New HCR book
Article by: Stephen Callaghan
The
RICS and Home Inspectors.co.uk have announced February as the
publication date for Stephen Callaghan's forthcoming book on the Home
Condition Report.
The book will be entitled Homebuyer Survey to Home Condition Report; making the change , and is the product of a close collaboration with RICS and the culmination of Stephen's involvement with the government home buying and selling reforms over the past seven years. The book sets out to demonstrate the fundamental differences and areas of similarity, between the two forms of survey report.
In fact, the Home Condition Report is an entirely new type of property report which will form part of the Home Information Pack (HIP) when it goes live on 1 st June 2007. Apart from being a similar length, the HCR differs from the HSV (the old Homebuyer Report) in several important respects, some of which are highlighted below:
Home Condition Report (HCR) |
RICS Homebuyer Survey (HSV) |
|
Everyone has to have one |
Optional. Only 20% of home buyers choose to have a survey |
|
No Valuation included |
Valuation included |
|
'Condition Ratings' given for each main building element |
Free text |
|
Factual, objective statements of condition, regardless of effect on value |
Condition reported in the context of effect on value |
|
No repair advice |
Repairs form part of the advice |
|
Energy Certificate must be provided |
No requirement to provide energy certificate |
|
Carried out by "Licensed Home Inspector" |
Carried out by a member of |
|
Reports will be delivered electronically, by commercial HCR Registration organisations |
No standardised electronic delivery of reports |
|
Report uses 'Controlled' mandatory and preferred text |
Freestyle text used, with some use of standard caveats and phrases |
The introduction of the HCR presents opportunities for new entrants and experienced residential surveyors alike.
Callaghan warns, however, that established practitioners who think that the HCR requires no supplementary knowledge or training on their part are heading for a fall. There's to be a fundamental shift in the reporting approach from the subjective, opinion-based language required of a Homebuyer inspection.
"Home Inspectors who follow this same approach under the HCR will be laying themselves bare unnecessarily to liabilities and risks beyond the scope and terms of the Home Inspector Scheme."
"For this reason alone, though there are many, many more, awareness and re-training will be particularly important for those currently offering surveying services in the residential sector."
A lot has been written on the new HCR variously describing it as 'based on the RICS Homebuyer Survey' or dismissing it as a 'tick-box exercise' - both of which are highly misleading. This book will begin to clarify the practical requirements of the HCR and will form a key part of the training for would-be home inspectors.
Homebuyer Survey to Home Condition Report; making the change will be published by RICS Books in February 2006.
Price £45, stock code: 9239.
To pre-order a copy, call RICS Books on (0)870 333 1600, or visit www.ricsbooks.com
