County Inspections
115 Horsneile Lane
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG42 2DH
Tel: 01344 867155
Email: info@countyinspections.co.uk

Purpose of the Report:

Inspection or calculation for the production of an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC, PEA) or Caluculation of SAP2005 Rating.

The Property:
Address:

Postcode:

Specific terms
1. The Property or plot to be inspected or calculated is as detailed in “The Property” above.
2. Other than an inspection for the provision of an EPC or calculations for SAP2005, no additional services are to be provided.
2.1 Testing of services is not permitted even with the clients or owners consent.
2.2 No additional investigations will be carried out.

General terms
1. Introduction
a. This document sets out the contractual terms upon which the Inspector will advise the Client by means of the notification of the Report Reference Number or RRN for the Energy Performance Certificate held on the Database HCRRegister.com.
b. The individual carrying out the inspection will be a Certified Home Inspector or Accredited Energy Assessor.
c. The individual will use all of the care and skill to be reasonably expected of an appropriately experienced and qualified Home Inspector or Domestic Energy Assessor.

2. Content of the Report
In accordance with these terms the Inspector will inspect the property or make calculations to produce a Home Condition Report or an Energy Performance Certificate in accordance with the current RdSAP or SAP2005 methodology:
a. the main aspects of the property including assessing the location, the design, structural framework, fabric and services;
b. environmental aspects considered to affect the Property;
c. any requirements for further investigation arising from the inspection.

3. Delivery of the Report
a. The Report is to be delivered by the date agreed or at such later date as is reasonable in the circumstances.
b. The Inspector will advise the client or his representative of the Report Reference Number (RRN) by email or first class post for the sole use of the Client. The Client agrees to keep the Report confidential disclosing its contents only to the Client’s professional advisors. In particular (but without limit) the Client must not disclose the whole or any part of the Report to any person (other than a professional advisor or person legally entitled to view the reoprt) who may intend to rely upon it for the purpose of any transaction.

4. Payment of fees
a. The Client will pay the Agreed Fee, any Additional Fees, any VAT and any agreed disbursements by the Payment Date.
b. The Client will be liable for interest on any late payment at the rate of 8% p.a. above the Bank of England base rate current at the date of the relevant fee account.

5. Assumptions
Unless otherwise expressly agreed the Inspector while preparing the Report will assume that:
a. the property (if for sale) is offered with vacant possession;
b. the Property is connected to mains services with appropriate rights on a basis that is known and acceptable to the Client; and
c. access to the Property is as of right upon terms known and acceptable to the Client.

6. Scope of the inspection
a. Generally
i. The Inspector will consider his or her advice carefully but is not required to advise on any matter the significance of which in relation to the Property is not apparent at the time of inspection from the inspection itself.
ii. The Inspector will inspect diligently but is not required to undertake any action which would risk damage to the Property or injury to him or herself.
iii. The Inspector will not undertake any structural or other calculations other that those required for EPC or SAP2005.
b. Accessibility
i. The Inspector will inspect as much of the internal and external surface area of the building as is practicable but will not inspect those areas which are covered, unexposed or not reasonably accessible from within the site, or adjacent public areas.
ii. The Inspector is not required to move any obstruction to inspection including, but not limited to, furniture and floor coverings.
c. Floors
The Inspector will lift accessible trap doors, if any, which are not covered by heavy furniture, ply or hardboard, fitted carpets or other fixed floor coverings. The Inspector will not attempt to cut or lift fixed floorboards even with the permission of the owner.
d. Fixed covers or housings
The Inspector will not attempt to remove securely fixed covers or housings.
e. Roofs
The Inspector will inspect the roof spaces if there are available hatches which are not more than three metres above the adjacent floor or ground. Where no reasonable access is available, the roof spaces will not be inspected. Similarly, outer surfaces of the roof or adjacent areas will be inspected using binoculars, but will be excluded if they cannot be seen. Access to roof spaces will only be inspected if accessable from the inside of the property. Roof spaces with access from communal areas will not be inspected.
f. Boundaries, grounds and outbuildings
The inspection will only include permanent outbuildings required for RdSAP or SAP2005 but will not include constructions or equipment with a specific leisure purpose including, without limit, swimming pools, other facilities or tennis courts.
g. Services
The Inspector will carry out a visual inspection of the service installations where accessible. No tests of the service installations will be carried out.
h. Areas not inspected
The Inspector will identify on his or her personal site notes any areas which would normally be inspected but which he or she was unable to inspect.

i. Flats or maisonettes
Unless otherwise agreed, the Inspector will inspect only the subject flat, not the related internal and external common parts of the building or particular block in which the subject flat is situated. Other flats will not be inspected. The Inspector will state in the site notes the limits of access and/or visibility in relation to the common parts.

j. Environmental and other issues
i. Particular noise and disturbance affecting the Property will only be noted if it is significant at the time of the inspection.
ii. The Inspector will note any obvious health and safety hazards to the extent that they are apparent from elements of the Property considered as part of the inspection.
7. Hazardous materials
a. The Inspector will assume that no deleterious or hazardous materials or techniques have been used in the construction of the Property.

8. Ground conditions
The Inspector will not be required to comment upon the possible existence of noxious substances, landfill or mineral extraction, or other forms of contamination.

9. Consents, approvals and searches
a. The Inspector will be entitled to assume that the Property is not subject to any unusual or onerous restrictions, obligations or covenants which apply to the Property or affect the reasonable enjoyment of the Property.
b. The Inspector will be entitled to assume that all planning, Building Regulations and other consents required in relation to the Property have been obtained. The Inspector will not verify whether such consents have been obtained. Any enquiries should be made by the Client or the Client’s legal advisers. Drawings and specifications will not be inspected by the Inspector other than for the information required for SAP2005 calculations.
c. The Inspector will be entitled to assume that the Property is unaffected by any matters which would be revealed by a Local Search and replies to the usual enquiries, or by a Statutory Notice, and that neither the Property, nor its condition, its use or its intended use, is or will be unlawful.

10. Insurance rebuilding cost assessment
The Inspector will provide an insurance rebuilding cost assessment only if this is agreed at the time of taking instructions. Building insurance cost assessments will be calculated using the current edition of the BCIS Guide to House Rebuilding Costs.

11. Additional services
The Inspector will provide, for an additional fee, such additional services as may be specified in the Specific Terms or are agreed between the Inspector and the Client and confirmed by the Inspector in writing.

12. Miscellaneous
a. In the event of a conflict between these General Terms and the Specific Terms, the Specific Terms prevail.
b. Unless expressly provided, no term in the agreement between the Inspector and the Client is enforceable under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 by any person other than the Inspector or the Client.
c. Where the Client has instructed the Inspector to make investigations which cause damage to the Property on the basis that the Client has obtained the owner’s consent, the Client will indemnify the Inspector against any loss or cost arising.
d. Dispute Resolution In the event that the Client has a complaint regarding the standard of service he or she has received, a formal complaints handling procedure will be followed. A copy of the Inspector’s complaints handling procedure is available upon request. Using the Inspector’s complaints handling procedure will not affect the Client’s legal rights.
e. The Client may only rely upon the Inspector’s advice and Report for purposes described in the Particulars or communicated to the Inspector in writing prior to the agreement of the Fee and if the client wishes to rely upon such advice and Report for any other purpose he or she may only do so with the written consent of the Inspector.