Scope of Appointment
The Damp Specialist Company Ltd (“DSC”) provides independent building defect investigations and consultancy services relating to dampness, timber condition, condensation, mould growth, moisture movement, ventilation and associated building defects.
Unless expressly stated otherwise, surveys are not structural surveys, building surveys, mortgage valuations, quantity surveying services, building regulation inspections, electrical inspections, plumbing inspections or guarantees of building condition.
All findings, conclusions and recommendations are based upon conditions observed at the time of inspection together with information made available to DSC.
Payment Terms
For pre-purchase surveys, payment is due in advance of the survey appointment unless otherwise agreed in writing.
For owner-occupied residential surveys, payment is due upon completion of the site inspection unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Reports may be withheld until payment has been received in full.
Cancellation and Access
Appointments cancelled or rescheduled more than 24 hours prior to the scheduled inspection will not incur a cancellation charge.
Appointments cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the scheduled inspection will incur a cancellation charge of £75 plus VAT.
Where DSC attends the property at the agreed appointment time but access cannot be obtained, the inspection cannot proceed, or the appointment cannot be completed due to circumstances beyond DSC’s control, a charge of £150 plus VAT shall be payable to cover reserved survey time, travel costs and administration. This applies irrespective of rescheduling the appointment.
Any subsequent attendance may be subject to an additional charge.
Follow-Up Advice and Additional Consultancy
The survey fee includes the inspection, written report and up to 30 minutes of reasonable follow-up discussion following issue of the report. This may be provided as a single telephone call or through a combination of calls and email correspondence.
Additional consultations, contractor discussions, solicitor correspondence, lender correspondence, technical reviews, report amendments or professional input beyond the normal scope of the service may be charged at £75 plus VAT per hour unless otherwise agreed.
Nature of the Inspection
Unless specifically agreed otherwise, inspections are non-invasive and limited to areas that are reasonably accessible at the time of inspection.
Furniture, floor coverings, stored items, fitted finishes, fixtures, insulation materials and concealed building elements will not normally be removed, disturbed or dismantled.
The inspection is limited to those areas safely accessible without causing damage to the building.
Survey Limitations
Concealed defects may exist within inaccessible or covered areas of the property.
No warranty, guarantee or representation is given that all defects, moisture ingress pathways, timber defects, fungal decay, insect attack, cavity wall defects, insulation defects, drainage defects, waterproofing defects or structural deficiencies have been identified.
The absence of visible defects at the time of inspection should not be interpreted as confirmation that defects do not exist.
Where limitations prevent a definitive diagnosis, further investigations may be recommended.
Moisture Testing and Diagnostic Equipment
Moisture meter readings, thermal imaging equipment, hygrometers, endoscopes and other diagnostic tools are used as investigative aids and should not be interpreted in isolation.
Electrical moisture meter readings obtained from masonry, plaster and similar materials are indicative only and may be influenced by salts, conductive materials, metal fixings, foil-backed materials, contamination and other construction characteristics.
Survey findings are based upon interpretation of all available evidence rather than any single test result.
Reports, Conclusions and Recommendations
Reports should be read in their entirety and not in part.
Survey findings, conclusions and recommendations represent DSC’s professional opinion based upon evidence available at the time of inspection.
Building defects may arise from multiple contributing factors and conclusions should not be interpreted as absolute confirmation of causation.
Where further investigations are recommended, DSC accepts no responsibility for matters that could only reasonably have been identified through completion of those recommended investigations.
Future Changes and Building Performance
Conditions within buildings are dynamic and may change following the inspection due to weather conditions, occupancy patterns, maintenance practices, leaks, alterations, seasonal variations or other factors.
Reports should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future performance, future dryness or future absence of defects.
Cost Estimates
Any budget costs, remedial cost schedules or repair allowances provided by DSC are supplied for general guidance only.
Such figures do not constitute quotations and should not be relied upon as fixed indications of repair costs.
Actual costs may vary depending upon contractor pricing, specification, hidden defects, access requirements, statutory requirements, inflation and the extent of works ultimately required.
Contractor Recommendations
Where requested, DSC may provide details of contractors or specialists who may be able to undertake further investigations or remedial works.
Such recommendations are provided in good faith.
DSC remains independent and accepts no responsibility for the quality, performance, pricing, conduct or workmanship of third-party contractors.
Drone Inspections
Where drone inspections are undertaken, findings are limited to observations obtainable from aerial imagery.
Drone operations remain subject to weather conditions, airspace restrictions, site constraints and safe operating conditions.
Drone surveys do not replace the need for close-up inspection where defects are suspected.
Third-Party Reliance
Reports are prepared solely for the instructing client.
No duty of care is owed to any third party unless expressly agreed in writing by DSC.
Any unauthorised reliance placed upon a report by a third party shall be entirely at that party’s own risk.
Complaints and Concerns
Any concerns regarding the service provided should be raised with DSC in writing as soon as reasonably practicable and, where possible, within 28 days of discovery of the issue to allow a reasonable opportunity for investigation and response.
Liability
Nothing within these Terms and Conditions shall exclude or restrict liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or any liability which cannot lawfully be excluded.
Subject to the above, DSC’s liability shall be limited to losses that are reasonably foreseeable and directly attributable to a proven breach of duty arising from the services provided.
Acceptance
Instruction of DSC, acceptance of a quotation, payment of fees, attendance at the survey or reliance upon the report shall constitute acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.