Schedule of Condition

A useful schedule pairs clear written descriptions with dated, identifiable photographs of the relevant rooms, walls, ceilings, external areas and visible defects. It should locate cracks and marks precisely enough to compare them after the work.

The scope should reflect the proposed construction and potential area of influence, not just a few photographs of the shared wall. Access limits, inaccessible surfaces and areas covered by furniture should be recorded.

An adjoining owner has a baseline if damage is later alleged. The building owner also has evidence of defects that existed beforehand, helping avoid a dispute based only on memory.

The record does not prove causation on its own. Comparing the before-and-after condition, understanding the work and obtaining appropriate professional assessment are still necessary. A photograph of a crack is not a diagnosis of structural movement.

For party wall matters, the appointed surveyor or surveyors will advise on the appropriate scope and process. Arrange access courteously and complete the record before relevant work starts.

Ask how the record will be referenced in any award or agreed documentation and how both owners will receive it. A contractor's casual phone photographs may be helpful but are not automatically an adequate agreed schedule.

If the scope expands or a new area becomes relevant, ask whether the record needs updating before that work begins. Keep original, dated photographs rather than only compressed copies embedded in messages.

A new schedule after demolition has started cannot recreate every aspect of the earlier condition. Plan the visit as a project activity with lead time, not an administrative task to fit around the first day on site.

Follow the surveyor's agreed process for revisiting the relevant areas and reporting concerns. Keep a clear record of dates and observations, and do not undertake disputed repairs without advice about evidence and access.

The schedule is not a structural survey, building regulations certificate, guarantee or insurance policy. For a purchase, lease or major defect, a separately scoped professional report may be required.