Terms & Conditions

These terms apply to your use of this website and to the survey, inspection and reporting services we provide. By using the website, requesting a quote, or booking a survey, you accept these terms.

This website is operated by National Building Consultants. Registered address: 1 Elmfield Park, Bromley BR1 1LU.

Where we issue a written quote, booking confirmation, or separate terms of engagement for a particular survey, those documents apply alongside these terms and set the agreed scope, fee and timescale. If anything in them conflicts with these terms, the document issued for that survey takes precedence.

Where these terms require something to be in writing, email is enough. Where they use words such as including, for example, or in particular, those words are illustrative and do not limit what comes before them.

Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer, including your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

The information on this website is provided for general guidance about damp, mould, timber, leak, ventilation, and property survey services. It is not a substitute for a site inspection or professional advice based on your specific property.

Guides and articles reflect our understanding at the time of writing. Standards, regulations, lender requirements, and good practice change, so you should not rely on website content alone when making decisions about a property.

We provide independent damp, mould, timber, leak and ventilation surveys, home buyer condition surveys, building surveys, buy-to-let inspections, new-build snagging inspections, and the associated reporting. The scope of each service is described on the relevant service page and confirmed in your quote.

Surveys are visual inspections carried out by a suitably qualified surveyor working to recognised damp and building survey standards. We are independent consultants and do not carry out remedial works, so recommendations are not linked to the sale of treatment or repair work.

Anything outside the agreed scope, such as further investigation, specialist testing, additional reporting, revisits, or expert witness work, must be agreed separately and may be charged in addition.

National Building Consultants provides professional building consultancy, property surveying, technical inspection and advisory services. The particular service commissioned by the Client will be identified in the quotation, appointment confirmation, instruction, or other written agreement issued by National Building Consultants.

The scope, purpose, limitations and deliverables of each service are set out below. Unless expressly agreed in writing, the Company provides only the specific service identified in the Client’s appointment. Any additional service, investigation, testing, design work, certification, cost consultancy or specialist advice requested by the Client will be subject to a separate agreement, quotation or written variation.

The Company’s services are intended to provide the Client with professional observations, technical information and advice to assist with informed decisions relating to property acquisition, ownership, maintenance, repair, refurbishment, development, compliance and investment.

The Company does not provide a guarantee, warranty or insurance policy in respect of the condition, performance, value or future suitability of any property.

1. Building survey services

1.1 Level 3 Building Survey – comprehensive building survey

The Level 3 Building Survey is a detailed, comprehensive visual inspection and reporting service intended to provide the Client with a reasoned and informed understanding of the condition of the property.

The service is suitable for clients seeking detailed advice regarding the condition, construction, defects, maintenance requirements, repair priorities and potential risks associated with a property.

The Surveyor will, subject to the agreed scope of inspection:

• Carry out a thorough visual inspection of the accessible and reasonably safe parts of the main building and permanent outbuildings.
• Record the apparent construction, materials, condition and identifiable defects.
• Provide a detailed written report based on the inspection.
• Identify serious, urgent or potentially significant defects and areas of concern.
• Describe identifiable risks associated with potential or concealed defects.
• Provide advice on repairs, maintenance, renewal, improvement or further investigation where appropriate.
• Where practicable and expressly agreed, provide indicative repair-cost allowances for identified defects.
• Recommend further specialist investigations, professional advice or technical assessments where necessary before the Client commits to a purchase, expenditure or works.

The Survey is intended to assist the Client in making informed decisions when purchasing a property, planning repairs, managing maintenance, considering alterations or assessing future expenditure.

The Level 3 Building Survey is a visual inspection and does not constitute a destructive investigation, structural engineering assessment, specialist services test, environmental survey or guarantee that the property is free from defects.

1.2 Level 2 HomeBuyer Survey

The Level 2 HomeBuyer Survey is a visual property inspection and reporting service intended to provide the Client with an overview of the condition of the property and the principal defects or risks that are reasonably identifiable during the inspection.

The service is generally intended for conventional residential properties of broadly standard construction and apparent condition, subject to the Surveyor’s professional assessment and the agreed scope.

The report may include:

• An overall opinion of the condition of the property.
• Condition ratings for relevant elements.
• Identification of significant defects and maintenance issues.
• Commentary on visible construction and materials.
• Advice on matters requiring further investigation.
• Identification of risks which may affect the Client’s decision to purchase or maintain the property.
• Recommendations for repairs, maintenance or specialist advice where appropriate.

The Level 2 HomeBuyer Survey does not provide the same depth of inspection or reporting as a Level 3 Building Survey. Where the property is unusual, substantially altered, extensively extended, in poor condition, or otherwise unsuitable for a Level 2 inspection, the Company may recommend a Level 3 Building Survey or another appropriate service.

The inspection is subject to the limitations set out in these Terms & Conditions and the individual report.

