RICS Condition Report

Condition Reporting on Properties

By choosing to take on a building without checking its physical fabric, you are running the risk of genuine financial and operational hazards.

A basic mortgage valuation is arranged to reassure the lender. If, however, you want to protect the buyer or occupier from potentially nasty surprises, you need an independent inspection of the building’s current state and condition.

With the insights of a RICS condition report, you can get a better understanding of the property before signing contracts or confirming financial commitments.

What is a Property Condition Report?

Otherwise known as a building condition report, home condition report or property condition report, a condition report offers a concise description of a structure’s existing state.

It gives people who own or rent a building an objective and surface-level overview through a non-intrusive visual inspection of accessible areas. Instead of a structural breakdown, it focuses on the general building’s condition, pointing out any immediate structural defects and signs of deterioration.

Condition reports are suited to both conventional properties in a reasonable condition and new properties, enabling potential buyers or renters to make an informed decision based on a clear picture of the building right now.

Condition Report Survey Process

During an inspection, a qualified building surveyor will examine the accessible internal and external fabric of the property to analyse the structure and go on to produce actionable advice.

A survey for a condition report will consider all areas of the building, from the areas that remain in good condition to the areas with defects in need of remedial action.

Uses for Condition Reports

Arranging a property survey in order to get a condition report isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.

The UK market offers different types of assessments depending on the building’s age, construction and structural state.

An older, heavily altered or neglected property, for instance, usually needs a full house survey or an extensive build survey to examine the defects in more depth. Alternatively, conventional homes in sound repair rarely justify such a level of intrusive investigation.

For most homes built using traditional techniques, an entry-level condition assessment is often known as being the best choice. It offers a clear and proportionate review of the condition of the property without the higher price tag or likely delays of an exhaustive investigation.

It could be that you’re stepping onto the housing ladder or managing a tenancy. Whatever the case, a report will adapt to serve the two distinct purposes of safeguarding capital during a purchase or establishing a binding physical baseline before letting a home.

Condition Report Certificate for Property Purchases

When it comes to stepping onto the property ladder, many homebuyers assume that their lender’s assessment has their best interests at heart, only to discover that it actually offers zero personal protection.

A RICS Home Survey could include a Level 1 (RICS condition report), Level 2 (RICS homebuyer report) or Level 3 (RICS building survey or RICS structural survey). Instead of going as far as commissioning a Level 2 or 3, a standard condition assessment is available in the form of a Level 1 condition report.

Following the site visit, the building surveyor will generate the formal property condition assessment report. The document highlights urgent visible defects, flags compliance issues and building control issues, and includes advice on required remedial works.

Alongside the comprehensive findings, you will receive a condition report certificate confirming the date and scope of the evaluation. The certificate gives you tangible evidence to present during price negotiations, verify structural integrity for insurance claims, or reassure mortgage providers before you commit to the purchase.

Schedule of Condition Report for Property Rentals

For a domestic or commercial rental property, disagreements over dilapidations can arise as soon as a tenancy ends. With a specialised schedule of condition report, both landlords and tenants can be protected from unfair financial liability.

Created right before a tenancy starts, the document provides an accurate photographic and written baseline of existing wear and tear across different parts of the interior and exterior fabric. As it functions as a legally binding annex to the official rental agreement, both parties will know where they stand from day one.

If there are any disputes over repair liabilities or deposit deductions later in time, legal advisers can refer straight back to the baseline record to resolve arguments swiftly and impartially.

Condition Survey Report Traffic Light System

As a way of summarising all findings, pinpointing all potential concerns at a glance and avoiding complicating the results, a building survey uses a traffic light rating format:

Condition Rating 1 (Green)

No repairs, replacements or further investigation needed.

The element functions properly and is in sound order.

Condition Rating 2 (Amber)

Non-urgent defects, or ongoing maintenance issues that will need remedial work in the future but don’t currently pose an immediate danger.

Condition Rating 3 (Red)

Critical structural defects needing immediate attention, urgent replacement or immediate specialist evaluation before contracts are signed.

NI (Not Inspected)

Applied to areas where safety hazards, locked access or physical constraints prevented the building surveyor from viewing and evaluating the element.

Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)

Although standard visual building inspections focus on structural fabric and intentionally exclude hidden mains wiring, circuits and electrical hardware, an electrical installation condition report (EICR) works alongside the comprehensive health check of your premises.

During a formal periodic inspection, registered and qualified electricians carry out fixed wire testing and a thorough inspection and testing across fixed electrical systems.

Using calibrated specialist equipment, the electrician will test fuse boards, cabling runs, sockets and ceiling light fittings to detect potentially dangerous faults and eliminate the risk of an electric shock.

Any issues uncovered are graded by severity so you can budget for necessary repairs, allowing certified registered electricians to carry out the required remedial work quickly and safely.

Get a Property Condition Report Today

Through our vetted network of independent professionals, our RICS condition report service introduces you to external building surveyors across the UK.

Organising an objective evaluation of the building removes any uncertainty before you buy or rent it, whether you’re securing your own home, purchasing any other type of property, moving into rented properties or reviewing the baseline fabric of a commercial property.

By arranging a thorough assessment with an accredited surveyor recommended to you by 24Housing, you can get the facts about the building you’re dealing with from day one.

Condition Report Cost

Due to the fees for condition reports being based on the size, age and specific property type, pricing is calculated directly for the premises.

A standard condition report is designed for conventional buildings, making it a faster and more economical option than commissioning an exhaustive and full-scale comprehensive survey.

If you also need an inspection of your property’s wiring alongside your building survey, our external partners can factor in the expertise of an approved electrical specialist, giving you an expected EICR cost as an added extra.

Like how we operate, our external partners offer transparent and upfront figures with zero hidden extras, so you always know exactly where you stand and what you’re paying before booking anything in.

Request a RICS Condition Report Quote

To get a free quote, simply fill out an online quote form, call us or email us to get in touch with our team.

We would always advise giving us your full name, email address and telephone number as part of your contact details, along with the address, layout and any further information about your building.

If you want more details about what the inspection covers, or if you need the building surveyor to focus on a specific point of concern during the visit, it’s worth adding it to your submission.

From there, our team will review your details and pass them straight on to the building consultancy we work with. Our partner is regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and you can rest assured that your quote and their next availability will be with you as soon as possible.