Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Home Condition Report / Home Condition Survey?

Home Condition Surveys are created by Residential Property Surveyors (originally known as Home Inspectors) who, like Surveyors, carry out a comprehensive inspection of property. They will identify those parts of the house where there is nothing wrong and those parts that are not fit for purpose and need urgent repair.

In addition, the Report can calculate the rebuilding cost of the house and this is helpful for insurance purposes. The Report is covered by indemnity insurance, can be relied upon by the Seller, the Purchaser and the Mortgage Company, and is more stringent than the Home Buyers Valuation undertaken by Surveyors. The Home Condition Survey, however, is not as intensive as a full structural survey.

Who is the Home Inspector? The Home Inspector is qualified with ABBE (Awarding Body for the Built Environment) to produce the Home Condition Report and the Energy Performance Certificate.

Home Inspectors qualify by attaining the Level 4 Diploma in Home Inspection, by being registered by an approved Accreditation Body such as the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and by carrying professional indemnity insurance.

Who is the Residential Property Surveyor?

The Residential Property Surveyor is a trained professional qualified to produce the Home Condition Survey.

Residential Property Surveyors qualify by attaining a Level 4 Diploma, by being registered by an approved Accreditation Body such as SAVA and by carrying professional indemnity insurance.

They have a good working knowledge of building construction over the ages.

What is an Energy Performance Certificate?

The Energy Performance Certificate is a mandatory document and is an evaluation of the energy efficiency of the house carried out by Home Inspectors and Domestic Energy Assessors.

Nearly 40% of energy consumption in the UK is attributable to home use and savings in the home can have the biggest impact on reducing energy use. In line with the British and European concern with global warning and carbon emissions, the Certificate grades the current thermal loss from the house, the efficiency of the heating system and recommends measures to improve on the heating system and insulations.

If a Home Condition Report is carried out by a Home Inspector, then they can include the Energy Performance Certificate as part of that service.

Who is the Domestic Energy Assessor?

The Domestic Energy Assessor is qualified to produce an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

Domestic Energy Assessors qualify by attaining the Level 3 Diploma in Energy Assessment, by being licensed by an approved Accreditation Body such as the Building Research Establishment and by carrying professional indemnity insurance.

They will have a good working knowledge of the thermal transmittance of building materials - the 'u' values - and the performance factors of domestic heating systems. Using the dataset methodology of RdSAP, they measure the energy efficiency of domestic property, ranging from large detached houses to small purposes built flats.

Included in the Energy Performance Certificate will be recommendations on the cost effective measures needed to improve boiler efficiencies and reduce structural heat losses, thereby saving on fuel bills and reducing the carbon footprint of the house.