What is a schedule of condition?

This page, and those under the links to the left, is for those that are unfamiliar with obtaining property surveys who would like a greater general understanding before they telephone or contact the appropriate Chartered Surveyor closest to the subject property.

Many people do not wish to read long explanations. In which case, telephone the Chartered Surveyor where you need a survey or advice and he or she will be happy to discuss and explain the options to you. You will then be able to discuss the most appropriate course of action and make a fully considered decision.

Sometimes the most appropriate kind of inspection can vary for different people, as well as for different properties, meaning personal advice from an experienced professional is often the only way to really ascertain what you need.

Virtually all Chartered Surveyors will adapt and carry out an individual building inspection to suit your individual needs. A bespoke service or an extra to a typical survey format should enable all the requirements of a client to be addressed.

For those that wish to read a general summary of the most common types of Survey and Advice, read on....

Schedule of Condition

If you acquire a lease of business premises in the UK you may find that you have accepted a repairing liability. This means that you have to leave the property in better condition than it was at the start of the lease.

To avoid this, well advised business tenants are now documenting the condition of premises before they acquire a lease and ensuring that the lease limits their liability by reference to the Schedule of Condition. The reasoning behind this is that most business premises in the UK are let on Full Repairing and Insuring Leases. This means that the tenant is liable for all the repairs required to keep and put the premises in good condition, this includes those repairs, such as the replacement of a roof covering.

To avoid the liability of putting the premises into a better condition than they where at the start of the lease it is necessary to have a professionally prepared Schedule detailing the Condition of all the elements of the accommodation and for this Schedule to be attached and referred to in the lease documentation.

The network frequently comes across Dilapidation Claims which can range into hundreds of thousands of pounds. Even on the smallest shop, claims can run into tens of thousands of pounds. The cost of preparing a Schedule at the commencement of the lease is thus just a fraction of the costs of repairs which the tenant would otherwise be liable for.

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There are a number of other types of building assessment possible, each found on the links to the left. To select the most appropriate service, we are, as aforementioned, of the opinion that the most appropriate course of action is to speak to the Chartered Surveyor who knows the area well and can discuss your individual requirements.

Please remember that Chartered Surveyors are often onsite and therefore uncontactable even with mobile phones. If you telephone and get an answerphone, please leave a message, or e mail the surveyor, and he or she really will call you back as soon as is possible.

If you have any questions on property matters, or proposals for advice articles, do not hesitate to write to us via the Contact Us page.

What is a Schedule of Condition?