North West HIPs Ltd

Home Condition Reports (HCRs)

A Home Condition Report or Home Survey could help you sell your property more quickly. When selling your home every piece of information helps. Home Condition Reports and Surveys give a realistic view of the property. It is an objective report produced by an impartial, professional Home Inspector. A Home Condition Report or Survey may make your property seem more attractive to buyers who are looking at similar properties which do not have one. The Home Condition Report can be included in a Home Information Pack on a voluntary basis.

What is a Home Condition Report?

A Home Condition Report contains information about the physical condition of a property which is collected during a detailed and careful inspection of the property. The Home Condition Report is designed to highlight any defects in the property that are either urgent or serious, in addition to providing a general summary of all other parts of the house. Sellers who provide a Report will have an early opportunity to carry out repair work on the property or obtain quotes. Buyers can use it at the beginning of the home-buying process to minimise the possibility of being faced with unexpected surprises later on. Lenders can benefit by using the Report to inform their valuations, reducing the need to repeat a detailed on-site inspection at the buyer’s expense. The Government believes there will be significant benefits to home sellers if they top up their HIPs to include Home Condition Reports.

Click here to view a sample HCR.

What is a Home Condition Survey?

North West HIPs Ltd is also able to offer the new Home Condition Surveys. A Home Condition Survey is very similar to a Home Condition Report and can be commissioned by either the seller or the buyer and can be considerably cheaper. The details included in the Home Condition Survey are also similar to those included in a Home Buyer’s Survey. The Home Condition Survey does not include a valuation, however, most mortgage lenders offer free valuations or a reimbursement of the fee once the mortgage has been accepted. Please check with your mortgage lender about these options. The survey does not include an Energy Performance Certificate but will include photographs of the property and any defects or faults that are found there.

What does the Home Condition Report or Survey include?

The inspection is a detailed assessment of each element of the property and its grounds. The inspection takes around 3-4 hours. The Home Condition Report will also include an Energy Assessment of the property. The 20-25 page report is electronically generated and is divided in to 8 sections. The condition of the property is rated using a clear 1-2-3 rating guide

• Section A Explains the report content and extent of the inspection
  Gives definitions of the condition ratings

• Section B General information about the property
  Summary of the condition ratings
  Insurance reinstatement cost

• Section C Conveyancer matters
  Health and Safety risks
  Other risks e.g. subject to flooding

• Section D – Exterior aspects
  Chimneys, roof coverings, gutters, walls, windows, doors, other woodwork, external decoration, other aspects

• Section E – Internal aspects
  Roof structure, ceilings, internal walls, floors, fireplace/chimney breast, built in fitments, internal woodwork, bathroom fittings, dampness, other aspects

• Section F – Visual inspection of Services
  Gas, electricity, heating, water and drainage
  Each of these elements is given an objective statement and a condition rating
  A recommendation for a safety inspection or service by a registered engineer may be given in the objective statement

• Section G – Grounds and outbuildings
  Permanent outbuildings and garages
  Patio areas and garden walls
  No condition ratings are given

• Section H – Energy Performance Certificate
  Energy Performance Certificate (for HCR’s only)

Home Condition Report Condition Rating Definitions

NI	–	Not Inspected
1	–	No repair is presently required. Normal maintenance must be carried out.
2	–	Some repairs or replacements are required but these are not considered to be serious or urgent.
3	–	This is considered serious and in need of urgent repair or replacement.

Plain English

Home Condition Reports and Surveys are written in plain English and do not use surveying technical jargon.

Who are Home Inspectors?

Inspections for Home Condition Reports and Surveys must be carried out by a qualified, licensed Home Inspector. The inspectors hold a qualification at level 4 Diploma in Home Inspection (equivalent to degree level) and are required to have an in-depth knowledge and practical understanding of residential building construction and defects across a range of properties as set out in the approved National Occupational Standards for Home Inspectors. The Home Inspector must be a member of a Government approved Certification Scheme and have Professional Indemnity Insurance to cover all inspections.

You can find out more about the standards on the industry site.

http://www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk/

If you would like to include a HCR as part of your HIP, please tell us when you contact us.