To understand what is included and not included in your report it is essential and recommended that the following terms and conditions are read in full. By booking our services you are agreeing to these terms.
Contents
1) Pre-Acquisition Commercial Structural Survey report overview
2) Scope – What the Service Includes
3) Limitations of Service
a) General
b) Damp/leaks
c) Property contents and occupancy
d) Redecoration
e) Accessibility, voids, and concealed areas
f) Mechanical, electrical, and heating services – plumbing, heating, drainage, septic tanks, wells, ventilation and A/C systems, electrics, or ICT
g) Deleterious and hazardous materials
h) Tree/vegetation proximity and invasive plantations
i) Land contamination
4) Property Walk-through
5) Price and payment
6) Report issue
7) Liability, confidentiality, and ownership
8) Termination
1.Report overview
The principal objective of the report is to inform you of significant structural defects within the property that may affect a buyer’s decision, e.g., defects in roof structure, cracks in walls, ceilings and floors that may indicate problems with the foundations. 90 – 95% of the engineer’s time is spent examining the main structural components of the property.
2.Scope – What the Service Includes
i) One visit to the property (unless quoted otherwise) and survey of the commercial property (single unit, multi-unit). The survey is a visual, structural inspection of the property at a specific point in time.
ii) A Report, which is based on a visual inspection only of the exposed and accessible main parts of the structure, e.g., walls, roof, etc. to determine the structural condition and general state of repair of the property.
iii) For commercial multi-unit properties, the entire property will be included in the survey even if it has been divided into individual units.
3. Limitations of Service
3. a) General
i) The pre-acquisition structural survey is based on a visual inspection only of the exposed and accessible main parts of the structure, e.g., walls, roof, etc., to determine the structural condition and general state of repair of the property.
ii) The pre-acquisition structural survey includes one visit to the property.
iii) The report does not comment on minor non-structural or cosmetic issues that do not materially affect the value of the property and are of no structural importance, e.g., minor drying cracks in ceilings and walls, marginal structural workmanship such as some unevenness in floors, walls, and ceilings.
iv) We do not carry out any tests on structural materials used in the construction of the property. The engineer will assume that the materials used in the construction of the property were suitable for their intended use.
v) The report does not comment on building regulation compliance.
vi) The report does not comment on the property boundary.
vii) This service does not include planning searches, reviewing planning documentation, other files, maps, etc and/or making inquiries with statutory agencies or local Planning Authorities.
viii) We do not provide a BER report as part of our survey.
ix) The survey does not include testing or review of the documentation/certificates including but not limited to:
- fire safety certificates,
- disability access certificates,
- asbestos/hazardous materials register and management plan,
- statutory test certificates,
- water testing/legionella testing
- fire protection equipment inspection & maintenance certificates,
- BER (Building Energy Rating) certificate,
- Any other statutory reports relevant to the building type and use.
x) The survey excludes liability and responsibility for loss or damages to you or a third party for latent defects, concealed defects or deficiencies that may become apparent or occur during or after the survey has taken place. We are however happy to offer direction and advice should a defect or deficiency subsequently become evident. E.g., plumbing leaks were not active or visible at the time of the survey.
xi) Photographs included in the report are provided purely to clarify an engineer’s comments.
xii) Taking measurements of the property or site is not included in the pre-acquisition structural survey service.
xiii) It is the client’s responsibility to ensure that full access is provided to the property, both inside and outside, on the day of the survey.
xiv) Where health & safety inductions are required to enter the property, this must be organised by the client and must take place at the beginning of the site visit before the survey commences.
xv) If for any reason a re-check or re-inspection is required, an additional fee will be quoted and charged accordingly.
3. b) Damp / Leaks
i) Our visual survey will report on active leaks that are visible at the time of inspection. It is quite common for windows, doors, walls, or roofs to have leaks that are only active and visible under certain weather conditions e.g., wind-driven rain, and these conditions may not be replicated at the time of the survey. The survey excludes liability for leaks that latently occur during weather conditions not replicated at the time of the survey.
ii) This survey report is not a detailed or comprehensive rising/damp survey. Dampness/rising damp may exist in the property which may not be detected by this general survey. For example, visual evidence of dampness could be hidden from view by furniture, stock/equipment or by recent redecoration of ceilings and walls. Dampness can also be caused by seasonal factors that are not present at the time of inspection. To be 100% certain that no dampness exists in the property you should get a detailed and specialised damp survey before signing legally binding contracts.
