The cited guidance does not establish a separate repair-request process. It provides two relevant checkpoints: the seller normally allows the buyer to inspect the property before completion to verify vacant possession, and both parties must fully agree to any special conditions before signing the formal agreement.
Accordingly, a repair-related request that the parties intend to include as a special condition should be settled before signing—not left as an informal understanding for handover day.
What should the request address?
A repair request should identify the specific issue and the outcome required. The parties should distinguish between:
- An issue connected with vacant possession: The Estate Agents Authority describes the buyer’s pre-completion inspection as a means of verifying the delivery of vacant possession.
- A broader repair or condition issue: The cited guidance does not say that this inspection verifies every aspect of the property’s condition or guarantees that all repairs will be completed.
If the request is to become a special condition, both parties must fully agree to it before the formal agreement is signed. The cited materials do not prescribe particular wording or specify which repair details must appear.
How can the parties check the request?
| Stage | What the cited guidance establishes | What remains unconfirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Before signing | Both parties must fully agree to all special conditions. | The appropriate wording, scope, responsibility and any completion terms. |
| Before completion | The seller normally allows the buyer to inspect the property to verify vacant possession. | A detailed inspection procedure, condition standard or repair remedy. |
| At handover | The inspection is connected with confirming that vacant possession has been delivered. | What happens if an agreed repair remains incomplete. |
The practical sequence is therefore to settle any proposed repair condition before signing and use the pre-completion inspection to check the agreed position. However, the cited guidance expressly connects that inspection with vacant possession; it should not be treated as a general promise to resolve every outstanding repair.
What must the parties confirm separately?
The official materials cited do not answer the following points:
- whether the request concerns vacant possession or another property condition;
- the exact scope of the requested work;
- who is responsible for paying for it;
- when it must be completed;
- how completion will be checked or accepted; and
- what remedy applies if it remains unfinished.
Neither party should assume that merely mentioning a repair request makes it an agreed special condition. Its status and terms still need to be confirmed, and the available guidance does not provide a default answer on cost, deadline or responsibility.