Every five years, we’ll carry out a Stock Condition Survey to your home to check that it is safe and meets the Government’s Decent Homes Standard.
The Decent Homes Standard sets the minimum standard for social homes. For a property to meet the Decent Homes Standard, it should be warm, weatherproof, in a reasonable state of repair and have reasonably modern facilities.
Stock Condition Surveys help us to plan future investment works and upgrades, such as the installation of new kitchens, bathrooms, windows or doors.
How will I know when my survey is due?
We will write to you before your survey is due to be carried out.
What does a Stock Condition Survey involve?
A stock condition surveyor will conduct a visual inspection of all the key areas inside and outside your home. This includes checking items such as your kitchen, bathroom, windows, doors, external walls and roof. We will also access your loft space to measure the insulation. The loft insulation is measured to ensure that your home is properly insulated.
Why do you need to complete a Stock Condition Survey?
The purpose of the survey is to allow Cobalt to check the age and condition of the main items within your home, such as kitchens and bathrooms. This means that we can predict how long these are lasting, and plan any further works that your home will benefit from in the future. As this is a visual inspection, we will not move any items in your home, and we will not ask you to move any furniture.
How long will it take?
It should take no more than 30 minutes to carry out the survey.
Will I need to be home when the survey is carried out?
Yes, because we are coming inside your home, you’ll need to be in when we visit.
Who will carry out the survey?
We use an external contractor to conduct some of our stock condition surveys and we also conduct some ourselves. When we write to you, we will let you know who will conduct your survey. All surveyors carry identification cards and we encourage you to ask to see this before allowing anyone into your home.
I missed my appointment – can I rearrange?
If you are not home when the surveyor visits, they will leave a calling card with details of what to do to arrange a new appointment.
Can I refuse the Stock Condition Survey?
As part of your tenancy agreement, you must allow us access to carry out this survey and other works in your home. Allowing access for the survey ensures that your home is safe and meets Decent Homes Standards. If you refuse to allow access to carry out the survey, we may take legal advice to gain access.
I’ve had my kitchen/bathroom/windows inspected – do I still need a Stock Condition Survey?
Yes. The stock condition survey looks at the key areas to check the age and condition of your home and helps us to plan any further works that your home will benefit from.
There is nothing wrong with my house – I don’t think I need a survey
Regardless of whether your home is well maintained, as a landlord, we are required to survey all of our homes every five years to ensure that we can keep our records up to date and to help us to plan future investment in all of our homes so that they meet Decent Homes Standard.