A header disclaimer is your own text that appears at the top of an inspection report, above the inspection content, on every report generated with the report style you add it to. Use it for a preamble, a set of conditions, a policy statement or a reference to another document, the same way you would use a footer disclaimer.
🎬 Watch it in action: Watch: Inspection Report Header Disclaimer
 In this article
- Before you start
- Add a header disclaimer to a report style
- Make sure the disclaimer reaches your reports
- Remove a header disclaimer
- Where the header disclaimer appears on the report
- Use different header disclaimers for different inspections
- Header and footer disclaimers together
- Frequently asked questions
Before you start
- An admin turns the header disclaimer on in Admin Center > Product Updates: find the update for Header Disclaimers and select Enable. Disable it the same way.
- You manage Report Styles for your organization.
- Product area: Inspections & Reporting, Report Styles.
 Who can add a header disclaimer
Any user with access to edit Report Styles can update the Header report disclaimer field.
Try the header disclaimer interactive demo →
Add a header disclaimer to a report style
  Go to Report Styles
Open Report Styles.
  Open the report style
Open the report style you want to change.
  Find the Header report disclaimer field
Scroll to the Header section. Header report disclaimer is the last field in that section.
  Enter your text
Type or paste your text.
 Tip
The field accepts plain text only, the same as the footer disclaimer field.
  Check the preview
Check the preview on the right.
 Tip
The preview updates as you type.
  Save
Save the report style.
 Inspection templates are set up in Manage
Inspection templates are authored in Manage, the web app where you build and schedule templates and generate reports.
Make sure the disclaimer reaches your reports
  Open the inspection template
Open the inspection template. A report style only applies to inspections whose template points at it.
  Go to report workflow settings
Go to the template's report workflow settings.
  Confirm the default report style
Confirm your report style is set as the default report style.
 Tip
If you generate reports manually, you can also choose the report style at the point of generating the report.
Remove a header disclaimer
Clear the Header report disclaimer field and save the report style. Reports generated from that point on will not include it. Reports you have already generated keep the text they were issued with.
Where the header disclaimer appears on the report
The header disclaimer renders at the top of the report, below the inspector and resident details and above the first inspection section. It appears centered, in a shaded box with italic text. You see it in:
- The live preview in Report Styles, as you type
- The report preview after an inspection is completed, on web and on mobile
- The generated report
- The report PDF
 Mobile preview works offline
On mobile, the text is stored on the device along with the rest of the report style, so the preview works even when there is no network connection.
Use different header disclaimers for different inspections
-
Create a report style for each variation
Create a report style for each wording you need. TipThe header disclaimer belongs to the report style, not to an individual inspection template. Each report style holds one header disclaimer.
-
Add the header disclaimer
Add the appropriate header disclaimer to each report style. -
Assign each report style
Set each report style as the default report style on the relevant inspection templates.
Header and footer disclaimers together
You can use both at once. The header disclaimer appears at the top of the report and the footer disclaimer at the bottom, both in the same shaded box style. The footer disclaimer field stays in the Formatting section of the report style.
 Your footer disclaimer will look different
If you already use a footer disclaimer, its appearance changes when the header disclaimer is enabled for your business: it moves into the same shaded box. The text itself is unchanged.
Frequently asked questions
Will adding a header disclaimer change reports I have already generated?
No. Each generated report is a fixed record of how it looked when it was created. Changing or removing the header disclaimer only affects reports generated afterwards. To add the new text to an existing inspection's report, generate the report again.
Can I format the text with bold, bullet points or a link?
Not currently. The field accepts plain text, the same as the footer disclaimer field.
How long can the header disclaimer be?
There is no set limit, but longer text takes up more of the first page of the report. Preview it before you save, and check a generated PDF if you are adding a long passage.
Does a disclaimer change what the inspection report means or how it can be used?
No. The field displays the text you enter. It does not change how inspections are conducted, how reports are produced or how they are stored.
HappyCo does not provide, review or advise on disclaimer wording. Consult your own legal advisor.
I saved my text but it is not on the report. What should I check?
- Confirm the feature is enabled for your business. If the field is not visible in Report Styles, it is not enabled yet.
- Check that the report style is set as the default report style on the inspection template.
- If the report was generated before you added the text, generate it again.
The text is on the web preview but not on my phone. Why?
Your device needs to sync the updated report style. Wait for the next sync or refresh the app, then reopen the preview.
Can I use a different disclaimer for move-in and move-out inspections?
Yes. Create a separate report style for each and assign them to the relevant inspection templates.
Do I still need to enable the header disclaimer?
Until Nov. 10th, 2026, yes: go to Admin Center > Product Updates, find the release posting for Header Disclaimers and enable the feature. After that date it is in General Access and available to all customers without needing to enable.