RICS Specialist Defect Survey
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What is a Specialist Defect Survey?
A Specialist Defect Survey (also known as a Structural Defect Survey or Specific Defect Report) is aimed at uncovering a known problem and works best when there is an assumption of kinds of defects to investigate.
A Specialist Defect Survey focuses on an individual defect of concern (e.g. cracking in a loadbearing wall).
Under what circumstances should a Specific Defect Report be done?
It is often sought when a party wishes to obtain more detailed information regarding a particular feature of the property in question, and most commonly, this involves the structure of said property.
Should you conclude that the building’s overall condition is acceptable and satisfactory, but have reservations about a singular element, such as a wall, it is appropriate to ask for a Specific Defect Survey.
If I have a Full Building Survey, is a Specific Defect Survey still necessary?
A full building survey may indicate a problem, but occasionally, the surveyor needs the expertise of a structural engineer to provide the in-depth appraisal necessary to understand the seriousness of the issue.
Identifying that structural problem in an inspection can save you a lot of money if you just know immediately what’s wrong with the building and the kind of fix it will take.
Why obtain a Specific Defect Survey?
There may be many reasons to want this kind of detailed survey. You might want to check something in your home and need the assurance that comes with knowing an expert has conducted an in-depth assessment.
You might be considering making major changes (structural alterations) to your property and want to ensure that it’s safe for such changes and can be altered in the ways you’re planning.
Structural engineers are the experts most often called on to perform Specific Defect Surveys if the problem is engineering related. They delve into the fine details of your property and use their analyses to make straightforward determinations of the suitability of your home for major changes.
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What does a Specific Defect Survey cover?
A specific defect report includes the following:
- check for subsidence (bowing or cracking in beams or walls, or any area of the building that has sunk)
- quality assurance inspection of the construction materials
- verification of any non-standard construction
- examination of defects in the roof, walls, and floors
- investigation into timber rot and/or infestation
- check of any steel that may be corroding
- to see if the structure might be prone to flood damage
- an examination of the support structures to see if they are suitable
- design advice
- cost estimation
- structural calculations.
- repairs and remedial work option guidance
The specific defect report goes into great detail about the structural examination and includes many relevant photographs. It tells you unambiguously whether or not there is a problem with the building’s structure and, if there is, what needs to be done, who can do it, and how much it will cost (if cost estimates are included as part of the service).
Certified RICS Surveyors Canterbury
Our panel of professionals comprises building surveyors and structural engineers, all of whom are certified members of Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA), and/or the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or other industry-standard regulator.
