The Forensic expert kollegium carries out an independent assessment of the cost of damage caused to the exterior and interior finishing of buildings and structures as a result of natural disasters, unlawful actions of third parties, fire, explosion, water intrusion, repair works, reconstruction, redevelopment, re-equipment, heating system аварии, water supply and sewer network accidents.

The Forensic expert kollegium also conducts an independent assessment of the amount of damage to insured property (finishing). It should be noted that most insurance companies operating in the Republic of Belarus do not recognize the following as insured events:

• natural processes (rotting, physical wear and tear, mold formation, condensation, dampness, loss of thermal conductivity of materials and structures, etc.);
• effects of drafts and atmospheric precipitation through unclosed doors, windows, vents, balconies, loggias;
• violation of regulatory documents governing the use and maintenance of apartments or the domestic use of gas;
• violation of construction norms and regulations, as well as poor-quality construction, installation, and other works (including the use of low-quality materials);
• violation of fire safety regulations.

Independent assessment of finishing involves a whole range of works during which the cost of repair and restoration works is evaluated. Based on the expert practice of the Forensic expert kollegium, the most common damage to finishing is caused by flooding. Damage (harm) caused to an apartment (apartment finishing) is the amount of necessary expenses required to restore the apartment (finishing) to the condition it was in immediately before the damage (flooding). The amount of damage is determined as the total cost of repair works necessary to eliminate defects caused by flooding at the time of preparation of the calculation, as well as the cost of new construction materials required to restore the apartment (apartment finishing). In order to determine the amount of damage as fully and quickly as possible, the following documents must be provided:

• copy of the technical passport;
• copy of the flooding report;
• copy of the defect report;
• copies of receipts for the purchase of construction materials;
• photographs of the finishing before the damage occurred.

In the event that an independent expertise is conducted by the Forensic expert kollegium to assess the amount of damage caused to the interior and exterior finishing of buildings and structures as a result of fire, the amount of damage is determined either by the cost of repair and restoration works or (in the event of total destruction of the property) by the comparative method of evaluating comparable objects.

During the assessment of the amount of damage caused to the exterior and interior finishing of buildings and structures as a result of fire, flooding, or natural disaster, the following types of work are carried out by the Forensic expert kollegium:

• specialist’s visit to the scene;
• presence of a specialist representing the client during the inspection;
• visual and measurement inspection of the objects;
• photographic recording indicating all damaged elements;
• office-based calculations of restoration repair costs and analysis of the submitted data;
• preparation of a written report with a cost estimate and photo table;
• if necessary, the specialist may provide explanations regarding the prepared report during a court hearing (upon receipt of a summons).

To determine the cost of restoration of damaged buildings and structures, a local estimate (local cost estimate calculation) is prepared based on resource estimate standards for the necessary repair works. The preparation of the local estimate is carried out in accordance with the Instruction on Determining the Estimated Cost of Construction and Preparation of Estimate Documentation approved by Resolution No. 25 of the Ministry of Architecture and Construction of the Republic of Belarus dated December 3, 2007.

An independent expertise for the assessment of damage caused to the exterior and interior finishing of buildings and structures may be initiated by the property owner, an insurance organization, or a court if the appraised value of the object is required for consideration of a civil case.

The advantage of an independent assessment is that the report issued to the client has the status of an official evidentiary document and may be used in court proceedings related to determining the amount of compensation payments.

When conducting an independent expertise to assess the cost of damage caused to the exterior and interior finishing of buildings and structures, the following tasks are addressed:

• Determine which defects arose during operation and which resulted from the damage caused.
• Determine the causes of moisture (flooding) in the affected premises.
• Participate in the preparation of the flooding report and defect report.
• Determine the cost of repair and restoration works necessary to eliminate defects in finishing elements caused by flooding (fire, natural disaster, unlawful actions of third parties) of premises (apartment, residential house, garden house, etc.).

You may contact the Forensic expert kollegium for consultation regarding assessment of the cost of damage caused to the exterior and interior finishing of buildings and structures at: Minsk, Zhukovskaga St., 11A, 4th floor

or by phone: +375 (17) 317 04 71; +375 (17) 317 04 72; +375 (17) 317 04 73; +375 (17) 317 04 74; +375 (17) 317 04 76; +375 (29) 109 60 11; +375 (44) 588 60 11.