RAD194 – BUILDING CONSULTANCY SERVICES

Description

The Contracting Authorities require the Building Surveyor to be fully acquainted with all procedures and requirements of current Department for Communities Housing Associations Guide including all amendments. The Authority has a number of development approaches available to it to provide existing properties for social housing rent. A summary of these development approaches for which the Appointment of a Building Surveyor is required are identified below.  Acquisition and Works (Rehabilitation): • Is where existing dwellings are purchased and require substantial repair and improvement, conversion or extension for social housing for rent use. The total works cost of each unit should exceed £15,000 (excluding VAT). • Existing dwellings generally must meet the design requirements contained in current DfC Housing Association Guide and, on completion, have a ‘structural’ life expectancy of at least 30 years and comply with all Statutory Requirements on completion of the construction works.  Works Only (Rehabilitation): • Is similar to Acquisition and Works (Rehab), but where the Association contracts for the construction works only, and involves the development of property already in the Association’s ownership which has hitherto been unimproved.  Re-Improvement: • Is a category of ‘Works Only’ rehabilitation to Association owned property. In order to be considered for grant-aid, the property must: • be in the ownership of the Association; • have been, at some time in the past, the subject of some form of grant or subsidy (grant or otherwise) for construction, rehabilitation or conversion; and • require substantial improvement and repair (i.e., is no longer suitable for the purpose intended).  Existing Satisfactory Purchases (ESPs) • Is where existing dwellings occupied as a residence for at least 12 months are purchased, following inspection and independent valuation, from the property market. This is a normal legal ‘Purchase Contract’ i.e., without the Association having commissioned works via a building contract. The condition of the dwellings should be such that they do not require full rehabilitation, but may require a degree of repair/checks/upgrading to bring them up to an acceptable standard for letting. The estimated repair/checks/upgrading cost of each dwelling should normally not exceed £10,000 (excluding VAT) per dwelling. An additional £15,000 (excluding VAT) is available per dwelling for Supported Housing schemes to meet HMO standards.  Off-the-Shelf Purchases • An 'Off-the Shelf' purchase is where newly constructed dwellings are purchased by the Association for first-time occupation, following inspection and independent valuation. The Contract is for the provision of full Building Consultancy service as fully described in Document 2 – Scope of Services.