Services
Schedules of Condition
A schedule of condition survey is generally commissioned before the signing of a lease in order to determine the condition of the building so that any existing defects are recorded prior to any commitment being made.
The schedule of condition survey includes a descriptive text report on the condition of the building together with notes concerning potential future defects that might need attention. The detailed text reports are typically reinforced by a good portfolio of photographs.
For shorter leases (say 6 months to 2 years) photographic schedules of condition are a good strategy to limiting liability at expiry of the lease as a more cost effective exercise than commissioning a full schedule of condition.
Commercial leases usually stipulate that the tenant is responsible for any repairs during and at the end of a tenancy, so it is vital that you fully understand your potential liabilities before signing your lease. Often, a schedule of condition survey can be used to negotiate with your landlord to have immediate defects corrected prior to your taking over the lease and thus save you considerable sums of money.
For example, if you are taking over an existing lease, the chances are that you will inherit the repair liabilities from the outgoing tenant subject to the heads of terms.
A properly prepared schedule of condition survey, properly agreed with the lessor, will in most cases, limit your liabilities to future deterioration only.
At the end of your lease, you will need a dilapidations survey in order to counter any dilapidations claim made by your landlord.
Schedules of condition surveys are costed according to the complexity of the property, so there is no standard charge.
Our approach to producing a schedule of condition is to compile a meaningful and factual account in text report format supported by a portfolio of photographs that will adequately record the true condition of the property (and it's grounds) in a way to counter an aggressive landlord's dilapidations claim at the end of a lease.
The longer the lease, the more detailed the schedule of condition should be, simply because buildings deteriorate over time.
As long as you maintain the property in accordance with the terms of your lease, a schedule of condition will pay enormous dividends when you come to vacate the premises.
By spending a little bit more at the start of a lease, a tenant could save considerable time, money and liability at the end of the lease when it comes to defending a dilapidations claim.
A good schedule of condition will pay dividends at the end of your lease.
Whether you are a commercial landlord, agent or tenant, you are assured of a prompt and professional response to your enquiry.