Home Condition Reports

These are a new type of report which will be included in all Home Information Packs about every residential property for sale. They are not designed as a survey which is based on a professional opinion of what needs doing to a property; instead they are a snapshot of the condition of the property at that point in time. Various standard features will be given a rating from one to three. One means it appears to be in good condition, three means it is not and may well require attention.

The HCR will be prepared by a new type of professional person called a Home Inspector. He may well be a chartered surveyor but not necessarily so. Either way he will be trained and accredited and carry Professional Insurance cover to prescribed levels. Once completed, the HCR will be sent to a single central database, given a unique reference number, and then it will be in the public domain and made available to all interested applicants and mortgage lenders. The seller will normally pay for the cost of preparing a HCRs although not necessarily until completion. The Government hopes HCRs will avoid people looking at inappropriate property saving time and money. In England and Wales they will not contain a valuation, in Scotland they will have a Guide Price.