Which activity involves going to the property to inspect defects?

• A. Environmental search
• B. Physical inspections
• C. Lease drafting
• D. SDLT calculation

Answer: (B)

In conveyancing, some tasks require visiting the property to assess its actual condition. The activity that involves going to the property to inspect defects is physical inspections. This site visit allows the solicitor or a surveyor to observe issues firsthand—things like structural cracks, damp, timber decay, faulty wiring, or drainage problems—that may not be revealed by documents alone.

An environmental search looks at risks from records and maps (flood zones, contamination, nearby hazards) and doesn’t require inspecting the building itself. Lease drafting centers on the terms of tenancy, and SDLT calculation deals with tax on the transaction. So the action that specifically involves physically inspecting defects at the property is physical inspections.