Schedules of Condition

Quite often it’s both necessary and useful to have a detailed record of a property’s condition at a point in time. These are known as schedules of condition, and are used as a benchmark against which its condition can be assessed in the future, as well as any changes identified. Our building surveyors in Kent have a wealth of experience in conducting these types of reports, and are experts in the matter. Get in touch for more information on how we can help.

What is a schedule of condition?

A typical schedule of condition will record and assess the condition of each building element — walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows etc. — and usually record this in a tabular format with columns describing the type and condition of each element. It is usually accompanied by photographs for later cross-reference.

When might I need a schedules of condition report done?

1) Taking a new lease

Most leases require the leaseholder to keep a building in repair. At the end of a lease, the landlord will inspect the building and identify any repairs that they think ought to have been done but haven’t. They may list these in a schedule of dilapidations.

If there is no record of the building’s condition at the beginning of the lease, then the ability to negotiate any dilapidations claim is made more difficult. A detailed written and/or photographic schedule of condition, taken at the outset, can limit a tenant’s liability to repair elements that were in poor condition when the building was occupied at the beginning of the lease. For more information on this, take a look at our blog on chancel repair liability.

At the end of the lease, the schedule of condition can be used to determine whether the building is in the same or an improved condition. Occasionally, a landlord may take the schedule of condition to protect his own interest. The schedule can be incorporated within the lease documents.

2) Party Wall Award

Party wall awards usually include a record of condition. The purpose of this is to record a building’s condition before any work starts, which can be checked in the event of any future dispute or allegation of damage. Sometimes a schedule is requested even where neighbours have consented to the works. In these cases, the schedule usually only covers the areas most likely to be affected by the neighbour’s building works (as opposed to the whole building). Our party wall surveyors in London can help you with this.

3) General Building Works

Before starting building works, some developers and clients take a schedule of buildings and structures likely to be affected by the works. Sometimes it’s a requirement of the local authority, especially where works are carried out close to listed or distinctive buildings. Examples of this type of schedule that we have undertaken include houses within 200m of the HS1 high-speed rail link during its construction, houses within 50m of a residential development site where heavy driven piling was planned, and a historic wall bounding a large leisure development.

Our schedule of condition case studies

Schedule of Condition – Industrial Unit – Folkestone

Our clients planned to lease an industrial unit in Folkestone and needed a survey to identify necessary repairs and a schedule of condition to limit future dilapidation claims. We conducted a detailed survey and provided a written and photographic record of the building’s condition, including roof inspections using a cherry picker or drones if needed.

Our clients were intending to enter into a fully repairing lease on an industrial unit. They required a building survey in Folkestone to determine essential repairs that the building needed, as well as a schedule of condition to record its condition and limit their liability for a future dilapidation claim at the end of the lease.

Collier Stevens attended and carried out a detailed and prepared a written and photographic schedule of condition as a record of the building’s condition.  We inspected the roofs using a cherry picker as it is essential to make a close inspection of roof coverings on buildings of this nature. We can also use our drones to complete assessments of this type.  

If you’re in need of a building surveyor in Folkestone to provide schedule of condition services, get in touch – we’d be more than happy to discuss your requirements.

Schedule of Condition for Office Lease in Kent

We conducted schedules of condition reports for an industrial unit lease in Kent. The inspections covered both internal and external aspects, resulting in a detailed written and photographic schedule. This documentation serves as a crucial agreed record, helping mitigate potential dilapidation claims throughout the lease term.

Lease of Office Premises, Kent

Collier Stevens was asked to undertake before and after schedules of condition reports for the lease of an industrial unit in Kent.

We conducted an internal and external inspection of the condition of the premises and prepared a written and photographic schedule of condition to be appended to a new fully repairing lease.

We provided an agreed record of the condition of the premises at the outset so that future dilapidation claims may be mitigated.

For more information on schedules of condition, please get in touch with us.