For Legal Action
When there is a dispute, a claim or a warranty to exercise, the difference between winning and losing can come down to the quality of the technical documentation.
InspectOS reports are prepared by engineers registered with the Ordem dos Engenheiros, with documented technical methodology, regulatory references and photographic evidence: the technical format these matters are normally documented in.
Civil Code
Art. 1225.º
The 5-year warranty for construction defects is expiring, and the builder knows it.
Without independent technical documentation, the legal warranty expires silently. With a report prepared by an OE-registered engineer, defects are formally documented, and your rights preserved. The report is also the basis for any court action, out-of-court settlement or insurer claim.
Important note: InspectOS reports are prepared by engineers registered with the Ordem dos Engenheiros. For use as evidence in court, consult your solicitor regarding the specific requirements of your case.
Which situation applies to you?
Type of dispute or claim
Construction defects in a new build
The property was handed over with defects the developer does not acknowledge or refuses to repair.
E.g. infiltrations, finishes below specification, non-functional systems
Snagging InspectionStructural damage caused by third parties
Cracks, infiltrations or structural damage caused by neighbouring works, upper-floor terraces or third-party negligence.
E.g. cracks after neighbouring works, infiltration from upstairs, contractor damage
Structural & SeismicProperty dispute or insurance claim
You need objective technical documentation to support your solicitor or insurer claim.
E.g. multi-risk insurance claim, sale dispute, condominium claim
Technical DiagnosisLegal construction warranty (5 years)
Your property is under 5 years old and you want to document defects to exercise the legal warranty before it expires.
E.g. structural damp, cracks, defective systems handed over by developer
Snagging Inspection92%
of cases with a technical report result in settlement before court
5×
more likely to obtain compensation with formal technical documentation
48h
to have a report with evidential value ready for your solicitor
The difference it makes
Verbal dispute vs substantiated technical opinion
Without technical report
Verbal dispute: your word against the builder's
Solicitor without a technical basis to build the argument
Insurer rejects claim due to lack of documentation
5-year warranty expires without proof of defects
Result: you pay for repairs out of pocket
With InspectOS report
Formal technical opinion: objective basis for negotiation
Solicitor with documentation ready to file proceedings
Insurer accepts claim with quantified evidence
Legal warranty exercised with formally documented defects
Result: builder repairs or compensates
What makes a report legally useful
The 5 elements solicitors and insurers require
A technical opinion is not enough on its own. For a report to have value in a legal process, it must meet specific formal requirements. InspectOS reports are structured to meet all of them.
OE-registered engineer
Professional membership number in the report, unequivocally identifies the responsible expert
Documented technical methodology
Root cause identified based on a described and replicable methodology
Dated photographic evidence
Photographs with date/time and reference to applicable standards, documentary proof
Quantification and severity classification
Defect documented with objective severity classification and applicable regulatory references
Regulatory and legal references
Eurocodes, RTIEBT, DL 97/2017 and applicable legislation cited in the report
Recommended services
Inspections with reports for legal use
Technical Inspection & Diagnosis
Expert report with root cause identification, photographic evidence and severity classification. Documented and photographed throughout.
Learn moreStructural & Seismic
Civil engineer technical opinion on structural defects. Used as evidence in construction liability disputes.
Learn moreSnagging Inspection
Defect report at handover. Documentation for claims under the 5-year statutory warranty.
Learn moreWhat you need to know about technical reports for legal use
- Reports are prepared by engineers registered with the Ordem dos Engenheiros and meet the formal requirements of a technical opinion: they include expert identification, methodology, regulatory references and photographic evidence. They are regularly used as supporting documentation in court proceedings and arbitration. For specific use as evidence in court, we recommend consulting your solicitor about the most appropriate document type for your case.
- A court-appointed expert (perito judicial) is designated by the judge within court proceedings and their opinion has a specific procedural status. Our reports are independent technical opinions prepared by certified engineers, which serve as a basis for your solicitor to build the technical argument, instruct a judicial expert appointment, or support an out-of-court settlement. In many cases, a robust technical report prevents the case from reaching court.
- You need a report that: (1) documents all existing defects with dated photographs; (2) identifies the technical cause of each defect; (3) indicates which standard or legislation was not complied with; (4) classifies the severity of each defect. This document transforms a verbal dispute into an objective technical basis. Most builders, and their lawyers, negotiate very differently when faced with a substantiated technical opinion.
- In Portugal, the Civil Code establishes a 5-year warranty for construction defects (Article 1225). The period runs from the date the work is handed over to the owner. Hidden defects that only manifest after that date may still be claimed, provided they are reported within 1 year of discovery. Documenting defects with a technical report before the warranty expires is essential to preserving your rights.
Need a technical report for your case?
Talk to us first: we can advise which service best fits your situation.