Professional
Business Rates
After paying the rent, business rates are one of the highest property overheads facing an occupier. Keeping the Rateable Value as low as possible is worthwhile both to the rate payer who is in occupation and also commercial landlords who wish to make sure the rental income is sustained. We have extensive knowledge of the commercial rating system and can advise clients on the complicated legislation surrounding the assessment of their property and lodge an appeal against the assessment on their behalf. The revaluation of all the Rateable Values on commercial properties in the United Kingdom took effect in April 2010. Business Rates as a result are an even greater burden on rate payers over the next five years. We can give you advice on your assessment and would be happy to work on your behalf to argue with the Valuation Office to achieve a reduction.
Homebuyers Service
We provide a homebuyer service for clients purchasing property. We carry out an inspection on the house, flat or bungalow you are contemplating buying and produce a concise report informing you of any defects which are urgent or significant or might need action or evaluation before you proceed with the transaction. The report is given to you on standard forms and, in addition to alerting you to any structural problems, we will also comment on the price you are paying for this property and give you an indication of an appropriate figure for fire insurance reinstatement costs.
Dilapidations
Both landlords and tenants are affected by the repair obligations contained in commercial leases. We are able to give comprehensive advice on the legal and technical aspects to protect your interests and in particular we can advise on:
Government Departments and Local Authorities do have the ability to force you to sell your property. We have extensive experience in acting in compulsory purchase situations and we can help you to stand up for your rights as a freeholder or leaseholder and make sure you obtain the correct price for your property within the compensation laws. We can also advise you on any compensation that may be due to you as a result of building works, for example to a public highway diminishing the value of your home.
Landlord & Tenant
For commercial and business property we can help both Landlords and Tenants through the complicated procedures relating to renewals of commercial leases and rent reviews. We can advise you and also work with your other professional advisers to preserve your rights to renew the lease. The majority of these cases are settled by negotiation but if necessary we have the expertise to either put forward your case to an Arbitrator or to a Court.
Valuations
We are official RICS reguated Valuers and we can provide reports on all types of property in accordance with the guidelines set out in the RICS Valuation Standards Sixth Edition. We can report on land and buildings for purchase, probate, rating, finance and taxation, Charities Acts disposal or acquisition, liquidation or bankruptcy. We can provide an estimation of the reinstatement cost for fire insurance purposes based on the Building Cost Information Service criteria. We can provide figures for incorporation into Company Accounts and other financial statements. Our reports can also be used for investment and security purposes.
Block Purchase and Lease Extension
We have considerable experience in advising leaseholders and freeholders on the value of their property under the Leasehold Reform Housing & Urban Development Act. We can give advice both on acquisition of disposal of freeholds, or extension of leases in accordance with the Law. We can provide you with the formal report necessary for your solicitors to serve appropriate notices and if necessary assist you with negotiations on price. We have the expertise to make an Appeal on your behalf to the Local Valuation Tribunal or if necessary the Lands Tribunal to make sure the best possible terms are achieved.
Management
As Chartered Surveyors we comply with the RICS Management Code of Practice and Members Accounts Regulations. We manage a broad variety of properties on behalf of landlord clients both residential and commercial. We combine some or all of our services with rent collection and administration of managing your property. We aim to give precise control and gain optimum performance from your bricks and mortar investment ensuring you gain the most from your property. We have an efficient accounts department dealing with payments to clients and administration of funds which is regulated by the RICS.
Expert Witness Reports
We have extensive experience in preparing reports as Expert Witness in contentious cases. As a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Christopher Spratt has appeared in the High Court, Lands Tribunal, The County Court, Local Valuation Tribunal, and the Local Rates Tribunal. We have experience of working with solicitors and barristers in preparation of clients cases on a range of matters from compulsory purchase through matrimonial, negligence and leasehold disputes. We are fully aware of the procedures relating to Court work and can assist you on all the surveyor aspects of contentious cases.
Business Surveys
Taking a commercial lease on a property is effectively entering into a contract which can have obligations for repair. We can give you an appraisal on the property to ensure you know exactly what liabilities you are acquiring. Our comments and projections will reveal the potential liability that you may be taking on under your agreement and we aim to present the available facts in a clear and concise format for your consideration enabling you to make a balanced judgement on the property.
