Home Inspectors and Historic Buildings *PIC*

[Anonymous]

This may be of interest to only a few of you (mainly those already involved in historic building work on a professional basis), but if you may be involved in any aspect of the incoming Home Inspector issues please read on.

The problem of competence with regard to the inspection of historic buildings has been recognised. The basic training of an HI will not render them competent to inspect historic buildings.

On the 20th April a conference/workshop will take place at Hatfield House to consider these matters.

An organisation called The Partnership Limited has put on this event and is bringin together major players in the provision of HIs, etc. The ODPM will be represented at the event and yours truly is chairing it.

The intention is to come away with an agreement on how this matter may be tackled and some practical suggestions on how to deal with this competency issue.

Look at the link below if you may be interested. You can find my Email on the Seeking Specialists section fo this site (look up WCP) and if you Email me I will send you a pdf flyer. The day does cost (£175 + VAT), but does include a tour of Hatfield House and a 3-course lunch. For many professional conferences these days that is not a bad price and it will count towards professional CPD.

Let me know if this is of interest to any of you.

Stephen

 

[Anonymous]

Oops - I put the link in the wrong box.


http://www.thepartnershiplimited.com/html/hbi.html

 

[Anonymous]

There was an excellent article on the potential problems with HIPS in general in the Sunday Times property section yesterday - Phil Spencer (Kirsty n Phil) Garrington's Homefinders.

It sounds as though it's all shaping up to be fairly messy...

Historic buildings - some of the problem is defining that! Not all traditionally constructed buildings are listed, and what some of us want in a period building may not be what a HIPS surveyor thinks is desirable...

 

[Anonymous]

I'm delighted to hear that this problem is being addressed. I have been rather concerned that the bog standard Mk 1 Home Inspector will try to apply modern house standards to period buildings. If that were to be the widespread case, I could see the period property market being quite substantially affected by this in years to come.

 

[Anonymous]

I have been asked to join a group to discuss just this subject, as a pending Home Inspector. Certainly, I would hope that the concerns of the users of this website will be addressed. My concern is that those Packaging the HIPs will need to ACTIVELY monitor the reports that are understaken and take disciplinary measures if required. At present I can see the system operating on the same basis as mortgage lending ie ignorance of the Red Book requirements. It

 

[Anonymous]

Phil Spencer's article:


http://property.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,14049-2116828,00.html

 

[Anonymous]

David

A concern I have at present is that I hear of several different 'groups' trying to do their own thing. This could lead to a real mess of a situation and I think there should be some communication. I do realise that amongst assessment centres, training providers, etc there may be competition, but on behalf of RICS I wish to cut through such vested interests. The advantage (I think/hope) of the day at Hatfield is having the ear of ODPM and some major players.

I have no link to the bodies, companies involved and my main role is concern for RICS Building Surveyor members and the public. I would therefore be very interested to hear what else is going on. I would eb grateful if you would Email me with more information about the initiative you speak of. Rather than risk getting spammed could you please get my Email from the Seeking Specialists section (look up the Bishops Stortford bracn of WCP).
Thanks

Stephen

 

[Anonymous]

I started as a rather anti person on the matter of HCRs (Home Condition Reports) - I was rather publically anti at last year's Grand Designs show. As a result I was asked to get more involved (by RICS) and look at what was going on.

Having spent some time looking at what is proposed, the issues, etc I recognise that there are pros and cons.

Some of the claims on both sides (government, etc on one side and the likes of Phil and Kirsty on the other) are extreme, inaccurate and simply wrong.

I know there are serious flaws, but I can also see significant advantages for the housing system, and home ownership generally. Yes, there are limitations in what the proposed system will deliver, but it is better (in my view) than what exists at present.

The one major concern I have is not necessarily about the system as such, but how the government could use the information in future.

However, on balance I take the view that over time it will be an improvement, will facilitate more open negotiation (not necessarily quicker), will increase understanding of property condition and improve maintenance and will simplify the mortgage process and much of the legal process. As for costs I think there will be a net increase in overall costs for all, but not the whole amount because much of the the change will simply mean costs being shifted from one party (under the present system) to another (under the new system).

I do not have the time (or energy at this time of night) to go into more detail, but I have now spent several months looking at all the pros and cons. I am cautiously moving forward with the changes supporting them in general terms but keeping an eye on issues of concern.

 

[Anonymous]

The largest chain of estate agents in Wales advertised a few weeks back for people willing to be trained as home inspectors. I contacted them, saying that I would be more than happy to undergo training and to specialise in historic and period buildings.
Fool that I was!
In their brush-off it was implicit that all the training posts were aimed at 18-30 year-olds, and that a major proportion of the salary was commission-based. In other words, this very large chain is taking the Tesco approach, and there is clearly absolutely no interest whatsoever in addressing anything that doesn't fit into the standard Barratt box.

 

[Anonymous]

I think you will find that as their will be a significant shortgage of Home Inspectors, at least at the outset, and particularly for those that can offer such a specialism, you should not have any trouble finding many Companies who would be only too pleased to take you on. You only have to look at all the HI websites!! - Try the fast track process through the College of Estate Management and SAVA.


http://www.sava.org.uk

 

[Anonymous]

That only confirms my worries, Gervase. As you suggest, it seems that a proportion (percentage unspecified) of these home inpectors will only be able to use a blind, tick-box approach. And once you start trying to force that kind of system into the period property market, you're going to have one hell of a mess.
As I said to Stephen above, I can even visualise a situation in which this could start to distort the whole housing market, because people will be scared off period properties that don't tick the right boxes.

 

[Anonymous]

Same thing's happening with Railways - heritage, preserved, steam --- there are no Inspectors around who know what they are doing.