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What is Dilapidation Report?
When to hire a Quantity Surveyor?
15 February, 2021
Due Diligence Report
15 June, 2021
When do you need a dilapidation report? Whether you’re an investor or property owner, preserving and protecting your property is of the utmost importance. If a local council or private financiers are undertaking some construction works in proximity to your property, documenting the state of your property prior to the beginning of those works is essential.
Table of Contents
What is a dilapidation report?
A dilapidation report, also known as a Condition Report, is an official document that provides a snapshot of a dwelling’s property condition at a specific point in time. The report serves as evidence of any damages that may have occurred as a result of a nearby construction site.
The report is usually created before and after some major construction projects in the close vicinity of your property. Also, this report is a precondition for getting Development Approval (DA) for projects that can potentially cause damage to other properties next to them.
What is the purpose of a dilapidation report?
The purpose of the report is to record any existing damage on a property, as well as any aspects of the property that are likely to be altered by the construction works. Importantly, a dilapidation report is accepted in the Court of Law. If any damage occurs as a result of nearby construction works, then the report can be used to prove which damages occurred. Therefore, its main function is to protect your property and document any damages that can appear as a result of nearby construction works.
Also, as big cites increase and population grows, many new building projects take place in already populated areas with pre-existing building constructions. Sydney is no exception. Each construction project imposes the risk on properties that are already there. Therefore, dilapidation reports may also be required by local authorities, such as Sydney City Council.
What is a dilapidation survey?
A dilapidation survey is a record that reflects the current condition of a property before any construction work nearby begins. It’s vital to record the property’s condition in detail before any construction, demolition, or adaptation work in close vicinity. That way, it would be easy to determine if some cracks or other damages occurred later, as the construction work already started. In an ideal case, dilapidation surveys record all structural faults that may include cracks, leakages, building distortions, and other defects.
By conducting a dilapidation survey, you are:
- making sure to understand the condition of your property prior to construction work,
- obtaining evidence to counter fraudulent claims and actions,
- applying precautionary measures in case any damage occurs.
What are the dilapidation schedules?
Dilapidation schedules are documents that provide a detailed breakdown of required repairs for a property, to reinstate it to its original condition. Typically, quantity surveyors help with creating these documents as well. The purpose of the dilapidation schedules is to protect the value of the property in case of nearby construction work.
Residential dilapidation reports
As their name suggests, residential dilapidation reports apply to residential buildings. The documented results of the property’s existing condition help you protect your property in case of some unpredicted damages during construction work happen.
Any property owner can order a dilapidation report on his private property, right before any construction site work takes place. Also, developers and builders can order the report for the properties that are neighbouring the construction site.
Usually, the residential dilapidation reports are conducted by an impartial third party, and it could be, for example, a structural engineer.
Usually, the builders are in charge of paying for the report, as this is often a part of getting their building certificate.
What is the purpose of a dilapidation report?
Building and demolition activities require heavy machinery and equipment, which can be used to conduct a series of tasks such as the removal of soil, trees, existing slabs or even building foundation.
These changes could potentially lead to some unpredicted and unpleasant damages to your property.
Dilapidation reports record the complete conditions of the property, such as fences, trees, pavements, etc, before, during and after the construction work is done. These reports are a security measure, a precaution in case litigation occurs. They are also an asset in supporting damage claims in the settlement process.
What is included in a dilapidation report?
Dilapidation reports contain notes, photos, and diagrams. Together, all these elements paint as accurate a picture as possible, regarding the state of the property in question.
In order to gather this information, a licensed building consultant will physically visit the location. Having a sound understanding of what kind of damage could occur to a property, the building consultant will provide a report which provides an accurate picture of the property. Both the property owner and the party with a nearby construction site should then sign off on the report.
Dilapidation Structural Assessments
A dilapidation report is a detailed inspection of the actual condition of the property, including images and diagrams. The surveyors create the report after careful interior and exterior inspection of the areas that are likely to be damaged during the construction work. Here’s what areas can be included in the dilapidation reports at residential properties as an example:
- Driveways
- Footpaths and crossovers
- Street guttering
- Walls and roofs
- Paved footpaths
- Nature stripes
- Yards
- Fences
- Flooring and tilling
- Ceilings and roofing structures
- Other relevant areas that could be affected
Who prepares the reports?
Dilapidation reports are carried out by licensed quantity surveyors and professional building inspectors. They possess the skills to assess the property and document the exact condition before any massive construction project takes place in their vicinity. They can also determine if the property suffered any damages after the massive construction project is completed.
How long does a dilapidation report take?
It usually takes 2-5 days to complete the report, including the on-side survey, and creating all the necessary documents afterwards. A quantity surveyor will deliver you the report after the completion.
Who should receive the dilapidation report?
Who may need a building dilapidation report? Usually, the subjects fall into one of the following groups, being:
- Homeowners: As we mentioned above, construction works – like a new home being built – may cause damage to an existing home. A dilapidation report will protect nearby houses.
- Commercial and industrial property owners: they want to protect their investment, and therefore, they might require the report in case of any potentially damaging construction work commences nearby.
- Public utilities such as schools and hospitals: providing high-quality public services requires having functioning facilities in place.
- Local councils: False allegations can be made, where a party falsely claims damages have occurred. In this case, a dilapidation report can be used to protect the defendant from false claims. Also, Sidney City Council requires written notice of any damages of the council assets, 5 days before the nearby construction works begin.
- Roadwork companies: Roadworks often demand heavy machinery. The resulting vibrations can go so far as damaging nearby buildings. Roadworks companies can benefit from dilapidation reports to protect themselves from damages that may have occurred due to previous roadworks.
Dilapidation report cost in Sydney
The dilapidation report costs will vary depending on the number and type of properties that need to be inspected. The standard rates usually start with $350-$400 for residential properties and can go up for industrial and commercial properties. Book your consultation today to get your quote.
When do you need this report?
Applying for the building dilapidation report is done in a few cases. This report is needed only in major construction projects, such as demolitions, land excavations, construction work that causes vibration, pipe-laying work, and road construction.
Even if the local authority doesn’t require the report, you can request this report and use it as evidence to support possible damaging claims.
Get your dilapidation report in Sydney, NSW
Do you need a dilapidation report in NSW or in Sydney? We have a team of local quantity surveyors and building consultants who can help with your dilapidation surveys. With over 20 years of experience as professional quantity surveyors based in Sydney, our team is able to help protect you against damages that have resulted due to someone else’s actions.
Contact usGet your dilapidation report today!
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