Schedule of Condition Guidance

What is a Schedule of Condition?

The schedule of condition serves as a sort of baseline; it provides a momentary glimpse of the state of an Adjoining Owner’s property. It is a recorded proof of the visual insight of the floor, wall, and ceilings of the neighbouring property.   

What does a Schedule of Condition comprise?

The areas examined will usually depend on the nature of the notifiable work and scope of the work. For instance, if the notifiable work is a ‘party wall work’ that only involves a repair to next door’s roof parapet, it’s highly unlikely that the four-story building’s basement would be on any schedule.

If visible, the most commonplace components of the external building envelope are usually also part of the ‘schedule.’ Sometimes where a property has a garden(s), the garden(s) are also part of the ‘schedule.’

Is a Schedule of Condition Similar to a Building Survey?

Not exactly. The schedule gives a basic account of only part of the state of the property in relation to works. It is not meant to detail everything about the property—components, hazards, or otherwise—that might affect its quality or safety. And it is not meant to be a substitute for the inspectors themselves, who might point out defects like, cracks in plaster surfaces.

What is the process for executing a Schedule of Condition?

Typically, it is the Building Owner’s Surveyor who assesses the state of the Adjoining Owner’s property in the relevant part, although the Adjoining Owner’s Surveyor will also be present as a witness.  

What preparations do I need to make for a Schedule of Condition?

Typically, reaching an agreement on the Schedule of Condition with the Party Wall Surveyor(s) does not involve moving furniture or rolling back carpets. Inspections are often visual. When they are not, the condition of the chimney flue or drainage runs may be checked with a camera. The first reason for this is to provide a point of reference should something happen during the Works that affects the neighbour’s property.

What is the proper way to utilise the Schedule of Condition?

Once the work has been completed, the property should be post-inspected by the surveyors. This ensures that any changes can be identified and associated with the work that was done. Surveyors will compare the “new” state of the property (one that only the surveyors and the contractors would want to see) to the “original” recorded in the Schedule of Condition. If any part of the property has been damaged by the work done under the Party Wall Act, the surveyors will assign blame and figure out what to do about it.  

Do I require a Schedule of Condition?

The Schedule of Condition is designed to safeguard a Building Owner against the false damage claims that the Adjoining Owner might make. Even so, it serves an equally important purpose for the Adjoining Owner: it allows him to substantiate a legitimate damage claim. Contact the team and let the panel of Party Wall Surveyors from Essex and Manchester guide you. 

Surveys of Commercial Property

If you’re thinking of acquiring, leasing, subletting, disposing of, or altering commercial premises in Manchester, you would be well advised to locate a surveyor skilled in the nuances of commercial building surveying – should you spot a defect in a commercial building you can use that information to negotiate an asking price for the property that’s considerably lower than what the seller originally wanted, or you can talk your way out of a bad deal altogether. 

Our Manchester-based team of RICS-compliant commercial building surveyors is equipped to handle matters throughout Manchester.

Contact

Our team prioritizes client care above all else. We look forward to being in touch with you so you can instruct a surveyor in Manchester, London, Bristol, Birmingham or Cardiff. You can reach out to us easily. Just fill out our form, and we’ll get back to you with a free quote for your survey. All our surveyors are qualified as members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and we are one of the UK’s leading providers of building survey and valuation services:

The property survey you commission will be carried out by an accredited professional. Your chartered surveyor will be a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), or will belong to some other industry-standard professional body. Rest assured; you will receive highest quality of professional service for your survey.

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