3. c) Property contents and occupancy
i) Contents in a building restrict or deny visual and/or physical access to some areas, e.g., stock/equipment in storage rooms, attic space packed with boxes, fixtures and fittings in rooms, personal possessions in rooms etc. The engineer will make their best assumptions where industrial equipment, walls, carpets, heavy furniture etc, in place restrict access.
ii) No moving of stock, equipment, furniture, personal belongings etc., will be carried out during the inspection.
3. d) Redecoration
i) Recent redecoration can hide or disguise visual evidence of existing defects in a property. E.g., evidence of moisture issues (such as mould and water stains, or cracks in walls), can be painted or wallpapered over.
ii) Moisture issues and cracks covered up by redecoration normally take up to one year before they once again become evident.
iii) Should a defect or deficiency subsequently become apparent we are happy to offer direction and advice. E.g., cracks appearing in walls and ceilings, or seasonal dampness not active or visible at the time of the survey.
3. e) Accessibility, Voids, and Concealed Areas
i) The inspection can take no account of works covered up, inaccessible or otherwise obscured from view e.g., office furniture, industrial equipment, stock, fittings, clothing, personal belongings etc.
ii) Where areas of the main structural components are unexposed, covered, or inaccessible, no definitive opinion can be given. For example, if there is no hatch access to roof spaces or areas under floors then the engineers’ comments cannot be conclusive; opening up would be required before a more accurate assessment can be made by the engineer. It must therefore be appreciated that defects such as woodworm or dry rot may be present without our knowledge.
iii) Access points will not be used if they are locked, nailed, glued, sealed, or screwed in place, damaged or unlikely to close properly after opening.
iv) Internal roof structures will be inspected where safe access exists via a loft hatch not more than 3 metres above the adjacent floor or ground. Where no reasonable safe access is available, the roof spaces will not be inspected.
v) Roof spaces that are limited in height, dangerous or unsafe to manoeuvre in, will not be inspected. It must therefore be appreciated that defects such as woodworm or dry rot may be present without our knowledge.
vi) Ladders will be used for inspections where it is safe to do so, up to a maximum of 3 metres in height. The engineer will not climb onto or walk on any roof surfaces.
vii) The internal roof areas will only be inspected if there is safe access available within 3 meters from ground level. Engineers will not utilise elevated platforms or gantries to inspect roofs exceeding a height of 3 meters.
viii) External roofs over 3 metres from ground level will be inspected using binoculars or extendable poles from ground level but will be excluded from the survey if they cannot be viewed by either means.
ix) A drone camera will be used to inspect the roof of the property if the roof is not visible by the means listed above and if the location of the property is in a legal flight zone.
x) The survey of the property is carried out from within the grounds of the property and from public areas adjacent to the property. We cannot trespass on other people’s private property to get better views.
3. f) Mechanical, Electrical and Heating Services – plumbing, heating, drainage, septic tanks, wells, ventilation and air conditioning systems, electrics, or ICT
i) Mechanical, electrical, and heating services are not inspected as part of the service. The engineer will make comments on whether they were operating or not at the time of inspection (e.g., there was a water supply to the property, there was an electrical supply to the property.)
ii) Our engineers are NOT qualified plumbers, heating technicians or electricians and do not carry out any tests or assess the efficiency or safety of these services.
iii) Before purchasing, renting, or leasing the property, it is essential and recommended that you commission a competent suitably qualified professional to service/perform tests and provide you with a report on the design, installation, current condition, efficiency, and the likelihood of potential failure/s of these systems.
iv) Mechanical, plumbing, electrical, heating services, specialist facilities and equipment are not included in the survey e.g., air conditioning units, geothermal systems, sprinkler systems, security alarms, solar panels, and any appliances.
