Terms and Conditions for Pre-Purchase Structural Surveys

To understand what is included and not included in your report it is essential and recommended that the following terms and conditions are read in full. By booking our services you are agreeing to these terms.

1. Report overview

The principal objective of the report is to inform you of significant structural defects within the property that may affect a buyer’s decision, e.g., defects in roof structure, cracks in walls, ceilings and floors that may indicate problems with the foundations.

Minor issues that do not affect the value of the property may not be commented upon

2. Scope of service
3. a) General
4. A Survey of the property, which may be a residential property (house, apartment, duplex, maisonette, etc.) or a commercial property (single unit, multi-unit). The survey is a visual, structural inspection of the property at a specific point in time.
5. A Report, which is based on a visual inspection only of the exposed and accessible main parts of the structure, e.g., walls, roof, etc. to determine the structural condition and general state of repair of the property.
6. The pre-purchase visual survey includes one visit to the property. If for any reason a re-check or re-inspection is required, an additional fee will be quoted for and charged accordingly.
7. b) Multi-Unit Surveys (including Apartment, Duplex)
8. The residential apartment survey is an inspection of the individual apartment/duplex/maisonette unit.
9. A general overview is included of the common areas of a residential apartment/duplex/maisonette block where there is safe accessible access at the time of inspection, e.g., roofs, underground parking spaces, fire precautions and means of escape. We do not carry out a full inspection of the apartment complex
10. The client is advised to contact the management company and check for the existence of any known issues or defects to the apartment/duplex/maisonette block prior to entering any contract.
11. In the case of a commercial multi-unit property the entire property will be included in the survey even if it has been divided into individual units.
12. Limitations of Service
13. a) General
14. The pre-purchase structural survey is based on a visual inspection only of the exposed and accessible main parts of the structure, e.g., walls, roof, etc., to determine the structural condition and general state of repair of the property
15. The pre-purchase structural survey includes one visit to the property. If for any reason a re-check or reinspection is required, an additional fee will be quoted for and charged accordingly.
16. The report does not comment on minor non-structural or cosmetic issues that do not materially affect the value of the property and are of no structural importance, e.g., minor drying cracks in ceilings and walls, marginal structural workmanship such as some unevenness in floors, walls, and ceilings.
17. We do not carry out any tests on structural materials used in the construction of the property. The surveyor will assume that the materials used in the construction of the property were suitable for their intended use.
18. The report is not intended as building regulation compliance document, although certain items may be commented upon
19. The report is not a full, measured check on the property boundary although certain items may be commented upon
20. We do not provide a BER report as part of our survey. A BER (building energy rating) certificate is a legal requirement and must be provided by either the Estate Agent or vendor before the property is placed on the market.
21. Planning searches, reviewing planning documentation, other files, maps, etc and/or making inquiries with statutory agencies or local Planning Authorities are not included in the pre-purchase survey.
22. The survey excludes liability and responsibility for loss or damages to you or a third party for latent defects, concealed defects or deficiencies that may become apparent or occur during or after the survey has taken place. We are however happy to offer direction and advice should a defect or deficiency subsequently become evident. E.g., plumbing leaks not active or visible at the time of survey.
23. Taking measurements of the property or site is not included in the pre-purchase structural survey service, nor is providing cost estimates for the recommend works provided.
24. Roof surfaces are generally viewed from ground level only. Therefore our inspection is limited and certain defects may not be apparent during our survey
25. b) Damp / Leaks
26. Our visual survey will report on active leaks that are visible at the time of inspection. It is quite common for windows, doors, walls, or roofs to have leaks that are only active and visible under certain weather conditions e.g., wind-driven rain, and these conditions may not be replicated at the time of the survey. The survey excludes liability for leaks that latently occur during weather conditions not replicated at the time of the survey.
27. This survey report is not a detailed or comprehensive damp survey. Dampness may exist in the property which may not be detected by this general survey. For example, visual evidence of dampness could be hidden from view by furniture or by recent redecoration of ceilings and walls. Dampness can also be caused by seasonal factors that are not present at the time of inspection.
28. c) Property contents and occupancy
29. Contents in a building restrict or deny visual and/or physical access to some areas, e.g., personal belongings in hot press, attic space packed with boxes, personal possessions in rooms etc., or stock / equipment in storage rooms, attic space packed with boxes, fixtures and fittings in rooms etc. The surveyor will make their best assumptions where walls, carpets, heavy furniture, industrial equipment, etc., in place restrict access.
30. No moving of furniture or personal belongings will be carried out during the inspection.
31. No moving of furniture, stock, equipment etc., will be carried out during the inspection.
32. e) Accessibility, Voids, and Concealed Areas
33. The inspection can take no account of works covered up, inaccessible or otherwise obscured from view e.g., furniture, fittings, clothing, personal belongings, etc., or office furniture, industrial equipment, stock etc.
