Seven Reasons Why Dilapidation Surveys are Necessary

Dilapidation surveys are necessary to evaluate the condition of your property or identify any damages that may require attention. A Dilapidation survey involves the skill of surveyors to inspect, observe, measure, and record the conditions of buildings or properties (Mahony, 2024). You may be required to hire a dilapidation surveyor for property condition assessment before the commencement or after the end of the lease term of your commercial property. To better understand various reasons for conducting a dilapidation survey, read the following discussion.

Determining property conditions before a new lease

If you are a landlord and ready to give your property on lease for commercial or personal uses, you should conduct a dilapidation survey. After conducting the study, professional surveyors prepare a building inspection report describing the property's condition. This helps to maintain transparency between you, as a landlord, and your tenant regarding the property's condition. Both landlords and tenants gain clarification regarding property maintenance obligations. Determining property conditions through surveys helps to avoid conflict between tenants and landlords at the end of the lease term.

Identifying building damages during or after the lease term

As a landlord, you may conduct a dilapidation survey during the lease term to determine damages caused by the tenant to the property. Section 18 (1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927 provides legal grounds to measure damages during and after the lease ends. However, surveying the lease term can be more beneficial if you have leased your property for a long time. If a landlord surveys the lease term, he may also serve an interim dilapidation schedule. The Leasehold Property (Repairs) Act 1938 allows the landlord to exercise specific remedies for damages caused by the tenant through an Interim Dilapidation Schedule.

Preparing the schedule of dilapidation

A schedule of dilapidation is a legal notice served by a landlord on his tenants for not maintaining the property or keeping it in disrepair. A professional surveyor can serve it after conducting a survey. A dilapidation surveyor in the UK follows survey guidelines of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to conduct a study meticulously. The schedule of dilapidation is also considered a legal document that can be used in a court of law to resolve a dispute between tenants and landlords.

Evaluating safety standards for the building

Dilapidation surveys can help you identify any critical safety issues in the building. After the Grenfell Tower fire incident, safety standards in high-rise buildings in the UK have become more strict. A mandatory occurrence notice must be submitted to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), if a safety occurrence is caused or likely to occur. If you plan to conduct a dilapidation survey, you may identify damages to the building, issues in fire safety, etc., and take preventive measures.

Satisfying new tenants

Besides analysing safety concerns or identifying the breaches of covenants by tenants, surveying can help satisfy new tenants. The survey helps to identify property damages and their swift repair. When new tenants take the position of the building, they get the feeling of leasing a new property. As a landlord, you can also ask for a better price for the property as tenants are satisfied due to the aesthetic values of the building. Your tenants will also be happy to see transparency regarding property maintenance if you produce a valid survey report before them.

Protecting property value

Dilapidation surveys can help protect property value by identifying the need for maintenance. Professional surveyors can determine the property maintenance or repair requirements to protect property value. If you or your tenants keep the property in disrepair, it can lead to further property damage. A property survey helps to gain a clear picture of the condition of your property.

Ensuring sustainable maintenance

You can communicate with tenants during the lease term to ensure they follow a sustainable method for repairing property damages. After conducting a survey, you understand the present state of property disrepair. It can be helpful to plan for repairs using sustainable methods. For example, you can communicate with your tenants and ask them to use durable and reliable construction materials. This will increase the property's lifecycle and reduce maintenance costs.

Conclusion

A dilapidation survey conducted by a professional surveyor has various benefits for a landlord. It helps to evaluate whether the tenants properly manage the property, whether any severe damage is caused to the property, etc. A dilapidation survey can also identify any serious property issues. Based on a survey report, tenants are also satisfied with maintaining transparency throughout the lease period. At Dilapidation Contractors, we offer a range of services, such as dilapidation surveys, lease negotiations, dispute resolutions, etc. Contact us today if you are a landlord or a tenant who requires a reliable dilapidation contractor to take care of all your dilapidation needs.  Additional links Mahony, C. H. R. I. S. (2024). DILAPIDATIONS: Are the tensions understood by stakeholders? (Doctoral dissertation, Nottingham Trent University).https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/51457/1/Chris%20Mahony%202024.pdf