1.3 Buy-to-Let Property Survey

The Buy-to-Let Property Survey is designed to assist landlords, property investors, prospective landlords and other clients assessing the condition and apparent maintenance requirements of a residential investment property.

The service may be commissioned as a Level 2 HomeBuyer Survey, Level 3 Building Survey or another agreed inspection, depending on the Client’s requirements and the property.

Subject to the agreed scope, the report may address:

• General condition and apparent construction.
• Defects and maintenance requirements.
• Potential repair and renewal expenditure.
• Visible damp, mould and moisture-related concerns.
• Condition of accessible internal and external elements.
• Identifiable risks which may affect property maintenance or investment planning.
• Recommendations for further investigation or specialist advice.

The Buy-to-Let Property Survey is a building condition and maintenance assessment. It is not, unless expressly agreed in writing, a rental valuation, investment appraisal, financial advice, legal compliance audit, fire risk assessment, housing health and safety rating system assessment, electrical installation condition report, gas safety inspection, energy performance assessment or confirmation that the property is suitable for letting.

The Client remains responsible for obtaining appropriate legal, regulatory, financial and specialist advice before letting, acquiring or investing in the property.

2. Damp & mould survey services

2.1 Essential Damp & Mould Survey – targeted area

The Essential Damp & Mould Survey is a focused inspection of a specific area or areas identified by the Client, such as a bedroom, bathroom, wall, ceiling, window reveal, basement, loft space or other agreed location.

The service is intended to provide a professional visual assessment of apparent dampness, mould growth, moisture-related damage and potential contributing factors within the agreed inspection area.

Subject to accessibility and the agreed scope, the Surveyor may:

• Inspect the identified area visually.
• Record visible signs of dampness, staining, mould growth, condensation or moisture-related deterioration.
• Use appropriate non-destructive moisture-measuring equipment where considered suitable.
• Consider visible building fabric, ventilation, heating, drainage, plumbing and external conditions which may be relevant to the reported issue.
• Identify potential causes or contributing factors where reasonably apparent.
• Provide recommendations for further investigation, remedial action or specialist advice where appropriate.

This service is limited to the targeted area or areas specified in the appointment. It does not constitute a comprehensive inspection of the entire property.

The Surveyor does not warrant that all sources of dampness, mould, condensation, water ingress or hidden defects will be identified. The presence of mould may have multiple causes, and further specialist investigation may be required.

2.2 Comprehensive Damp & Mould Survey – whole property

The Comprehensive Damp & Mould Survey is a whole-property inspection intended to assess visible dampness, mould growth, moisture-related deterioration and potential contributing factors throughout the accessible parts of the property.

The service may include an inspection of:

• Internal walls, ceilings, floors and accessible finishes.
• Bedrooms, living areas, kitchens, bathrooms and other relevant rooms.
• Accessible roof spaces and loft areas.
• External walls, elevations and visible building fabric.
• Windows, doors and visible openings.
• Accessible roof coverings and rainwater goods.
• Visible plumbing, heating and drainage-related features.
• Ventilation provisions and apparent condensation risks.
• Areas of visible staining, mould growth, moisture damage or deterioration.

Where appropriate, the Surveyor may use non-destructive moisture-measuring equipment and other suitable inspection equipment.

The report may include:

• A summary of observed damp and mould-related conditions.
• Identification of visible areas of concern.
• Commentary on likely or possible contributing factors, where reasonably apparent.
• Recommendations for further investigations or specialist testing.
• Advice on maintenance, ventilation, moisture management or remedial works where appropriate.
• An indication of the urgency of identified concerns.

The Comprehensive Damp & Mould Survey remains a visual and non-destructive assessment unless additional investigations are expressly agreed.

The service does not automatically include:

• Destructive opening-up or removal of finishes.
• Laboratory analysis of mould or fungal samples.
• Asbestos identification, sampling or testing.
• Specialist environmental or air-quality testing.
• Structural engineering investigations.
• Drainage CCTV surveys.
• Specialist plumbing or heating investigations.
• Timber decay, woodworm or fungal decay surveys.
• A guarantee that all moisture sources or mould-related risks have been identified.

Where the cause or extent of a defect cannot reasonably be established by visual inspection, the report will recommend appropriate further investigation.

2.3 Damp & mould survey limitations

Damp and mould conditions may be affected by seasonal weather, occupancy, heating, ventilation, moisture production, building alterations, defective installations and concealed defects.

Moisture readings are indicative of conditions at the time of inspection and may vary according to the material, temperature, surface condition, equipment and environmental circumstances.

Moisture-measuring equipment is not a substitute for specialist testing or opening-up where required. The Surveyor does not guarantee the accuracy of every reading or that the underlying source of moisture will be identified without further investigation.

