What are building inspections for?
Building inspections are carried out to ensure that the building in question is structurally sound and not about to collapse. If any new building works are being carried out then they will have to comply with the UK Building Regulations and the council will visit to ensure they are.
Another type of inspection that we are all more familiar with is the one carried out on a new home before the contracts are signed. This is a safeguard carried out by a surveyor, professional builder or architect to ensure that you are not about to buy a dud and that the building or flat that you are about to buy is structurally sound.
What does a council inspector look for?
When starting work on a new building or major renovation, the council must be informed as they need to start their inspections before you have even begun. After you have contacted your local council they will send along someone to carry out a commencement inspection and you can’t start without them. They have to give your plans the once over just to make sure they are sound and you can’t even finish the foundations without a signed agreement.
This is also the case for many stages throughout the build, from the excavations for the foundations, to the drains, damp-proof course and completion as at each stage, the inspector has to agree the quality and safety of the work. There are extra difficulties obviously if this is a high-rise building as the exterior needs to be checked as well. The traditional route for this is by putting up scaffolding but a cheaper and faster alternative is to use someone like Sussex Rope Access who can abseil around the outside of the building for a more accurate inspection. Once the building has been cleared for structural inadequacies and potential safety hazards, the inspector will sign off and your property can be sold, leased or inhabited.
What does an inspector look for in a residential home?
The inspector here will look inside and out for signs of disrepair and will let you know if you do decide to buy the property whether you will be saddled with a massive bill for repair. The first thing to do here is to find a qualified surveyor either by looking at The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors website or www.localsurveyorsdirect.co.uk .
Outside checks
Once you have found your surveyor they will check outside the property for rotting timbers, fire hazards, missing roof tiles or any other damage to the structure. They will also check fences and even outbuildings for instance a shed or granny flat. I believe they can investigate the garden for poisonous plants as well but personally I’m not sure that is as important as a leaky roof!
Inside checks
As far as inside is concerned they won’t go delving into cupboards and drawers but they will check for cracks, mould and damp, plumbing and electrical systems to make sure they are all in working order. And once you have been given the report it is vital that you check the cost of any repairs that they suggest. It may be possible to insist that repairs are done before you actually exchange contracts which should save you a bit of money as it’s surprising how much costs spiral when moving house.
And finally…
All in all, an inspection may seem to be an unnecessary extra expense. But in order for a new build to be legal or to ensure your new home won’t be costing you the earth as soon as you move in, it is a necessary one. Just make sure that the surveyor or any other professionals you employ to help you are qualified and knowledgeable and you will be well rewarded in the long run.