34. Where areas of the main structural components are unexposed, covered, or inaccessible, no definitive opinion can be given. For example, if there is no hatch access to roof spaces or areas under floors then the surveyors’ comments cannot be conclusive; opening-up would be required before a more accurate assessment can be made by the surveyor. It must therefore be appreciated that defects such as woodworm or dry rot may be present without our knowledge. Where we feel it warrants further investigations this will be recommended within the report.
35. Access points will not be used if they are locked, nailed, glued, sealed, or screwed in place, damaged or unlikely to close properly after opening.
36. Internal roof structures will be inspected where safe access exists via an attic hatch not more than 2.7 metres above the adjacent floor or ground. Where no reasonable safe access is available, the roof spaces will can be inspected.
37. Roof spaces that are limited in height, dangerous or unsafe to manoeuvre in, will not be inspected. The risk of concealed defects therefore be appreciated that defects such as woodworm or dry rot may be present without our knowledge.
38. Ladders will be used for inspections where it is safe to do so, up to a maximum of 2.7 metres in height. The surveyor will not climb onto or walk on any roof surfaces.
39. The survey of the property is carried out from within the grounds of the property and from public areas adjacent to the property. We cannot trespass on to other people’s private property to get a better view
40. f) Building Services – plumbing, heating, drainage, septic tanks, wells, ventilation and air conditioning systems, electrics, or ICT
41. Our survey is limited to a cursory view of services only. Based on this, the surveyor will make comments on whether they were operating or not at the time of inspection (i.e., the primary heating system / boiler was firing up, there was a water supply to the property, there was electrical supply to the property). If issues with utilities / services are observed, they will be included in the structural survey report. However, this should not under any circumstances be taken to mean that issues with the utilities / services are limited to the comments / photos included in the report.
42. Our surveyors are NOT qualified Registered Gas Installers, plumbers, heating technicians or electricians and do not carry out any diagnostic tests or assess the efficiency or safety of these services.
43. Before purchasing, renting, or leasing the property, it is essential and recommended that you commission a competent suitably qualified professional to service / perform tests and provide you with a report on the design, installation, current condition, efficiency, and the likelihood of potential failure/s of these systems.
44. Mechanical, plumbing, electrical, heating services, specialist facilities and equipment are not included in the survey e.g.,, air conditioning units, geothermal systems, sprinkler systems, security alarms, solar panels, and any appliances.
45. g) Deleterious and Hazardous Materials
46. This survey report is not an inspection on the presence of any deleterious and hazardous materials within the property, neither will we undertake or commission inspections or laboratory tests to determine or confirm the presence, extent or precise nature of any deleterious and hazardous materials e.g., alkaline cement, lead, asbestos, and pyrite.
47. No liability is accepted for future defects found in the property arising from the use of defective stone fill.
48. If the surveyor makes a comment in the report on deleterious and hazardous materials it is provided for limited information purposes only and should not, under any circumstances, be deemed conclusive.
49. To determine the existence / non-existence or extent of any deleterious and hazardous materials within the property it is essential and recommended that you commission a relevant specialist to carry out tests and provide you with a report before closing
50. Property Walk-Through
51. It is advised, without exception, that before closing the sale and taking possession of the property, clients take a final pre-close walk through of the property and grounds with the estate agent.
52. The walk-through should take place after the removal of the vendors’ personal possessions.
53. It is the client’s responsibility to organise the property walk-through, to determine that no previously hidden or covered issues have been revealed, and that no subsequent water leaks, fire, smoke, or other damage have occurred since the survey was performed. Your legal adviser can provide advice on this action.
54. Should any issues be discovered during the pre-close walk-through, clients should take photographic evidence and forward this by email immediately to our office. If re-inspection is required, an additional fee will be quoted for and charged accordingly.
55. Price and Payment
56. Valid numbered quotations are provided in writing only and are valid for thirty days from the date of issue. The quotation includes VAT at the current rate.
57. Payment can be made by credit card, debit card, and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Credit or debit card payments are actioned on the day of the survey. Payment is required prior to the report being issued.
58. If payment is not received within the agreed timeframe, iSurv reserves the right to withhold the report until payment is made in full
59. 6. Report Issue
60. Reports are issued by email in a PDF format only
61. Requests to provide a hard copy may incur an additional postage fee, and the report will be issued in black and white.
62. ISurv Chartered Building Surveyors Ltd guarantee to issue report(s) by email within 3 working days of completion of a pre-purchase structural survey inspection.
63. ISURV CHARTERED BUILDING SURVEYORS LTD reserve the right to suspend the turnaround time guarantee in the event of unforeseen circumstances
    caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including, but not limited to any force majeure incident. In such
    circumstances, including those listed below,: –