The Client should not undertake significant remedial works, remove mould, alter ventilation or implement a proposed solution solely on the basis of an assumed cause where further investigation has been recommended.

3. New build snagging survey

3.1 New build snagging inspection

The New Build Snagging Survey is a professional visual inspection of an applicable newly constructed or recently completed residential property, intended to identify apparent defects, incomplete works, poor workmanship, damage, finish issues and items requiring attention.

The service may be undertaken before completion, at handover, during the defects liability period or at another agreed stage.

Subject to access and the agreed scope, the Surveyor may inspect:

• External elevations and visible finishes.
• Roof coverings and accessible roof areas.
• Windows, doors and visible openings.
• Internal walls, ceilings and floors.
• Joinery, fixtures and fittings.
• Kitchens, bathrooms and sanitary installations.
• Visible plumbing, heating and ventilation features.
• External areas, boundaries and permanent outbuildings where included.
• General workmanship, finish and apparent compliance with the agreed construction specification where that specification is made available.

The report may include a schedule of identified snagging items, with photographs, descriptions, locations and recommendations where appropriate.

The Surveyor will identify apparent defects and incomplete items visible at the time of inspection. The inspection is not a guarantee that all defects, latent defects or future failures will be identified.

3.2 New build snagging exclusions

Unless expressly agreed in writing, the New Build Snagging Survey does not include:

• Destructive investigations.
• Structural engineering certification.
• Specialist testing of electrical, gas, plumbing, heating or drainage installations.
• Testing of fire safety systems or life safety installations.
• Air-tightness testing, thermal imaging or acoustic testing.
• Asbestos or hazardous-material surveys.
• Confirmation of compliance with every requirement of Building Regulations.
• Confirmation that all construction works comply with planning permission or the approved drawings.
• Legal review of the building contract, warranties or developer obligations.
• Confirmation of the property’s value or suitability for purchase.

The Client should provide the relevant plans, specifications, handover documents and other available information where required.

4. Home review service

4.1 Home Review – property condition & maintenance advisory

The Home Review Service is a professional property condition and maintenance review intended to assist homeowners, landlords, prospective purchasers and property owners in understanding the apparent condition, maintenance priorities and potential areas of concern affecting their property.

The service may be commissioned as a standalone review or as part of a wider property consultancy appointment.

Subject to the agreed scope, the Surveyor may review:

• General condition of the property.
• Visible internal and external defects.
• Maintenance and repair requirements.
• Damp, mould and moisture-related concerns.
• Roofs, walls, floors, windows and external elements.
• Accessible services and installations by visual inspection.
• Grounds, boundaries and permanent outbuildings.
• Areas requiring further investigation or specialist advice.

The report may include:

• An overall summary of the apparent condition.
• Priority maintenance recommendations.
• Identification of significant or urgent issues.
• Advice on planned repairs and maintenance.
• Recommendations for specialist investigations where appropriate.
• Guidance on matters which may require further professional advice.

The Home Review Service is not automatically equivalent to a Level 2 or Level 3 Building Survey. The precise extent of the inspection, reporting and advice will depend on the agreed appointment.

4.2 Home review limitations

The Home Review Service is a visual advisory inspection and does not provide a guarantee that all defects or maintenance issues will be identified.

Where the Client requires a formal pre-purchase survey, specialist damp investigation, structural assessment, legal compliance review or other defined service, the Company may recommend a more appropriate appointment.

5. Architectural measurement survey service

5.1 Architectural measurement survey

The Architectural Measurement Survey is a professional measured survey service intended to record the dimensions, layout and relevant features of an existing building or property for agreed purposes, including architectural design, refurbishment, extension planning, space planning, property documentation and related professional services.

The service may include:

• Measurement of agreed internal and external areas.
• Recording of room dimensions and floor layouts.
• Measurement of doors, windows and relevant openings.
• Recording of building features and visible structural arrangements.
• Preparation of existing floor plans.
• Preparation of agreed elevations or sections where included.
• Preparation of a digital or drawn survey output in an agreed format.
• Recording of relevant visible architectural features and levels where practicable.

The deliverables, survey area, drawing format, level of detail, accuracy requirements and intended use will be identified in the quotation or appointment.

5.2 Architectural measurement survey limitations

Unless expressly agreed in writing, the Architectural Measurement Survey does not include:

• Structural engineering design or certification.
• Detailed structural analysis.
• Specialist topographical surveying.
• Land or boundary legal definition.
• Subsurface investigations.
• Utility tracing or underground services detection.
• Building Regulations approval.
• Planning permission applications.
• Architectural design development.
• Building control approval.
• Party Wall Act advice or administration.
• Asbestos or hazardous-material surveys.
• Specialist testing or opening-up of concealed construction.

Measured survey outputs are based on the conditions accessible and observable at the time of inspection. The Surveyor will not normally open up, dismantle or remove building elements to establish concealed dimensions or construction.

