Home Report Property Questionnaire
A Home Report must contain at least three documents:
- A Single Survey
- An Energy Report
- A Property Questionnaire
The Home Report Property Questionnaire is the part of the Home Report that the seller completes. It is designed to provide information that only the owner is likely to know.
For example, it asks whether the property has been flooded, whether the owner has the right to walk over a neighbour's property and whether there have ever been repairs for damp or wood rot.
Why is a property questionnaire important?
The Home Report Property Questionnaire is not a short document, about nine pages. Some of the questions, such as how long the seller has owned the property, are fairly straightforward. Others, such as whether the owner must contribute to common repairs, may not be so obvious. You may need the help of your solicitor to answer some of these questions and, as both lawyers and estate agents, GSPC members are perfectly placed to help.
Although the seller may be best placed to answer most of the questions, don't forget that the surveyor who conducts the Single Survey may be able to provide at least part of the answer to some of the questions.
If, for example, the owner installed replacement windows or made an alteration or added an extension, this will be noted by the surveyor. In most cases, the surveyor will check his or her findings against the answers in the Property Questionnaire before the Single Survey is signed off, so it makes sense to spend some time getting these questions right first time.
If you, the owner, did carry out work that would normally need consent, you will need to show that you obtained a building warrant, that you got planning consent if necessary and that you have a completion certificate. If you don't have these documents, then this is the time to take remedial action. If you are in any doubt, GSPC members (who are, after all, lawyers as well as estate agents) will be able to advise you on the best course of action.
Read more about what getting a Home Report involves.
