Schedule of Condition
A photographic and written record of your property's condition before building works begin next door.
Your baseline before the works begin
A schedule of condition is a formal record prepared by a surveyor before building works start next door. It documents the existing state of your property in detail - walls, ceilings, floors, and external structures - using photographs and written descriptions.
Without a schedule, any crack or defect that appears during or after your neighbour's works could be disputed. With one in place, there is a clear, dated, signed record of what existed before the works began. This makes any damage claim straightforward to assess.
It protects both sides
Your evidence if damage occurs
Without a schedule, you have no documented baseline. If cracks appear after the works, you and your neighbour may disagree about whether they were pre-existing. A schedule prepared before works begin removes that ambiguity. You have clear evidence of what your property looked like beforehand.
Your protection against unfair claims
A schedule also protects you. If your neighbour claims your works caused damage, the schedule shows what cracks and defects already existed before any work started on site. It provides valuable evidence of pre-existing conditions, alongside other photographs, records and assessments.
What a schedule of condition includes
- Photographs of all rooms, walls, ceilings, and floors adjacent to the works
- Written descriptions of any existing cracks, staining, dampness, or other defects
- Note of the condition of external walls, roof, and boundary structures where relevant
- Condition of garden and paved areas where excavation works are proposed nearby
- Date-stamped photographs with location references
- Signed by the surveyor and served on both parties as part of the party wall award
When should it be done?
Ideally before works begin, to provide a useful baseline. If work has already started, record the present condition promptly and gather earlier photographs or records; further assessment may still help establish what happened. A schedule can also be arranged after consent, without an award.
Need a schedule of condition?
We prepare schedules across London as part of the party wall award process. Get in touch to discuss your situation.