This retention obligation serves both to protect the client, who may still request a copy at a later date, and to ensure traceability in the event of subsequent legal disputes.
Independent valuers who are not publicly appointed are not subject to a comparable formal obligation; nevertheless, many follow similar retention periods in practice.
Regardless of this, clients should always keep their own copy of the appraisal report permanently, especially in legally significant matters.
For us, as a publicly appointed and sworn valuer, the retention obligation regularly arises from the professional code of conduct of our appointing chamber and usually amounts to several years after preparation.
This period also serves our own protection, allowing us to refer back to the original documentation in the event of later allegations.
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