This is live content and is supporting information only. It is not intended to be mandatory or prescriptive guidance.

Please refer back to the RICS Home Survey Standard 1st edition Professional Statement, s3.4.2 Safety during the inspection.

RICS members or regulated firms should be familiar with the current edition of Surveying safely: health and safety principles for property professionals RICS guidance note.

RICS has produced a range of practical guides to enable RICS professionals to work safely and in line with government guidelines through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The RICS COVID-19 guide to surveying services: Physical inspections for the purpose of residential valuations and condition-based surveys includes recommendations for before, during and after a physical inspection.

You can find useful information on vendor liaison and equipment checklist to support the delivery of the service safely and in accordance with existing guidance and relevant legislation.

Whatever the level of service, RICS members must be able to safely undertake the tasks involved or manage others undertaking those same tasks.

The RICS member is responsible for carefully inspecting the property in accordance with the nature and level of service, the terms of engagement and client needs.

Many firms will have their own policies on health and safety considerations for physical inspections. Please refer to your company’s policy throughout the delivery of your service.

Pre-inspection

Prior to inspection, ensure you know the location of the subject property and can identify suitable parking.

For health and safety reasons, make sure someone knows where you are and you adhere to lone working policies.

Make sure your phone has enough power for the inspection . Go to the inspection in daylight wherever possible and organise your day so you are not inspecting buildings in a fading light. If there are limitations to your inspection due to visibility, please advise the client on report delivery.

RICS members need to be familiar with the nature and complexity of the locality in which the subject property is situated and risks associated with hazardous materials . Appendix E Risk to occupants of the RICS Home Survey Standard 1st edition Professional Statement highlights typical safety hazards in residential dwellings that can be found during an inspection. Surveyors should have an awareness of these risks prior to inspection and incorporate them as part of their risk assessment.

Travelling to the inspection

You should be aware of the following occupational road risks when travelling to the inspection. Surveyors should also refer to their own company policies, if applicable.

On arrival at the property

Undertake a dynamic risk assessment prior to starting an inspection, subject to the specific property and according to the level of service.

Surveyors should refer to their own company policies on risks assessments for inspections.

Assess the level of risk (high/medium/low), and identify how you plan to minimise the risk. This gives evidence you have considered health and safety issues and may be useful if an accident does happen.

If you decide the identified risks will limit your inspection in any way, it is important that you explain this in your site inspection notes and possibly in your report where it might affect the scope of your inspection.

The inspection

When carrying out the inspection, familiarise yourself with the layout of the dwelling and be aware of exit points from the property to enable you to leave safely, and quickly if the need arises.

Remember to keep your car keys, equipment, mobile phone, and/or valuables safe during the inspection. It is best to keep them with you at all times.

Make every effort not to damage the property. If you do damage anything, it is essential you inform the vendor or occupier immediately. Where the damage is less serious, you need to settle the matter quickly and effectively to make sure you maintain a good relationship with the vendor. Where practical, take photos of the damage for evidence and also inform your employer. If this limits your scope of inspection, highlight limitations on the report.

Surveyors should always refer to company policies when dealing with valuables, occupants’ behaviours and/ or risks associated with unoccupied properties, which may disrupt their ability to carry out the inspection. If problems are identified, ensure this is captured in site notes and limitations are reflected in the report.

If you injure yourself during the inspection, consider postponing the inspection until you have recovered.

Property-specific safety issues

Two of the most hazardous parts of a surveyor's job are loft inspections and surveys of derelict property.

RICS members should refer to the current edition of the Surveying safely: health and safety principles for property professionals, RICS guidance note and the Health & Safety executive.

Below is some useful information on safety for each of these.

RICS member/ regulated firm will continue to use professional judgement and undertake a dynamic risk assessment to deliver their role safely and in accordance with best practice guidance, standards and legislations.

RICS members and RICS regulated firms are expected to behave ethically and professionally, while taking adequate steps to consider health and safety at all times for all parties involved.

Refer to the to the RICS Home Survey Standard 1st edition Professional Statement and make sure any limitations are clearly highlighted to client as part of your service delivery.

In addition, refer to your own company policies on health and safety.

The information contained here is regularly reviewed to support members in safely delivering the highest level of service.