Where the Client requires a specific accuracy, tolerance or professional surveying standard, this must be agreed in writing before the survey is undertaken.

The Client is responsible for ensuring that the survey output is suitable for the intended purpose and should arrange appropriate design, structural, planning or specialist verification where required.

6. General scope of inspection

6.1 Visual inspection

Unless otherwise stated in the appointment, all building survey and property inspection services are based on a visual inspection of accessible and reasonably safe areas of the property.

The Surveyor will inspect the inside and outside of the main building and permanent outbuildings included within the agreed scope, recording construction, condition and visible defects.

The inspection is intended to cover as much of the property as is physically accessible at the time of inspection.

Where an area cannot be inspected, the report will identify the relevant limitation where practicable and appropriate.

6.2 Access limitations

The Surveyor will not normally:

• Break out or open up the structure.
• Remove fixed finishes or coverings.
• Lift carpets or floor coverings.
• Cut floorboards.
• Move heavy, delicate or fixed furniture.
• Dismantle installations.
• Remove wall finishes or other building elements.
• Enter unsafe or inaccessible areas.

Ladders may be used where appropriate and reasonably safe to access roof voids, flat roofs, hatches and other areas.

Ridge tiles, chimney stacks, pitched roofs and other elevated features may be inspected from suitable positions using binoculars, drones or other electronic surveying equipment where permitted, practicable and appropriate, subject to weather, safety, legal and site limitations.

The Surveyor may inspect accessible roof spaces and areas below floors where reasonably safe and accessible. No representation is made that covered, unexposed, concealed or inaccessible parts of the property are free from defects.

Where necessary, limited observations may be made from ground level or adjoining public property where lawful access is available.

The extent of the inspection will depend on the property, access arrangements, weather, safety, construction, occupancy and individual circumstances at the time of inspection.

6.3 Inspection equipment

The Surveyor may use equipment considered appropriate to the agreed service, including:

• Damp meters.
• Torches.
• Ladders.
• Binoculars.
• Cameras.
• Drones, where appropriate and permitted.
• Other non-destructive surveying equipment.

The use of equipment does not convert a visual inspection into a specialist test, destructive investigation or guarantee of concealed conditions.

6.4 Desktop study and enquiries

Where appropriate and within the agreed scope, the Surveyor may undertake a desktop review of available information and make reasonable oral enquiries concerning matters affecting the property.

The Client should ensure that they have reviewed the completed TA6 Property Information Form and other relevant information provided through their conveyancing solicitor.

The Surveyor does not independently verify every statement made by vendors, agents, occupiers, neighbours or other parties unless expressly agreed.

7. Reporting and condition ratings

7.1 Written report

The Company will provide a written report appropriate to the service commissioned.

The report will be based on the Surveyor’s inspection, observations, available information and professional judgement at the time of inspection.

A written report supersedes any verbal comments or preliminary observations made by the Surveyor. The Client should read the complete written report before making any legally binding decision, incurring expenditure or undertaking works.

The report is prepared for the named Client and intended for the purpose stated in the appointment.

The Surveyor may provide advice on identified defects, maintenance, repair priorities and further investigations, but the Client remains responsible for obtaining any additional specialist advice required.

7.2 Condition rating system

Where a condition rating system is included in the commissioned report, the following traffic-light system may be used:

Red (1) – serious or urgent attention required. Defects are serious and/or require urgent repair, replacement or further investigation.

Amber (2) – repair or maintenance required. Defects require repair, replacement or maintenance, but are not considered serious or urgent based on the Surveyor’s observations at the time of inspection.

Green (3) – no repair currently required. No repair is currently considered necessary based on the inspection. Normal maintenance remains necessary.

Where a condition rating cannot reasonably be assigned because an area is inaccessible, concealed or otherwise not inspected, the report may identify the limitation and recommend further investigation where appropriate.

Condition ratings are professional observations at the time of inspection. They are not guarantees, warranties or predictions of future performance.

8. Repair cost guidelines and estimates

Where expressly included in the appointment, the Company may provide indicative repair-cost allowances or guideline budgets for identified works.

Any such estimate is based on information available to the Surveyor at the time and is intended only as a guide.

Repair costs may vary according to:

• The extent of the defect.
• Access and site conditions.
• Materials and specification.
• Labour costs.
• Location.
• Contractor availability.
• Statutory requirements.
• Further investigation.
• Market conditions.
• Changes in scope.

The Company recommends that all repair costs are verified through appropriate further investigation, detailed specifications and competitive contractor quotations before the Client makes any legal or financial commitment.

The Company does not guarantee that any indicative cost estimate will be achieved.

9. Services and installations

The Surveyor is not ordinarily qualified or appointed to test, certify or confirm the adequacy, safety or compliance of electrical, gas, plumbing, heating, drainage, ventilation or other building services installations.

