Buyer: If
the buyer has access to the HCR they can take account of any defects
reported and use this as a bargaining tool to re-negotiate the
asking price if the seller has not made any improvements to the
property. Thus, the buyer may be able to agree a lower offer for the
property in its current state. In addition, any seller who offers an
HCR as part of their pack allows the buyer to make
an informed decision before making an offer for the property.
For new build homes a different type of inspector is required, known
as Snagging Inspectors please refer to Snagging
Inspection for more information. For
further information about home packs see HIP's.
If you wish to find an independent pack provider please refer to HIP
Providers |