• Unscheduled inspection interruption
• Major electricity outage
• IT system(s) outage (e.g., internet outage, cyber-attack)
• Acts of God
• Pandemic

1. we will use our best efforts to issue the report(s) as soon as possible after resumption of service affecting the
   company and its staff.
2. Where a client believes that the guaranteed turnaround time has not been met, they must apply to ISURV CHARTERED BUILDING SURVEYORS LTD
   Customer Care, by email – info@isurv.ie, within 10 days of the inspection date.
3. Guarantee refund requests will be investigated, and a refund decision will be provided within 10 working days.
4. Where ISURV CHARTERED BUILDING SURVEYORS LTD finds that the guaranteed turnaround time has not been met, the fee for the survey
5. Refunds will be made to the same payor and method as the original payment for the service only. (E.g., payment
   by visa – refund by visa)
6. Liability, Confidentiality, and Ownership
7. Liability is limited to a maximum amount of 1% of the market value of the property when the survey was completed
8. Ownership of the report passes to the client upon receipt by ISurv Chartered Building Surveyors Ltd Limited of full payment.
9. The report is issued to the person to whom it is addressed for theirs and their legal advisers use and is not intended or authorized to be used by a third party, without our prior written consent.
10. If a third party chooses to use this inspection report, they do so without ISurv Chartered Building Surveyors Ltd Limited’s permission or authorisation, and they do so at their own risk. No communications will be entered into with any third party re the report, without the prior consent of the client.
11. The Client agrees to indemnify and hold iSurv, its employees, and representatives harmless from any claims, damages, or liabilities arising from the Client’s breach of this Agreement or use of the survey report.
12. Termination
13. The Client may terminate an Agreement but must give a minimum of two working days’ notice.
14. If a cancellation or a postponement takes place within two working days of the inspection, then 25% of the quotation total fee will be charged.
15. Governing Law and Jurisdiction:
16. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction where ISurv Chartered Building Surveyors Ltd is located.
17. Any disputes arising from or in connection with this Agreement shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in the aforementioned jurisdiction.

By engaging ISurv Chartered Building Surveyors Ltd services, the Client acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to the terms and conditions outlined above.