Services are frequently concealed within the construction of a property. The inspection will generally be limited to visible parts and normal operation in everyday use where reasonably practicable and appropriate.

Unless expressly agreed as a specialist service, the Company does not undertake specialist testing of:

• Electrical installations.
• Gas installations.
• Heating systems.
• Boilers.
• Plumbing.
• Drainage.
• Ventilation systems.
• Flues and chimneys.
• Renewable energy systems.
• Fire detection or alarm systems.
• Security systems.

The visual inspection cannot establish the efficiency, safety, internal condition or regulatory compliance of such installations.

Intermittent, concealed or latent faults may not be apparent on the day of inspection.

Where appropriate, the report will recommend specialist testing or inspection by a suitably qualified professional.

10. Grounds, boundaries and outbuildings

Where included within the agreed service, the Surveyor may inspect the condition of visible boundary walls, fences, permanent outbuildings, external areas and common parts.

Inspection may involve walking around the grounds and observing relevant features from accessible locations or adjoining public property where lawful access can be obtained.

Where access is restricted, the report may identify the limitation and advise on potential risks or further investigation.

Permanent outbuildings may be inspected as part of the agreed service. Unless expressly stated, leisure facilities such as swimming pools, pool equipment, tennis courts, landscaping systems and temporary outbuildings are not subject to specialist inspection.

The Surveyor does not normally inspect the internal condition, operation or safety of swimming pools, leisure facilities or associated equipment.

11. Asbestos, hazardous materials and environmental risks

The services provided by the Company are not asbestos surveys or hazardous-material surveys unless expressly agreed in writing.

Sampling, laboratory analysis and specialist testing of asbestos-containing materials or other hazardous materials are outside the scope of ordinary building surveys and property inspections.

Where potentially hazardous or suspect materials are visible within the normal scope of inspection, the Surveyor may report their apparent presence and recommend appropriate further investigation.

The Surveyor does not act as an asbestos inspector when undertaking a general building survey or property inspection.

The Company does not ordinarily undertake specialist environmental testing, contamination investigations, air-quality testing, radon testing, mould sampling or laboratory analysis unless separately commissioned.

The Client should obtain specialist advice where hazardous materials, contamination or environmental risks are suspected.

11.1 Japanese knotweed and invasive plants

The inspection may include reasonable visual observations of accessible grounds and external areas for apparent evidence of Japanese knotweed or other invasive plants where relevant to the agreed service.

The Surveyor does not undertake a specialist invasive-plant survey unless expressly agreed.

The Company cannot guarantee that all invasive plants, concealed growth or risks associated with neighbouring land will be identified.

Where evidence is suspected, the report may recommend specialist inspection or appropriate further advice.

12. Leasehold and flat / apartment inspections

12.1 Leasehold properties

Where the property is leasehold, the Client must obtain independent legal advice from their solicitor regarding the lease, repairing obligations, service charges, major works, insurance responsibilities, rights and liabilities.

The Surveyor’s inspection will relate to the internal finishes and accessible building fabric within the immediate curtilage of the property, together with other elements included within the agreed scope.

Other structural or external elements may be subject to limited inspection from the exterior, communal areas or other accessible locations.

The Surveyor does not provide legal advice or confirm the Client’s liabilities under the lease.

12.2 Flats and apartments

When inspecting flats or apartments, the Surveyor may assess, where accessible and included within the agreed service:

• General condition of visible external surfaces.
• Entrance areas.
• Communal halls and staircases.
• Accessible roof spaces.
• Visible internal finishes.
• Common areas.
• Accessible services and installations.

The Surveyor may inspect accessible drains, lifts, fire alarms and security systems by normal operation where appropriate, but does not undertake specialist tests unless separately commissioned.

For leasehold flats, the freehold structure and communal areas may be subject to a limited inspection only, unless otherwise stated in the appointment.

The Surveyor does not consult the freeholder, managing agent or asbestos duty holder unless expressly agreed.

The Client should obtain relevant documents and professional advice concerning:

• Lease terms.
• Service charge accounts.
• Planned major works.
• Building insurance.
• Fire safety arrangements.
• Asbestos registers and management plans.
• Building management responsibilities.
• Structural and external repair obligations.

13. Report validity and changes in condition

The report reflects the condition of the property at the date and time of inspection.

Unless otherwise stated in the appointment, the report is intended to remain relevant for a period of 90 days from the date of the report for the purpose for which it was commissioned.

The report does not constitute a continuing inspection or guarantee of the property’s condition.

National Building Consultants is not responsible for defects, deterioration, damage or changes in condition which occur after the inspection or after the report has been prepared.

The Client should seek an updated inspection or further advice if:

• The property has materially changed.
• New defects have appeared.
• Significant time has elapsed.
• Repairs or alterations have been undertaken.
• The Client is relying on the report for a different purpose.
• The property has been exposed to flooding, severe weather, water ingress or other relevant events.

