Dilapidation Report

A dilapidation report is a report on the condition of a property at a given point in time. It records any existing damage, and the state of any particular aspects of the property that are likely to be affected by construction work, excavation or demolition. The report is an item-by-item account identifying the building elements and their condition and is recorded by both written and photographic evidence.

Do I need dilapidation reports?

Whether or not these reports are necessary will come down to where your building is situated in relation to other buildings, and what the authorities in your area require. Even if they’re not required by law for the work you’re doing though, dilapidation reports can help protect you against litigation if neighbours claim that your construction or demolition work has damaged their homes.

If no dilapidation report is carried out then any cracking or movement claimed by an adjacent property owner cannot be ruled out as being caused or worsened by the works. This leads to a legal grey area and often results in protracted legal battles that could have been avoided by a dilapidation report from Safe House property Consultants.

If you need more information about whether dilapidation reports are required, ask your builder or contact your local building authority.