First General Consumer Conditions for Building Inspections
Foundation for the Quality Mark ‘Vakkig gekeurd’ and the Consumers’ Association draw up joint terms and conditions
The Consumer Association and the NKBK Foundation, the publisher of the quality mark ‘Vakkig gekeurd’, have for the first time jointly drawn up General Terms and Conditions for Building Inspectors. The terms describe in clear, understandable language the rules for conducting an architectural inspection and the agreements that both the inspector and the consumer must observe. This gives consumers a clear understanding of the conditions that a reliable architectural inspection should meet.
Starting point: an accurate picture of the structural condition of the house
The starting point of these first General Consumer Conditions for structural inspectors, which apply from now on, is that the inspection company must do everything reasonable to give the homebuyer a correct picture of the structural condition of the home before the purchase takes place. Should any uncertainty arise in this respect, then the consumer and the architectural inspector can always fall back on the General Consumer Conditions, which are drawn up without difficult technical terms and legal jargon.
When a structural inspection is carried out, too often unilateral conditions are used, which can lead to misunderstandings among consumers about the tasks of an inspector. In the heated housing market, homebuyers also run the risk of making a rushed choice. It is therefore important that any defects are brought to light before the purchase of the home takes place. The structural surveyor provides insight into maintenance costs in the short and longer term. “The consumer benefits from good conditions under which the inspection is carried out,” says Gerard Spierenburg of the Consumers’ Association. “With the General Consumer Conditions of ‘Vakkundig gekeurd’ consumers are assured of clear, understandable agreements for the implementation of the architectural inspection.”
Review of the conditions by the Consumers’ Association
Structural inspections are booming because this type of inspection has been a permanent part of the resolutive conditions of the industry-wide used purchase contract for homes since February this year. Consumers must be able to rely on the inspection being carried out by a professional. Because of the proliferation of architectural surveyors, the industry has for some time been calling for more quality control and market regulation. Therefore, the National Quality Mark for Building Surveyors Foundation (NKBK Foundation) launched the Quality Mark ‘Expertly Approved’ in early 2018. Nationwide, more than half of all inspections are now performed by an inspection company that bears the ‘Vakkig gekeurd’ quality mark.
“We have chosen to have the conditions also tested by the most important consumer organization in the Netherlands, the Consumentenbond. With this two-way acceptance, the consumer is now certain that the service is provided under the right conditions,” says Roland Knoester, general director of professional association Vastgoedpro, the initiator of the NKBK Foundation. If a conflict arises, the consumer and the inspector can also appeal to the independent Dispute Committee, which will soon be officially installed.
An architectural inspection can protect the homebuyer from a major financial setback with major consequences. “The initiative to regulate the industry for architectural inspectors with an independent non-profit label was sorely needed,” says director Willem Verstraete of Woningschouw, participant in the label from the start. “Because the Consumers’ Association supports the General Consumer Conditions, the quality mark offers even more confidence for the homebuyer.”
About Vakkundig Gekeurd
Vakkig gekeurd is the quality mark that recognized and affiliated architectural inspection companies may use. These companies are affiliated with the National Quality Mark Building Inspectors Foundation (NKBK Foundation). Only inspection companies that meet the test requirements (on entry and interim inspection) are eligible for the quality mark. Independent dispute resolution offers consumers the certainty that a complaint about a payment or a service provided will be assessed correctly and independently. The website www.vakkundiggekeurd.nl allows homebuyers to find affiliated inspection companies.