Describe the permission you actually received
Access is not one universal yes-or-no answer. A supervised retrieval, an assessor’s visit, contractor work and normal occupation can have different limits. Record the words of the instruction, who issued it and what it covers. If you are uncertain, ask the responsible authority or professional before acting.
Source: Canadian Red Cross · returning after a house fire.
Use the exact room, floor or boundary instead of “house okay.” Keep the current version visible to anyone attending and preserve older instructions in the history so changes remain understandable.
Use a small access register
| Field | Useful entry |
|---|---|
| Issuer and role | The named authority, property manager or professional. |
| Date and reference | When the instruction was given and the document or call reference. |
| Purpose | Inspection, supervised retrieval, specific contracted work or another stated purpose. |
| Area | Rooms, floors, exterior zones and excluded areas. |
| Conditions | Escort, timing, equipment or other restrictions actually stated. |
| Next review | Who resolves an uncertainty or changes the instruction. |
Do not add permission because a field is blank. “Not yet confirmed” is a better entry than an assumption. If a verbal instruction controls the next visit, ask for a written record or send a concise confirmation question through the appropriate channel.
Separate property control from technical clearance
An owner or manager may control keys and scheduling while a different party determines a technical restriction. An adjuster can discuss claim access without deciding structural safety. Identify both the person coordinating attendance and the person responsible for the specific condition.
For a multi-unit building, include the unit, shared corridor, service spaces and the manager’s access arrangements. Do not assume permission for your unit gives permission for a neighbouring suite, shared roof or mechanical room.
Plan retrieval without expanding the visit
Before a permitted retrieval, list only the priority items and the allowed areas. Agree who accompanies the visit if required and where removed belongings will go. If an essential item is in a restricted space, ask the responsible party about a supervised or specialist retrieval rather than entering on your own.
Photographs and inventories should be collected only within the permitted scope. Record inaccessible items as inaccessible. They remain part of the recovery question even when you cannot inspect them.
Keep changes visible
0 of 6 checked
Use the process worksheet to carry these instructions into the wider project. If you only need to prepare a concise message, use the HAUSE enquiry page.
Sources and further reading
Reviewed October 11, 2026. Follow the source’s current guidance and the instructions for the actual property.