Landlords and tenants both have responsibilities to maintain a rental property in good condition, and while some general wear and tear is to be expected, there are times where the condition of a property requires more in-depth investigation to establish if there has been a breach of the tenancy agreement. In such instances a third party is required to intervene to provide a professional assessment and this is known as a dilapidations survey.

What is a dilapidations survey?

A dilapidations survey is carried out by professional surveyors and is generally used to assess and document the condition of a property at a given point in time. It can be instructed by either a landlord or a tenant, and has the purpose of detailing the property’s condition, usually to support either party in a dispute over the property’s condition, or to avoid a dispute altogether. It will record where there are any issues with existing structural damage, cracks, wear and tear, water damage to flooring, ceilings and walls, drainage systems and damage to internal furnishings and decoration.  

Sometimes a dilapidations survey is used to establish what steps are necessary to return a property to the condition agreed as acceptable by the landlord and which complies with the terms of a tenancy agreement. This would therefore take place towards the end of a lease agreement, so that the tenancy can end without dispute. Dilapidation is a word which describes any damage, deterioration or alterations which may have impacted on the condition of the rental property. The survey can help to establish whether these changes have appeared due to neglect, through building defects or through natural environmental conditions. In other words, a dilapidations survey can help to identify who is liable for the current condition of the property.

When is a dilapidations survey carried out?

Although a dilapidations survey can be instructed at any point during a tenancy, they will usually be requested at the beginning of a tenancy, to confirm the condition of the property before a new tenant moves in, or at the end of a tenancy, to confirm the condition of the property before a tenant moves out. The survey acts as a formal record of the property’s condition at this specific time, and therefore can be used as evidence to avoid a dispute, should one occur in the future, or to support an ongoing dispute.

What is the purpose of a dilapidations survey?

A dilapidations survey is used to assess the current condition of a property, whenever that may be. The survey can identify essential evidence to support an ongoing or potential dispute, usually between the landlord and the tenant. The survey usually unearths key elements that may have changed during the tenancy, such as its condition, where the tenant may have made modifications or damaged the property, or where wear and tear or disrepair has led to uncomfortable or unsafe living conditions.

Essentially, the purpose of the survey is to establish whether there has been any breach of the condition of the property in regard to what the terms of the tenancy agreement say. In other words, does the landlord or tenant have any liability for the current condition of the property? Although most tenancy agreements follow a standard format, they can contain individual clauses detailing specific requirements and responsibilities, and hence a dilapidations survey can establish whether either the landlord or tenant has complied with these tenancy agreement clauses.

When a dilapidations survey is carried out at the beginning of a tenancy, it acts as a record of the condition of the property before the new tenant moves in, and therefore both parties have a record and an agreement of the property condition and can’t dispute that there were issues they didn’t know about. When a dilapidations survey is carried out at the end of a tenancy, it acts as a record of the condition of the property when the tenant moved out. In this case it will record how the property has been left and can be used as evidence should a dispute arise. Both tenants and landlords can instruct a dilapidations survey simply to cover their back and to avoid a potential dispute. For the landlord this can cover their investment, and for the tenant they may have reason to suspect a dispute may be impending, whether that is a valid dispute or not.

What is the outcome of a dilapidations survey?

The findings from a dilapidations survey can record the fact that there are no issues with the property in terms of its condition and how a tenant has left it (at the end of a tenancy) or how a landlord has presented it (at the beginning of a tenancy). But in each case this survey report is important evidence nonetheless. However, if there is evidence of damage or negligence, the tenant could be found liable for repair costs or a loss of rent, if the damage leads to a delay in the property being re-leased to a new tenant.

Dilapidations surveys can also help the tenant in that they can uncover work that has been promised and not carried out, or they could uncover unsafe conditions which don’t comply with the requirements of the tenancy agreement and the legal duties of a landlord. If a housing disrepair has developed and the landlord hasn’t dealt with it, a dilapidations survey can help to record this fact and can be used as evidence in a housing disrepair dispute.

Experienced surveyors trusted with a dilapidation survey

In summary, a dilapidations survey is used to record the exact condition of a property at a specific point in time. It can be used to provide clarity on the obligations of both the landlord and tenant, it can be used to prevent disputes and it can be used as legal protection during disputes.

At Redfearn Experts we can conduct comprehensive dilapidations surveys to support both landlords and tenants with recorded evidence on property conditions. We use qualified and experienced surveyors and can provide a professional report to support your needs. So if you need a dilapidations survey, contact our team at Redfearn Experts today.