What a home condition survey is, what it includes, what to expect and the survey length.
What a home condition survey is
A condition survey is a visual check of the fixtures and fittings of a home.
A condition survey will:
- check that your home is safe and in good condition
- give us the information we need to plan future repairs and improvements
- help us spend money sensibly by knowing what work is needed and when
Having a survey does not mean work will happen straight away. We aim to do these surveys every 5 years, and sometimes several surveys happen before any work is needed.
The government requires us to carry out condition surveys in council homes
What to expect during a survey
We are currently working with a partner, Savills, to carry out the surveys for us.
- The surveyor will be wearing a Savills uniform, show you their ID badge and a Letter of Authority from the council when they arrive.
- They will explain what they are going to do.
- They will walk through your home, taking notes and photos of key areas and parts of your home (kitchens, windows, doors, boiler, heating etc.).
- They will check outside spaces like gardens and boundaries.
- When finished, they'll let you know they are leaving.
In most instances, the survey will take much less than an hour, including up to half an hour inside.
Your privacy matters
Surveyors will only take photos of parts of your home that relate to the condition of your home, such as kitchens, bathrooms, doors, and windows. They will not photograph personal items or people.
All information is stored securely and used only for planning maintenance.
When to expect a home condition survey
We aim to complete a condition survey in each property every 5 years. If a condition survey is due on your home, you'll get a notification email or letter.
If you are not at home when the surveyor calls, they'll leave a calling card saying the date and time when they'll try again. If you'd like to reschedule that appointment, there will be a number on the card to contact them.
If you're home, but they call at an inconvenient time, you can arrange with them to come back at a time that is convenient.
If you have received an notification letter and wish to contact us about your survey, email homeconditionsurveys@bristol.gov.uk as first option or call the Citizen Service Centre on 0117 922 2200.
Reporting repair and housing management issues to the surveyor
The surveyor's job is to collect information for planned maintenance. They can't take repair requests or answer housing questions, or plan any work.
If you have any repairs, they should be reported to us via the report a repair page or through the Citizen Service Centre on 0117 922 2200.