Is a lease-commencement inspection the same as a Property Condition Assessment?

No. A PCA is a broader due diligence product prepared under ASTM E2018-24, typically for acquisition or financing, and it includes opinions of probable cost. A lease-commencement condition record is narrower and focused on establishing a documented baseline at a specific date.

Who should pay for it?

That is a negotiated point and both parties benefit from the record existing. In practice the party with the most exposure under the maintenance and repair clauses has the most to gain from ordering it.

Does it help at lease end too?

Yes. A commencement record and an end-of-term record together are what turn a surrender clause into something measurable rather than something argued.