It is important to protect your property – it is your greatest asset. You protect it with insurance in case of rain or fire damage and protect it with home security to ensure that your internal assets are protected. So, when construction work is taking place in your area, doesn’t it make sense to protect your property from any potential damages that can occur? That is why a Dilapidation Report is the best way to protect your property during times of construction.
WHAT IS A DILAPIDATION REPORT?
A Dilapidation Report is an independent document that records the current condition of a property at a given point in time. It is usually completed for neighbouring properties prior to nearby construction work taking place.
This document will be a factual report that will establish who may be responsible for damage to a property and will consequently help avoid costly disputes.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PREPARING A REPORT FOR THE OWNER AND THE BUILDER?
A Dilapidation Report is in the best interest of both property owners and builders. It protects property owners if any damage were to occur as a result of construction and protects builders from any exaggerated claims of damage from property owners.
It serves as a record for the property owner and contractor, which can help to mitigate future risks. Providing clear ‘before’ images of the status of a property before constructio will help ensure that there is no uncertainty concerning the impact of the works once finished.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A DILAPIDATION REPORT?
A Dilapidation Report will document with photos the external and internal condition of a property, including:
- Tile cracks
- Wall cracks (External & Internal)
- Loose or missing frames
- Brick cracks
- Pavement or concrete cracks
- Evidence of any movement on the ground
- Alignments of architrave
- Roof tiles
A Dilapidation report will note any existing building defects such as cracks, gaps and subsidence, as well as record the conditions of the outside of the property.
At Structerre, our expert team can complete thorough inspections of the property and provide you with a detailed and quality Dilapidation Report that will help mitigate the risk of any potential damage caused by nearby construction works.
WHEN IS A DILAPIDATION REPORT REQUIRED?
While anybody can request a dilapidation report, it is only required in specific circumstances. Major development projects, structural demolitions, and land excavations near your home are examples of these.
Projects that generally require a dilapidation report include:
- New home builds
- Renovations
- Drilling and digging to install water supply or sewer pipelines
- Road construction
- Level crossing removals
- Tunnel construction
- Other government infrastructure projects
All of these can inflict potential structural damage to your property. Demolition and excavation can also have structural effects, as having heavy equipment operating nearby can result in soil slippage or erosion, damage to neighbouring retaining walls and fences as well as damaged paving, driveways and landscaping.
ARE THEY REQUIRED AND WHO ORDERS A DILAPIDATION REPORT?
In some cases, a dilapidation report is booked in by homeowners’ that are nearby construction work. In other cases, it is ordered by the builder or developers who want to protect themselves against litigation.
We would recommend a homeowner orders a Dilapidation Report anytime demolition or construction works may cause vibrations near your home
If you are requesting a dilapidation report on neighbouring properties because your property is currently under construction, it is essential to inform your neighbours of this decision, as completing the report will require access to the neighbouring properties and we want to ensure that all parties are aware and have consented to the inspection.
If you have requested the report for your own property as there is neighbouring construction, there is no need to inform your neighbour or the construction team as the report will have limited effect on them, however, we do advise that notice is given in the case that any structural damage occurs.
HOW STRUCTERRE CAN HELP
We are in the business of helping people, and a member of our team will always be available to answer and assist in any query you may have regarding the results, booking or process of dilapidation reports.
You can order a quote using the form below.