Inspection Level 1

Question 1

What would you consider on an external inspection?

Answer 1

Method of construction
Repair and condition of the exterior
Car park / access/ loading arrangement
Defects / structural movements
Check site boundaries with OS map / title plan
Ways to date the building including asking the client, researching the date of planning consent or building regulations approval, the land reg, local historical records, architectural styles

Question 2

What would you consider on an internal inspection?

Answer 2

Layout and specification – flexibility
Repair and maintenance
Defects
Services – age and condition
Statutory compliance such as asbestos, building regulations, health and safety, Equality Act 2010, Fire safety and planning compliance
Fixtures and fittings and improvements
Compliance with lease obligations

Question 3

How would an inspection differ for commercial and residential properties?

Answer 3

Similar considerations
What things may impact value

Residential
- Building safety Act (HRB) and fire safety

Question 4

What are the salient points of surveying safely?

Answer 4

Safe person principle that we all have to take responsibility for our own safety and others when on the inspection
-Basic, good practice principals for the management of health and safety for RICS-regulated firms and RICS members
Principles for those engaged in the built environment as property professionals and includes health and safety responsibilities:
At a corporate level or at the level of the individual RICS member

Question 5

What is the structure to RICS Surveying Safely 2018?

Answer 5

1. P - Personal Responsibilities
2. A - Assessing hazards and risks (including risk assessments)
3. W - Workplace health and safety
4. O - Occupational hygiene and health
5. V - Visiting premises and sites
6. F - Fire safety
7. R – Residential property surveying
8. P - Procurement and management of contractors

Question 6

How do you adhere to surveying safely?

Answer 6

• Risk assessment
• Personal protective equipment
• Lone worker policy
• Look at out for safety signage

Question 7

What is a VPGA 8 compliant checklist to ensure a through valuation of a proeprty?

Answer 7

In line with Red Book global - inspections of Real Estate Assets

Question 8

what is the importance of carrying out DD prior to an inspection

Question 9

what types of DD might you carry out prior to an inspection?

Answer 9

• Purpose of inspection through ToE
• Competence and conflict check
• Adequate PII (professional indemnity insurance)
• Extent of what we are required to inspect – needs to be explicit in the ToE
• Risk assessment – covers health and safety issues
• Planning use class
• Equipment
• Title
• Flood risk – environment agency
• Rateable value
• Access arrangements
• If let – need a copy of the lease

Question 10

How can you minimise risk on an inspection?

Answer 10

Risk assessment

Question 11

When would you use a risk matrix?

Answer 11

Can use a risk matrix to help work out the level of risk associated with a particular issue. They do this by categorizing the likelihood of harm and the potential severity of the harm. This is then plotted in a matrix. The risk level determines which risks should be tackled first.

Question 12

what is VPGA 8 - compliant checklist?

Answer 12

• location
• access
• construction
• age
• sustainability and ESG
• specification
• quality
• repair
• use
• hazards

Question 13

Why is the scope and purpose of the inspection important?

Answer 13

The detail of what needs to be inspected and for what purposes will be detailed in the terms of engagement for example inspections are different for different purposes.

For valuation purposes
- Understand all the factors which can influence the valuation of a property such a location, tenure, aspect, form of construction, defects, current condition, occupation details etc
For agency purposes
- Consider the current condition of the building, repair and maintenance issues, statutory compliance, services, presentation of the accommodation and flexibility of the accommodation and its marketability.