Inspection COPY

Question 1

Inspections is a four step process. Please explain ?

Answer 1

1. Consider your personal safety. Referring to your firms H+S policy.
2. Inspection of the local area.
3. External Inspection
4. Internal Inspection.

Question 2

What should a surveyor take with them on inspection ?

Answer 2

• Mobile Phone
• Disto
• Camera
• Plans
• PPE if needed
• Pen/Paper

Question 3

What does the inspection of the local area include ?

Answer 3

• General location
• Local facilities
• Transport options
• Contamination/ Hazards
• Power Lines
• Agents boards

Question 4

What does the external inspection include ?

Answer 4

• Methods of construction
• Repair/Condition
• Car parking/access
• Defects
• Site boundaries
• Date of the building

Question 5

What does the internal inspection include ?

Answer 5

• Layout
• Specification
• Repair and maintenance
• Defects
• Services
• Fixtures and fittings

Question 6

What are the different purposes for a property inspection ?

Answer 6

• Valuation purposes
• Agency purposes
• Property management purposes.

Question 7

What are the 4 common forms of building foundations ? (TRPP)

Answer 7

• Trench or strip footings
• Raft
• Piled
• Pad

Question 8

What are the differing types of brick work ? (CHSS)

Answer 8

• Solid wall construction: Solid brickwork with headers
• Cavity Wall: Two layers tied together by metal ties.
• Stretcher: Bricks laid horizontally. Long side of the brick exposed.
• Header: Short end of the brick exposed.

Question 9

What is the typical space per person required for an office ?

Answer 9

80 - 100 sq ft

Question 10

Describe the standard build of a modern warehouse/ industrial unit?

Answer 10

• Steel portal frame
• Insulated profiled sheet cladding walls and roof
• 10% roof lights
• Brick/Blockwork walls approximately 2m high
• 3 phase power
• W/C facilities

Question 11

How do you look for building defects ? and what do you to if you identify one?

Answer 11

• Start from the roof and work yourself down the building.
• If i defect is identified;
• detailed photographs should be taken
• Try and establish the source of the defect.
• Inform your client of the investigation
• Recommend specialist advice.

Question 12

What are the main causes of property defects ?

Answer 12

1. Movement
2. Water
3. Deterioration of building materials.

Question 13

What can cause ‘movement’ related defects ?

Answer 13

• Loss of support of the site beneath the construction.
• Cavity wall issues leading to cracking
• Settlement cracks
• Thermal expansion

Question 14

What are main signs for damp in a property ?

Answer 14

• Wet rot shows timber decay.
• Dry rot - is a fungal attack that produces orange fungus/mushrooms.
• Mould is due to poor ventilation - black spots.

Question 15

What are the common building defects in ‘period property’?

Answer 15

• Dry rot
• Wet rot
• Tile slippage
• Water ingress around exterior doors
• structural movement

Question 16

What are the common building defects in ‘modern industrial buildings’?

Answer 16

• Roofs leaking
• damaged cladding
• blocked valley gutters

Question 17

What are the common building defects in modern office buildings?

Answer 17

• Water damage from burst pipes
• damaged cladding

Question 18

What is the key legislation around Contamination ?

Answer 18

Environmental Protection Act 1990

Question 19

What are the RICS guidance notes on Contamination ?

Answer 19

RICS Guidance Notes - Contamination, the environment and Sustainability (2010) 3rd edition.

Question 20

What can cause contamination ?

Answer 20

• Heavy metals
• methane gas
• diesel
• oil
• chemicals

Question 21

What sort of signs should surveyors look for in relation to contamination ?

Answer 21

• oil drums
• underground tanks
• bare ground
• dying vegetation
• oil spillage signs or chemical containers

Question 22

If you suspect the ground may be contaminated. How do you deal with that ?

Answer 22

Request a specialist report. Who will:

1. Review site via desktop investigation only
2. Conduct physical investigation into the site - details soil tests etc
3. Remediation report outlining remedial options.

Question 23

Are there any government schemes that can help land owners with contaminated land ?

Answer 23

Yes

The LRR - The land remediation relief is available. This is a tax that allows company’s to claim up to 150% corporation tax reduction for expenditure in remediation of contaminated land.

Question 24

What sort of hazard materials should surveyors be concerned about?

Answer 24

• Asbestos
• Lead piping
• roden gas

Question 25

What is the main RICS documentation discussing Japanese Knotweed?

Answer 25

RICS Guidance Notes - Japanese Knotweed & Residential Property (March 2022)

Question 26

What is Japanese Knotweed?

Answer 26

It's an invasive plant that can damage hard surfaces such as building materials. Therefore can have a damaging impact on buildings. It is hard to control and can be costly to remove.

Question 27

How can japanese knotweed be removed ?

Answer 27

A specialist company can remove Japanese knotweed and dispose of it. Usually this is done by using chemical treatment and being disposed off in a licensed landfill.

Question 28

How can you spot Japanese Knotweed?

Answer 28

It has a purple and green hallow stem, and green leaves.

Question 29

Is allowing Japanese Knotweed a criminal offence ?

Answer 29

Yes and a property owner can be given an ASBO or a fine up to £2,500

Question 30

What other invasive plants should surveyors be concerned about ?

Answer 30

- Hogweed - Himalayan Balsam