Outstanding works or renovations should be addressed in the special conditions and fully agreed by both parties before the formal sale and purchase agreement is signed. The cited official materials do not prescribe one standard renovation clause, so the property-specific scope and wording still need to be confirmed.
The Estate Agents Authority also states that the seller normally allows the buyer to inspect the property before completion to verify delivery of vacant possession. That inspection can help identify differences between the property and the agreed terms, but it does not replace reviewing what the contract says about unfinished work.
How to check the special conditions
The Community Legal Information Centre states that both parties must fully agree to the special conditions before signing. Where unfinished work is involved, the parties can test whether the wording is workable by confirming, where relevant:
- Scope: Which repair, renovation, room or area remains outstanding, and what is excluded.
- Required standard: Which materials, finishes or specifications are intended. Any existing condition that is to be accepted should be stated clearly.
- Responsibility and timing: Which party is responsible for arranging or completing the work, and what contractual completion point applies.
- Fixtures and defects: How fittings, equipment, damage or pre-existing defects are to be treated.
- Unfinished items: What happens if agreed work remains incomplete at completion, including any agreed follow-up or contractual consequence.
These are practical drafting questions, not additional requirements stated in the cited official materials. A buyer or seller should not assume that a repair, replacement or upgrade is included merely because it is visible or discussed.
How to use the pre-completion inspection
The Estate Agents Authority describes the buyer’s inspection as a means of verifying delivery of vacant possession. During the inspection, the buyer can compare the property with the written scope of work and record any apparent discrepancy.
The stated purpose of the inspection is vacant possession, not certification of every renovation detail. The buyer should therefore review both the physical condition and the agreement. The seller should ensure that any outstanding work is clearly identified and that the signed terms accurately describe what has been agreed.
What still needs confirmation
Before signing, the parties still need to confirm:
- whether any works or renovations remain outstanding;
- the precise scope, required standard, responsibility and timing;
- how existing damage, missing items and unfinished work are treated;
- what follow-up or remedy applies if agreed work is not completed; and
- whether the wording accurately records what each party has accepted.
The cited materials do not establish a universal completion standard or determine who must pay for additional work requested after the agreement. Those points should be expressly resolved rather than assumed. If the effect or enforceability of the wording is unclear, independent legal advice should be obtained before signing.