Building Surveys (CIOB Construction Paper No. 89:1998)
Building Surveys (CIOB Construction Paper No. 89:1998)
H.S. StaveleyChartered Institute of Building (Tel: 01344 630810)1998£5.00
Keywords: Building survey, Liability
This is not actually a book (and it has no ISBN number) but a ten-page,loose bound paper which was originally published as CIOB Maintenance Information Service Paper 15. The paper has recently been updated by the original author Steve Staveley, a Chartered Building Surveyor of considerable experience. Written in a very personal but engaging fashion, the paper contains a wealth of interesting (and at times amusing) information on the practicalities of inspecting and reporting when carrying out a building survey.
The paper adequately emphasises the legal liability imposed on those carrying out surveys. After considering the need for great care in carrying out the inspection and writing the report the author concludes, "All this may lead the reader to believe that a living which is largely dependent upon building surveys is too hazardous to contemplate. However if one has a good working knowledge of design and construction, sticks to facts in the report, ignores hearsay and does not venture too many opinions then building surveys can help to make a rewarding career for the surveyor".
An interesting suggestion is made that a central bank of building performance data be compiled, into which surveyors can contribute. During the reviewer's period of employment with the Property Services Agency such a databank existed, but with the break up of the PSA presumably BRE would be the logical repository of such information. In a sense the author has made an initial attempt at summarising what such a databank would tell us as he provides a summary of the standards of construction of each decade of this century and of earlier house building periods. This section does, however, have a West Country bias.
An eminently sensible suggestion is that before undertaking a building survey the newly qualified surveyor should spend at least two years accompanying an experienced surveyor and also preparing "shadow" reports to compare with those of his or her mentor. A very amusing section is the author's classification of vendors/occupiers by sex, temperament and deceitfulness. Of note is the "seductive female" who "will go to almost any lengths to distract the surveyor in the way of fluttering eyelashes, deep plunges and in extreme cases, provocative attire". The author's "angry male" reminded the reviewer of a surveyor friend who returned to the office with a black eye which he received from a vendor who had taken exception to some debris which had fallen on to the landing carpet when the roof space trap door had been opened! This section of the paper also contains the sensible advice to "never believe what any vendor tells you".
There are some notable omissions upon which any lawyer would pounce. For example the suggestion that client instructions should be confirmed in writing"where time permits" would not impress one's professional indemnity insurer. We are told that the equipment to be carried on a building survey should include a"folding ladder" but no advice is given as to what height that ladder should be capable of reaching. The advice on dictating the report on site is also at odds with case law precedents. This paper is no substitute for the RICS Guidance Note and is therefore not the document which a barrister would wave at you in court. Nevertheless, at a cost of £5.00 it is well worth a read.
Mike Hoxley
