You may need to carry out a survey if you are taking a lease of the whole property and are responsible for the interior and exterior of the building, in order to highlight any defects or areas of disrepair. When the lease comes to an end, it will be your responsibility to make good any defects and leave the property in good repair and condition.
If the property is in a poor state of repair, you may want to consider agreeing a schedule of condition with the landlord. This limits your obligations to repair the property to the standard contained in the schedule.
In Scotland, leases will often include a provision that on signing you have accepted that the premises are in good condition and fit for purpose. You will then be responsible for repair, maintenance and decoration of the premises. Under Scottish common law, the landlord must keep the property wind and watertight.