This year’s wet summer, which followed two consecutive years of harsh winters, could be behind an increase in the number of reports of debris falling from building facades around the UK.
This is according to property and construction consultant Tuffin Ferraby Taylor (TFT). The company’s Paul Spaven explained: “We are seeing a vast increase in stone-cladding failures on buildings and we believe this is due to the cumulative effect of the adverse weather patterns over the last few years. This has been compounded by the prolonged property recession, which has seen a reduction in maintenance spending.”
According to TFT, many property owners and occupiers – despite their legal obligation to take reasonable steps to ensure that their property does not cause damage or injury – are neglecting buildings’ façades, while general disrepair of external elevations are almost certainly contributing to the increase in reports of falling debris.
The company warns that landlords and tenants can face legal action if falling debris causes damage, or injury to people or possessions. While insurance cover can be taken out to guard against such legal liability, policies may be invalid if the holder cannot demonstrate that adequate inspection and maintenance regimes were in place to deal with the inherent risks of a specific property.
It suggests that potential tenants and purchasers of properties commission a condition survey before acquisition or occupation to establish current or potential risks. The findings of such an investigation will enable urgent repairs to be undertaken and also guide future inspections and preventative maintenance regimes.
Concluded Paul Spaven: “Regular re-inspections must be undertaken throughout the life of the building in order to mitigate any legal liability and save money. The frequency and extent of inspection should reflect the age, condition and type of façade in question.
“A planned preventative maintenance programme should also be put in place to list and prioritise future repair works. A well-devised programme will reduce the risk of falling debris, prolonging the life of building components and assist with the forecasting of future expenditure.”