The 90-day period does not override any mandatory legal rights or statutory obligations that may apply.

14. Use of reports and third-party reliance

The report is prepared for the named Client and for the purpose identified in the appointment.

The Client may use the report for that purpose, subject to these Terms & Conditions.

The Company does not accept responsibility for reliance on the report by any person other than the named Client unless the Company has expressly agreed in writing to such reliance.

The Client must not reproduce, distribute, publish, alter or use the report for another purpose without the Company’s prior written consent where such consent is required by the appointment.

A report is not a substitute for legal, financial, structural, environmental, specialist or other professional advice.

The Client remains responsible for deciding whether to proceed with a purchase, repair, maintenance programme, investment or other property-related decision.

If the Client chooses not to act on advice contained within the report, the Client does so at their own discretion and subject to any applicable legal rights.

15. Limitations of inspection

The Company will use reasonable professional skill and care in providing the commissioned service.

However, no visual survey can identify every defect, concealed condition, latent defect or future failure.

The following may limit the inspection:

• Restricted access.
• Unsafe conditions.
• Concealed construction.
• Fixed finishes.
• Furniture and stored items.
• Weather conditions.
• Occupancy.
• Inaccessible roof spaces.
• Inaccessible sub-floor areas.
• Limited information.
• Unavailable documentation.
• Restrictions imposed by the Client, vendor, agent or occupier.
• The nature and age of the property.
• Specialist matters outside the agreed scope.

The Surveyor will identify relevant limitations where practicable and appropriate.

The Company does not guarantee that the property is free from defects other than those identified in the report.

16. Client responsibilities

The Client is responsible for:

• Providing accurate property details and contact information.
• Clearly identifying the required service.
• Providing access to all relevant areas.
• Advising of known defects, previous works, alterations and concerns.
• Providing available plans, specifications, reports and documents.
• Ensuring the property is reasonably safe and accessible.
• Obtaining any necessary permissions for inspection.
• Providing relevant TA6 and other property information where applicable.
• Obtaining appropriate specialist and legal advice where recommended.
• Reviewing the complete report before making decisions.
• Ensuring that any intended use of the report is within the agreed scope.

The Company may be unable to complete or may need to limit the inspection where access, safety, information or other essential requirements are not available.

17. Additional services and separate appointments

Any service not expressly included within the agreed appointment is excluded from the scope of the report.

Additional services may include:

• Structural engineering inspections.
• Specialist damp investigations.
• Mould sampling or laboratory testing.
• Timber decay and woodworm surveys.
• Drainage CCTV surveys.
• Electrical installation testing.
• Gas safety inspections.
• Fire risk assessments.
• Asbestos surveys.
• Hazardous-material testing.
• Topographical surveys.
• Detailed architectural design.
• Structural calculations.
• Planning applications.
• Building Regulations submissions.
• Party Wall services.
• Project management.
• Contract administration.
• Quantity surveying.
• Detailed repair specifications.
• Specialist environmental investigations.

Such services will be subject to a separate agreement, quotation or written variation.

The Company will not undertake additional work without the Client’s agreement, except where otherwise expressly permitted by the appointment.

18. Professional advice and further investigation

Where the report identifies matters requiring further investigation, the Client should obtain appropriate advice from a suitably qualified and competent professional before committing to purchase, expenditure or works.

The Company may recommend specialist investigation where the nature or extent of a defect cannot reasonably be established through the agreed inspection.

The Client acknowledges that further investigation may reveal additional defects, costs or risks not apparent during the original inspection.

The Company does not accept responsibility for matters outside the agreed scope, subject to applicable law and the express terms of the appointment.

19. Standard report structure

Where applicable to the commissioned Building Survey, the report may follow a standard format including the following sections:

• AIntroduction to the report
• BAbout the inspection
• COverall opinion and summary of condition ratings
• DAbout the property
• EOutside the property
• FInside the property
• GServices
• HGrounds, including shared areas for flats
• IIssues for your legal advisers
• JRisks
• KEnergy efficiency
• LSurveyor’s declaration
• —Typical house diagram

The structure and content of the report may vary depending on the service commissioned, the property, the inspection findings and the agreed scope.

20. No warranty or insurance policy

The report is not a guarantee, warranty, insurance policy or certification that the property is free from defects.

The report provides professional observations and advice based on the agreed inspection, information available and conditions at the time.

The Company does not guarantee the future performance, value, suitability, durability or condition of the property.

The Client should obtain appropriate specialist advice, legal advice and insurance where required.

21. Liability and governing terms

The Company’s liability, where applicable, shall be governed by the written appointment and these Terms & Conditions.

Nothing in these Terms & Conditions excludes or restricts liability which cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted, including any applicable statutory rights.

