Read the RICS explanation of dilapidations in England and Wales for the link between lease terms, condition and professional advice. Finding a defect does not, by itself, decide an agreed liability or the amount of a settlement.
What the physical inspection contributes
The inspection records the relevant defects and alterations within its brief. Ask for photographs and clear locations so you can identify each item. Areas that were hidden or could not be reached must be recorded as limitations, rather than assumed to have been checked.
A finding might call for decorating, a repair or removal and reinstatement. You need enough detail to understand the proposed finished result; an instruction simply to put everything right is difficult to price or check.
Separate assessment from works pricing
A schedule can help you request quotations, but first clarify disputed or uncertain obligations with the other parties and your advisers. The contractor’s price concerns the work described. It does not determine the outcome of a legal claim.
For the work you agree to commission, describe the finish, items to remain and any connected services. Removing an installation may also require safe disconnection, disposal and repairs to the surfaces left behind. Ask for those parts of the job to be included.
Plan the handover sequence
Plan when belongings or operations move out and when each area becomes available for work. Consider shared services and other occupiers while organising removal and repairs. Leave an opportunity to inspect the result and correct unfinished items before the handover deadline.
Keep the agreed list alongside photographs and relevant technical paperwork from the work. Mark what has been completed and explain what still needs doing, including the next step for each remaining item.
Common questions
Is a dilapidation survey the same as a building condition survey?
They serve different purposes. A condition survey records what its inspection covers; a dilapidation survey relates the relevant condition to the lease obligations and the particular reason it was commissioned.
Does the survey automatically become the agreed works list?
No. You and the other responsible parties need a clear instruction. Some entries may need explanation or agreement before anyone is authorised to carry out the proposed work.
What helps a contractor price reinstatement accurately?
Supply the agreed work list, useful photographs, access details and service records. Specify what must be removed, what must stay and the finish you expect when the property is handed back.
Related work and reading
See Dilapidations and Reinstatement, Strip-Out and Decommissioning and Building Fabric for physical work. The refurbishment budgeting guide covers connected cost considerations. Browse services, projects, sectors and locations, or send your agreed reinstatement requirements.
