Terms and Conditions |
DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE (This forms part of our contract with you)
The e.surv PropertyCare+ service gives you:
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an inspection of the property
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a report recommending repairs and further investigation
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free access to the e.surv technical helpline team
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contact with a RICS registered surveyor for ongoing advice (for a period of 6 months after the original inspection)
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follow up inspection and advice (within 12 months of initial inspection) for a discounted fee
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peace of mind
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The report will include:
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a description of the property and its construction
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identification of urgent repairs that need immediate attention with an indication of potential costs
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identification of less serious works that should ideally be completed within 12 months
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other factors relating to your property that you need to be aware of
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advice on the need for specialist reports or tests
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suggestions for energy saving measures
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What we do:
Our surveyor inspects the inside and outside of the main building, conservatories and the main garage, but does not force or open up the fabric. This means that the surveyor does not take up carpets, floor coverings or floorboards, move furniture, remove the contents of cupboards, roof spaces, etc., remove secured panels and/or hatches or undo electrical fittings. If necessary, the surveyor carries out parts of the inspection when standing at ground level from adjacent public land where accessible. The surveyor may use equipment such as a damp-meter, binoculars and torch, and may use a ladder for flat roofs and for hatches no more than 3 metres above level ground or floor surfaces if it is safe to do so. Roof voids are inspected from the position of the loft hatch.
The surveyor notes in the report if it was not possible to check any parts of the property that the inspection would normally cover. If the surveyor is concerned about these parts, the report tells you about any further investigations that are needed.
When inspecting flats, the surveyor assesses the general condition of outside surfaces of the building, as well as its access areas (for example, shared hallways and staircases). The surveyor inspects roof spaces if they are accessible from within the flat.
The surveyor inspects the condition of boundary walls, fences to the immediate garden (if applicable) and the main garage. To inspect these areas, the surveyor walks around the grounds and any neighbouring public property where access can be obtained. The surveyor does not report on other outbuildings and leisure facilities, such as swimming pools and equipment, landscaping and other facilities (for example, tennis courts and temporary outbuildings). |
suggestions for energy saving measures
Services are generally hidden so only the visible parts of the available services can be inspected and the surveyor does not carry out specialist tests. Drain covers are lifted where identified within the grounds and are not screwed shut or physically obstructed. The visual inspection of service installations cannot assess the efficiency or safety of electrical, gas or other energy sources; plumbing, heating or drainage installations (or whether they meet current regulations); or the inside condition of any chimney, boiler or other flue.
The surveyor will advise if tests or further investigations are considered necessary.
Fire/smoke alarms and security systems
will not be tested.
Where the report refers to recently completed repairs and improvements these will not have been supervised by the surveyor, and we can give no guarantee regarding the quality of work or compliance with statutory requirements.
We produce a report of the surveyor's inspection for you to use, but cannot accept any liability if it is used by anyone else. If you decide not to act on the information in the report, you do this at your own risk. The report provides you with an assessment on the identified defects within the property. It will include advice on significant defects, but will not list individual minor items of disrepair that should be dealt with as part of normal ongoing maintenance.
What we can't do:
The surveyor cannot advise you upon the safety or adequacy of the electrical, gas or heating installations as they are not qualified to test and report upon such matters.
The surveyor cannot provide this inspection if the property was built before 1850 or if it is
of a non standard construction type. In such circumstances the surveyor may be able to |
suggestions for energy saving measures
provide you with an alternative inspection which would be more suitable for your home.
The surveyor does not make any enquiries about contamination or other environmental dangers, but will recommend further investigation if matters of concern are apparent from the visual inspection. The surveyor may assume that no harmful or dangerous materials have been used in the construction, and does not have a duty to justify making this assumption. However, if the inspection shows that these materials have been used, the surveyor must report this and ask for
further investigations.
The surveyor does not carry out an asbestos inspection and does not act as an Asbestos Inspector when inspecting properties that may fall within the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006. However, if the surveyor's visual inspection suggests that asbestos maybe present recommendations will be made regarding further investigation. With flats, the surveyor assumes that there is a 'dutyholder' (as defined in the Regulations), and that an asbestos register and an effective management plan is in place. The surveyor does not consult the dutyholder.
The Surveyor cannot report upon any lift installations which may service the property.
The surveyor does not prepare an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) as part of the e.surv PropertyCare+ service, but will make recommendations regarding possible energy saving improvements to improve energy efficiency.
e.surv PropertyCare+ is provided by e.surv Chartered Surveyors who are regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. For more information on us visit www.esurv.co.uk or www.rics.org. |
CONDITIONS OF ENGAGEMENT
These terms, together with the Description of service and the agreed fee, form part of the contract between you and us, e.surv Chartered Surveyors.
1. The service - we provide the standard e.surv PropertyCare+ service as described in the Description of service, unless agreed in writing before the inspection that Extra services (set out immediately below) will be provided. Any Extra service will require separate terms of engagement and a further payment.
Extra services might include the following:
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A current market valuation
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Reinstatement (buildings insurance) cost
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Energy saving measures calculations
2. The surveyor - the service is to be provided by an AssocRICS, MRICS or FRICS member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, who has the skills, knowledge and experience to inspect and report on the property.
3. Repairs - repairs will be classified as to whether they need to be dealt with urgently or within a longer period (of around twelve months), although these timescales are for guidance only. An indication will be given regarding the potential cost of urgent repairs. These indicative costs will be based on information from the Building Cost Information Service published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Any indication of costs we give is for your guidance only and you should obtain firm estimates from suitably qualified contractors before any works are commenced. Where any tests or specialist reports are recommended an indication of potential costs of investigation will only be provided.
4. The customer (you) are to - tell us if you have any particular concerns about the property, either at the point of engagement or at the
time of inspection. The surveyor will then consider these issues during the inspection of the property. Any concerns raised following inspection and not detailed in the initial report may be subject to a supplemental inspection and additional fee.
5. Terms of payment - you agree to pay the fee as quoted inclusive of VAT and any other charges agreed in writing. Payment is to be made in full prior to us undertaking any inspection at your property.
6. Cancelling this contract - you are entitled to cancel this contract by giving notice not less than 48 hours prior to the inspection. In the event of cancellation with 48 hours notice, e.surv will return your full fee to you. Cancellations within 48 hours of the inspection will be subject to a 50% cancellation fee of the fee paid. Any balance will be returned to you within 14 days. If, on arrival at the property, the surveyor determines that the property is of a non standard construction type or was built pre 1850, the surveyor will not provide the service and will notify you immediately. If we cancel this contract, we will explain the reason to you. e.surv reserve the right to charge the full fee in the event of such a cancellation.
7. Liability - the report is provided for your use only, and we cannot accept responsibility if it is used, or relied upon, by any third party. This report is prepared by our surveyor ('the Employee') on our behalf. The statements and opinions expressed in this report are expressed on our behalf and are based upon our surveyors' inspection and their reasonable opinion. Without prejudice and separately to the above, the Employee will have no personal liability in respect of any statements and opinions contained in this report.
8. Clause 9 - subject to clause 9, e.surv's liability to you arising out of this contract shall be capped at £50,000 to cover all claims arising out
of your instruction to e.surv.
9. Unfair Contract Terms - nothing in this Agreement shall apply to exclude or limit any liability for death or personal injury caused by the negligence of e.surv or any other liability for which exclusion or restriction is prohibited by law.
10. Complaints handling procedure - e.surv Chartered Surveyors has a complaints handling procedure and we will provide you with a copy at your request. |
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