Any specific liability limitations, exclusions, caps, reliance provisions, insurance arrangements or contractual conditions should be reviewed and approved as part of the Company’s final legal Terms & Conditions.

These Terms & Conditions should be read together with the quotation, appointment confirmation, service specification and any written variations.

Where there is a conflict between documents, the applicable contractual order of precedence should be identified in the appointment.

22. Acceptance of service

By instructing National Building Consultants, the Client confirms that they have had the opportunity to review the agreed service, scope, limitations, fees and applicable Terms & Conditions.

The Client acknowledges that the service is provided for the agreed purpose and that additional services may require a separate appointment.

The Company will provide the commissioned service with reasonable professional skill and care, subject to the agreed scope and applicable law.

The online estimator is for orientation only. It does not guarantee a diagnosis, final survey price, remedial cost, report outcome, availability, or suitability of a service.

Survey prices, estimator outputs, and guide prices are estimates unless confirmed in writing. Final fees may depend on property size, type, location, access, urgency, survey scope, and any additional reporting requirements.

A written quote is based on the property information you give us and is valid for the period stated in that quote. If the property differs materially from the information provided, for example in size, number of units, condition, or access, we may need to revise the fee. We will tell you before carrying out any additional chargeable work.

Fees are quoted in pounds sterling. Where VAT applies, it is shown on your quote and invoice.

A booking is confirmed when we confirm the appointment with you in writing. Reports and services are subject to appointment confirmation, access to the property, payment terms where applicable, and the agreed survey scope.

Payment terms are set out in your quote and invoice. Where payment is required in advance, the appointment is confirmed once payment has been received. Invoices are issued electronically and are due by the date shown on the invoice.

We may withhold a report, or suspend further work, where an invoice is overdue.

You are responsible for arranging access to the property and to the areas relevant to the survey, including rooms, roof spaces, sub-floor access points, outbuildings, meters, and boundaries where these form part of the agreed scope.

Please make sure that power, water and heating are available and can be operated safely, that loft hatches and access points are clear, and that any keys, alarm codes, or vendor and agent arrangements are in place before the appointment.

If access is not available, or the property cannot be inspected safely on the day, the inspection may be limited or cannot be completed. Where a visit is aborted or has to be repeated for reasons outside our control, a further charge may apply.

A survey is a visual inspection of the accessible parts of the property. We do not open up the structure, lift fitted floor coverings, cut floorboards, or move heavy or delicate furniture and stored belongings.

Roof spaces, sub-floor voids, flat roofs and similar areas are inspected where they are safely accessible. High-level areas such as roof slopes, chimneys and gutters may be inspected from ground level or with the aid of binoculars, drones, or other equipment, subject to safety, weather, permissions, and site conditions.

We use equipment such as moisture meters, hygrometers, thermal imaging cameras where the service includes them, and torches. Thermal imaging identifies anomalies for further interpretation rather than measuring moisture directly, and readings depend on the conditions on the day of inspection.

Parts of a property that are covered, concealed, or otherwise inaccessible cannot be reported as free from defects. Where an area could not be inspected, the limitation is recorded in the report along with any recommendation for further investigation.

We do not test services. Electrical, gas, plumbing, heating, drainage and flue installations are not tested, and we do not confirm their safety, efficiency, condition, or compliance with current regulations. Intermittent faults may not be apparent on the day of inspection. Specialist testing should be arranged with a suitably qualified contractor.

A survey is not an asbestos survey, a specialist Japanese knotweed survey, or a structural engineer's report. Where suspected hazardous materials, invasive plants, or structural movement are identified within the normal scope of inspection, we report what we have seen and recommend appropriate further investigation.

If the property is leasehold or a flat, your legal responsibilities under the lease, including repairing obligations and communal areas, are a matter for your solicitor. Communal areas are inspected only where they are accessible and within the agreed scope.

The report records the condition of the property as observed on the day of inspection. A written report supersedes any verbal comments made during or after the visit, and you should consider the written report in full before making decisions or committing to expenditure.

Typical report turnaround times are shown on the relevant service page and confirmed in your quote. Where a report will take longer, for example on a larger, older or more complex property, we will tell you.

Where a report includes condition ratings, priorities, or guideline repair budgets, these are indicative and based on the information available at the time. Repair costs should be confirmed by specification and competitive quotations before any legal or financial commitment is made.

A report is not a guarantee that the property is free from defects other than those reported, is not a warranty, and is not an insurance policy. Purely cosmetic or minor maintenance items that do not affect performance may not be reported.

We are not responsible for defects that arise, develop, or become apparent after the date of inspection. If a transaction is delayed, or works or severe weather have occurred since the inspection, ask us about a revisit.

The report is prepared for the client named on it and for the purpose stated in it. It cannot be relied upon by anyone else unless we have agreed that reliance in writing.

