Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we are able to inspect, report and then make recommendations on any specific property defect. This is usually prepared in the form of a letter report and is tailored to suit your specific needs. Please contact us for more information,

We endeavour to provide a clear concise survey to provide advice from which to negotiate further on price if necessary. We look for defects and advise on the cause, effect and remedy.

A. It depends upon the form of construction and age of the building, together with the level of information you require. The two main surveys we offer are a HomeBuyer Report or a Building Survey. We would be happy to discuss and advise which is best suited to meet your requirements.

A schedule of dilapidations will only list reinstatement, repair and redecorating works that a tenant or lessee is required to make good in accordance with the repair clauses in their lease. The report will also include reasonable costs for each identified breach which will be a reflection of the landlord’s financial loss as a result of the defects.

A schedule of condition is a descriptive report which records the construction and condition of the property on any given day. The report records both good and bad condition, and does not make any reference to the tenant or lessee’s repair liabilities. A schedule of condition will usually be accompanied by a photographic record.

Yes, in addition to producing a dilapidations claim for the landlord we can also act for a tenant or lessee. In this scenario we would advise the tenant or lessee with regards to their repairing obligations and negotiate the claim on their behalf to try and reduce their liability, ultimately saving them money.

In the first instance you should contact us to arrange an initial site inspection and letter report. As part of this we would undertake a site visit to analyse the boundary features on the ground, review available documentation, and provide initial advice on the dispute and your position. We would then be able to assist you in more detail going forwards if required, including writing to the neighbour on your behalf.

If you have not been served with a party wall notice by your neighbour then it may be that the proposed works are not notifiable under the Act, however there are occurrences where the works are notifiable but the neighbour has not served prior notice. In either case we would recommend giving us a call for further advice as the action required will vary depending on the circumstances. In the immediate term however you could ask your neighbour to cease works until confirmation has been provided by a party wall professional, and take photographs of your property to record its condition.

A market valuation will provide a value which the surveyor believes the property is worth at that specific time if it were to be sold. An insurance reinstatement valuation calculates how much it would cost to rebuild the property based on current labour rates and material costs.

All of our property valuations are formed using expert local knowledge of the housing market in combination with comparable evidence of other properties which have recently been sold in the area. Each valuation will also take into account the specific features of the property, with better amenities and setting often resulting in a higher valuation. Every valuation will be completed by a surveyor who is certified as a RICS registered valuer.

In essence a HBR and building survey will cover the same elements of a building, however a building survey offers a more comprehensive and detailed level of analysis. Our building surveys are bespoke reports tailored to each property, so they do not follow a set pro-forma report structure like our HBRs, which are based on the RICS HBR report template. Given the varied nature of materials and construction techniques found in pre-1945 properties, we will only offer a building survey on such properties as this is the only way to ensure we have adequate scope to fully cover the building in the report.

For most people a house is the most expensive purchase they will ever make in their lives, and whilst there is no requirement to have a survey when purchasing a property, we would always recommend that a survey is undertaken. Houses are complex structures with many hidden elements, and it is only through a great deal of experience and knowledge that one of our RICS accredited chartered surveyors can provide a comprehensive report on its construction and condition.

A survey will serve a variety of purposes when purchasing a property, from making a purchaser aware of any defects and issues within the building, to helping negotiate a reduction in purchase price due to unforeseen issues, to walking away from the purchase altogether when the property has some serious issues.