Schedule of Condition
A report detailing the condition of a property at a moment in time,
providing a useful benchmark to avoid potential conflict
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Update your browser!A report detailing the condition of a property at a moment in time,
providing a useful benchmark to avoid potential conflict
A Schedule of Condition records the state of a property on a particular date as part of a legal agreement. It’s often drafted at the beginning of a lease or prior to construction work. The report is then used to establish whether a building has deteriorated, assisting negotiations to settle any claims for damages.
OA Building Surveyors are regularly instructed by landlords, tenants, contractors and neighbours to prepare Schedules of Condition. Our comprehensive reports are written observations, supported by photographic evidence and occasional drawings.
A typical schedule will itemise the current condition, including the location and materials of the property in question. Our explanations are detailed and clear enough to ensure that an item can be referred to at a later date
Unlike a Building Survey, the report is not intended to be an evaluation of defects or remedial works, nor a recommendation for future maintenance. It purely provides documentary evidence of the condition of a building at a given moment in time.
In relation to The Party Wall etc Act 1996, a Schedule of Condition should be drafted prior to works commencing. Our Chartered Surveyor will advise the interested parties on the extent of the schedule and the areas to be inspected. The resulting document, to be included in the final Award, offers reassurance - the adjoining owners knowing they’re legally protected in the event that the building works cause lasting damage.
A Schedule of Condition is often prepared at the start of a commercial tenancy. It’s important to record the condition of the property in case the landlord makes a claim at the end of the lease for repairs or reinstatement works relating to unauthorised alterations. This is known as a dilapidations claim. Without a Schedule of Condition, it could include items of disrepair that existed before the lease was taken over. The report would then limit a tenant’s repairing obligations by proving that the covenants had not been breached.
For a landlord who has invested in improving the condition of a property prior to letting, but subsequently takes on a tenant who fails to maintain the building, the report justifies a claim for dilapidations when the lease expires. It allows the case to be resolved quickly and saves on legal fees.