After paying the rent, business rates are one of the highest property overheads facing an occupier. Keeping the Rateable Value as low as possible is worthwhile both to the rate payer who is in occupation and also commercial landlords who wish to make sure the rental income is sustained. We have extensive knowledge of the commercial rating system and can advise clients on the complicated legislation surrounding the assessment of their property and lodge an appeal against the assessment on their behalf. The revaluation of all the Rateable Values on commercial properties in the United Kingdom took effect in April 2010. Business Rates as a result are an even greater burden on rate payers over the next five years. We can give you advice on your assessment and would be happy to work on your behalf to argue with the Valuation Office to achieve a reduction.
Homebuyers Service
We provide a homebuyer service for clients purchasing property. We carry out an inspection on the house, flat or bungalow you are contemplating buying and produce a concise report informing you of any defects which are urgent or significant or might need action or evaluation before you proceed with the transaction. The report is given to you on standard forms and, in addition to alerting you to any structural problems, we will also comment on the price you are paying for this property and give you an indication of an appropriate figure for fire insurance reinstatement costs.
Dilapidations
Both landlords and tenants are affected by the repair obligations contained in commercial leases. We are able to give comprehensive advice on the legal and technical aspects to protect your interests and in particular we can advise on:
- Schedules of Dilapidations at the end of leases
- Interim Schedules of Dilapidations
- Schedules of Condition
- Computations of claims for liquidated damages
- Compulsory Purchase
Government Departments and Local Authorities do have the ability to force you to sell your property. We have extensive experience in acting in compulsory purchase situations and we can help you to stand up for your rights as a freeholder or leaseholder and make sure you obtain the correct price for your property within the compensation laws. We can also advise you on any compensation that may be due to you as a result of building works, for example to a public highway diminishing the value of your home.
Landlord & Tenant
For commercial and business property we can help both Landlords and Tenants through the complicated procedures relating to renewals of commercial leases and rent reviews. We can advise you and also work with your other professional advisers to preserve your rights to renew the lease. The majority of these cases are settled by negotiation but if necessary we have the expertise to either put forward your case to an Arbitrator or to a Court.
Valuations
We are official RICS reguated Valuers and we can provide reports on all types of property in accordance with the guidelines set out in the RICS Valuation Standards Sixth Edition. We can report on land and buildings for purchase, probate, rating, finance and taxation, Charities Acts disposal or acquisition, liquidation or bankruptcy. We can provide an estimation of the reinstatement cost for fire insurance purposes based on the Building Cost Information Service criteria. We can provide figures for incorporation into Company Accounts and other financial statements. Our reports can also be used for investment and security purposes.
Block Purchase and Lease Extension
We have considerable experience in advising leaseholders and freeholders on the value of their property under the Leasehold Reform Housing & Urban Development Act. We can give advice both on acquisition of disposal of freeholds, or extension of leases in accordance with the Law. We can provide you with the formal report necessary for your solicitors to serve appropriate notices and if necessary assist you with negotiations on price. We have the expertise to make an Appeal on your behalf to the Local Valuation Tribunal or if necessary the Lands Tribunal to make sure the best possible terms are achieved.
Management
As Chartered Surveyors we comply with the RICS Management Code of Practice and Members Accounts Regulations. We manage a broad variety of properties on behalf of landlord clients both residential and commercial. We combine some or all of our services with rent collection and administration of managing your property. We aim to give precise control and gain optimum performance from your bricks and mortar investment ensuring you gain the most from your property. We have an efficient accounts department dealing with payments to clients and administration of funds which is regulated by the RICS.
Expert Witness Reports
We have extensive experience in preparing reports as Expert Witness in contentious cases. As a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Christopher Spratt has appeared in the High Court, Lands Tribunal, The County Court, Local Valuation Tribunal, and the Local Rates Tribunal. We have experience of working with solicitors and barristers in preparation of clients cases on a range of matters from compulsory purchase through matrimonial, negligence and leasehold disputes. We are fully aware of the procedures relating to Court work and can assist you on all the surveyor aspects of contentious cases.
Business Surveys
Taking a commercial lease on a property is effectively entering into a contract which can have obligations for repair. We can give you an appraisal on the property to ensure you know exactly what liabilities you are acquiring. Our comments and projections will reveal the potential liability that you may be taking on under your agreement and we aim to present the available facts in a clear and concise format for your consideration enabling you to make a balanced judgement on the property.