3. g) Deleterious and Hazardous Materials
i) This survey report is not an inspection of the presence of any deleterious and hazardous materials within the property, neither will we undertake or commission inspections or laboratory tests to determine or confirm the presence, extent or precise nature of any deleterious and hazardous materials e.g., alkaline cement, lead, asbestos, pyrite and mica/pyrrhotite.
ii) No liability is accepted for future defects found in the property arising from the use of defective stone fill.
iii) If the engineer makes a comment in the report on deleterious and hazardous materials it is provided for limited informational purposes only and should not, under any circumstances, be deemed conclusive.
iv) To determine the existence/non-existence or extent of any deleterious and hazardous materials within the property it is essential and recommended that you commission a relevant specialist to carry out tests and provide you with a report before signing legally binding contracts.
3. h) Tree / Vegetation Proximity and Invasive Plantations
i) This survey report is not an inspection of the presence of invasive plantations, e.g., Japanese Knotweed, within the property.
ii) If the engineer makes a comment in the report on invasive plantations, trees, or vegetation proximity, it is provided for limited informational purposes only and should not, under any circumstances, be deemed conclusive.
iii) To determine the existence/non-existence, impact or extent of any invasive plantations or tree or vegetation proximity within the property it is essential and recommended that you commission a relevant specialist to carry out tests and provide you with a report before signing legally binding contracts.
3. i) Land Contamination
i) We do not make any investigations into the potential contamination of the site or of neighbouring land e.g., oil spillages, chemical leaks, dumped materials, etc.
ii) If the engineer makes a comment in the report on land contamination e.g., dumped waste, it is provided for limited informational purposes only and should not, under any circumstances, be deemed conclusive.
iii) To determine the existence/non-existence, extent, or impact of any land contamination within the property or neighbouring land it is essential and recommended that you commission a relevant specialist to carry out tests and provide you with a report before signing legally binding contracts.
4. Property Walk-Through
i) It is advised, without exception, that before finalising the contract and taking possession of the property, clients take a final walk-through of the property and grounds with the estate agent.
ii) The walk-through should take place after the removal of stock, equipment not included in the contract, vendors’ personal possessions etc.
iii) It is the client’s responsibility to organise the property walk-through, to determine that no previously hidden or covered issues have been revealed and that no subsequent water leaks, fire, smoke, or other damage have occurred since the survey was performed. Your legal adviser can provide advice on this action.
iv) Should any issues be discovered during the walk-through, clients should take photographic evidence and forward this by email immediately to our office. If re-inspection is required, an additional fee will be quoted and charged accordingly.
5. Price and Payment
i) Valid numbered quotations are provided in writing only and are valid for thirty days from the date of issue. The quotation includes VAT at the current rate.
ii) Payment can be made by credit card, debit card, and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Payment is taken at the time of booking.
6. Report Issue
i) Reports are issued by email to the email address advised by the client at the time of booking. The email will contain a link to a secure site, where the report can be viewed and downloaded.
ii) Photos included in the report are low to medium resolution. If you wish to copy any or all the photo’s out of the report, right-click over a photo and copy to a new location.
iii) Reports are provided in colour PDF format only.
iv) Requests to provide a hard copy may incur an additional postage fee, and the report will be issued in black and white.
7. Liability, Confidentiality, and Ownership
i) Liability is limited to a maximum amount equal to the fee paid for the survey.
ii) Ownership of the report passes to the client upon receipt by Property Health Check Limited of full payment.
iii) The report is issued to the person to whom it is addressed for their and their legal adviser’s use and is not intended or authorized to be used by a third party, without our prior written consent.
iv) If a third party chooses to use this inspection report, they do so without Property Health Check Limited’s permission or authorisation, and they do so at their own risk. No communications will be entered into with any third party re the report, without the prior consent of the client.
8. Termination
i) The Client may terminate an Agreement but must give a minimum of two working days’ notice.
ii) If a cancellation or a postponement takes place within two working days of the inspection, then 25% of the quotation total fee will be charged.
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