You may share the report in full with your solicitor, lender, insurer, landlord, managing agent, or a contractor quoting for the recommended work. It must not be sold on, published, reproduced in part, or used in marketing without our written consent, because extracts read out of context can be misleading.

Copyright in the report, and in the photographs and other materials within it, remains with us.

We treat information about you, your property, and the contents of your report as confidential. We will not disclose it outside our team except where you ask us to, where it is necessary to deliver the service you have instructed, or where we are required to do so by law, by a court, by a regulator, or in connection with a claim under our professional indemnity insurance.

Anyone working on our behalf in connection with your survey is bound by equivalent confidentiality obligations.

As a consumer, you normally have 14 days to cancel a contract agreed online, by phone, or by email, starting from the day the contract is made. If you ask us to begin the service within that period, you may be required to pay for the services provided up to the point you cancel, and you lose the right to cancel once the survey has been carried out.

If you need to move or cancel an appointment, please tell us as early as possible. Where a cancellation is made at short notice, or the surveyor has already travelled to or attended the property, we may charge a reasonable amount to cover the costs already incurred.

We may need to reschedule where access, safety, weather, or property conditions prevent the survey from being completed. If we cancel or cannot complete a survey for reasons within our control, and no service has been provided, we will refund the fee paid.

Our surveyors work in line with health and safety obligations and guidance on surveying safely. A surveyor may restrict, pause, or stop an inspection where the site presents a safety risk, for example unsafe roof or floor structures, unsafe electrical installations, obstructed or heavily stored areas, or animals that cannot be secured. Please tell us about known hazards before the visit.

We make every reasonable effort to attend at the agreed date and time, but we are not liable for losses caused by matters outside our reasonable control, including surveyor illness, vehicle breakdown or traffic disruption, extreme weather, utility failure, or vendor and occupier unavailability. Where this happens, we will contact you and arrange a new appointment.

You are responsible for providing accurate contact, appointment, property, and access information. Incorrect or incomplete information may affect quotes, scheduling, attendance, and report accuracy.

Please also tell us about anything relevant that we would not see on a visual inspection, such as known leaks or previous damp problems, past remedial work, guarantees, alterations, planning or building control matters, and any access or safety restrictions.

We handle your personal data as a data controller under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Our Privacy Policy explains what we collect, why we hold it, how long we keep it, and the rights you have over it.

Website text, images, layouts, branding, and other materials are owned by or licensed to the website operator unless stated otherwise. You may not copy or reuse them commercially without permission.

We will carry out our services with the reasonable care and skill of a competent surveyor, and our surveyors work under professional indemnity and public liability insurance.

We take reasonable care to keep website information accurate, but we do not promise it will always be complete, current, or suitable for every property.

Where we are found liable for a negligent report, the usual measure of loss is the difference between the value of the property in the condition reported and its value taking account of the matter that should have been reported, rather than the cost of the works themselves.

We are not liable for losses that were not caused by our breach, that were not reasonably foreseeable, or that arise because you did not act on advice or recommended further investigation set out in the report.

Nothing in these terms limits liability where it would be unlawful to do so, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for rights that cannot be excluded under applicable law.

If something has gone wrong, please tell us as soon as possible and put the details in writing so that we have a full understanding of your concerns. Complaints about a report are best raised promptly after you receive it, while the inspection is recent.

We will acknowledge a written complaint within 7 days. If we cannot give you a full response straight away, we will update you within 28 days.

If we cannot resolve the matter between us, we will tell you about the independent redress or alternative dispute resolution route available for your case.

We may update these terms from time to time to reflect changes in our services, practice, or the law. The version published on this website when you request a quote or confirm a booking is the version that applies to that instruction.

These terms were last updated on 16 August 2026.

Notices to us should be sent by email to the address shown at the end of these terms, or by post to 1 Elmfield Park, Bromley BR1 1LU. We will send notices to the email address or postal address you gave us when instructing us, so please tell us if either changes.

An email is treated as received one working day after it is sent, unless we know it did not reach you. This does not apply to court documents or other formal legal proceedings, which must be served by post to our registered address.

We may transfer our rights and obligations under these terms to another business, for example if our business is restructured or sold. If we do, we will tell you, and it will not affect your rights under these terms. You may only transfer your rights or obligations to someone else if we agree in writing.

These terms are an agreement between you and us. Nobody else has the right to enforce any of them under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. This does not affect any reliance on a report that we have separately agreed in writing.

If we delay in enforcing part of these terms, or do not enforce it on a particular occasion, that does not prevent us from enforcing it later.

Each of these terms operates separately. If a court or other authority decides that any of them is unlawful or unenforceable, that term is modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it effective, or removed if that is not possible, and the remaining terms continue in full force.

These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have jurisdiction. If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may also bring proceedings in the courts of the country in which you live.