Dilapidations

The term dilapidation is usually used to refer to the condition of a property during or at the end of its occupancy, and the costs a tenant has at the end of their lease to restore the property back to its original state or pre-let state. However, at all stages of a property lease, and not only at termination, questions are inevitably raised around dilapidations. For example, what can the landlord expect in terms of the building’s state of repair and what will it cost the tenant to remedy any breaches of covenant?

At Carter Jonas, our professional team of building surveyors can advise on both tenant dilapidations and landlord dilapidations, providing each of our clients with expert advice. 


How can Carter Jonas help with your dilapidations liability?

We offer expert dilapidations advice at every stage of a lease term to both landlords and tenants. Specifically:

  • Preparing terminal schedules of dilapidations
  • Preparing interim schedules of dilapidations during lease terms
  • Negotiating financial settlements for landlords and tenants on termination of a lease
  • Monitoring lease expiry works for tenants
  • Tendering, project managing repair and reinstatement works for tenants prior to lease end, or for landlords after expiry of the lease
  • Preparing dilapidations assessment reports prior to new leases being granted or during the term of the lease
  • Providing schedules of condition at lease commencement
  • Dilapidations experience across all commercial asset classes
  • S18(1) valuations
  • Advising on VAT for dilapidations

Landlord dilapidations

A landlord can instruct a building surveyor to prepare a schedule of dilapidations to document the breach if a tenant fails to comply with the terms of the lease. Read more about this on our guide to dilapidations for landlords.


Tenant dilapidations

If a tenant fails to comply with the terms of the lease, they could be faced with a significant bill to recover the loss incurred by the landlord as a result of those breaches. Read more on our guide to dilapidations for tenants.


Dilapidations covenants

All commercial leases contain covenants, i.e. a set of rules on what can and cannot be done on the land or in the property, which require tenants to repair and decorate buildings and maintain the land they occupy, in addition to complying with the relevant statutory requirements. Any alterations or additions to the building may have to be removed, if required by the landlord, through the landlord’s claim document called schedule of dilapidations. This document will refer to any breaches of the tenant’s lease obligations.
The wording of such covenants can be complex and the emphasis on the structure of each clause can affect the tenant’s liability, as well as the landlord’s expectation of the condition of the building at the end of the lease. Repairing covenants may be limited by a schedule of condition, which can impact a dilapidations claim. Landlords may wish to claim for loss of rent or other mesne profits. These can include service charges and insurance premiums or professional fees.


Why might you need a dilapidations surveyor?

An important consideration is whether the lease covenants or the circumstances at expiry of the lease will allow a claim to be successful. All this requires careful consideration and interpretation when assessing the potential dilapidations liability at the end of the lease and how this may affect a potential claim. A surveyor can provide help with understanding lease obligations, as well as managing tenants on how to comply with them. A correct assessment of dilapidations, by an experienced dilapidations surveyor or building surveyor, can guide landlords and occupiers in a range of property decisions. For example, whether they should renew a lease or exercise a break clause, or whether to re-let or redevelop.

Also, the evolution of the PLA Pre Action Protocol has significantly influenced the way dilapidations issues are resolved by placing the emphasis on achieving an early resolution of claims by both parties. Our considerable experience enables us to provide our clients with reasoned and pragmatic advice to encourage early resolution, thereby avoiding costly disputes and helping both parties to move on quickly after lease expiry.


Why choose Carter Jonas to provide you with dilapidations advice?

Our building consultancy professionals are located in Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge, Oxford, Leeds and London. Our designated teams contain highly qualified and experienced chartered building surveyors and dilapidations surveyors who consistently provide a professional, effective, and personal service.

All our building surveyors have built up extensive experience of advising landlords and occupiers on dilapidations matters. Our vast portfolio of work allows us to consider any potential situation which may arise when providing guidance on dilapidations.

For example, our expertise is essential in preparing schedules of condition that provide the foresight to avoid potential dilapidations issues. We also provide our clients with technical due diligence which considers dilapidations matters when advising on freehold or leasehold commercial property acquisitions. Our building surveying offering also includes extensive knowledge of how matters relate to historic building conservation and an invaluable blend of experience to address the unique issues that can arise on expiry of a lease for a listed building. To find out more about the advice we can offer with regards to historic buildings, click here.

Get in touch

Richard Love is a Partner, Head of Building Surveying in our London Commercial Team. Richard joined from Watts Group PLC where he worked since 2010, most recently as director in it's project consultancy group. Richard's role is to provide building consultancy services, including relocation management, contract administration, design, strategic procurement and conservation advice with our clients.

Career Highlights:

Ealing Town Hall:
Full external restoration of Grade II Listed Victorian Gothic town hall building. The project arose from a survey identifying incidences of dangerous stonework and the project incorporated extensive masonry repairs, reroofing, redecorations, stained glass replacement, access improvements and drainage improvements.  Works on site were delivered over an eight month period during which the town hall remained fully operational.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists HQ Relocation:
Project management services in respect of all aspects of the HQ relocation for this prestigious medical college.  The relocation centred around moving into a 50,000sq ft 1980’s office building and delivered a comprehensive strip out and refurbishment including the creating of canteen and catering facilities, conference space, library including antique book collection and sublet space.  The relocation was delivered in 9 months (inception to completion) and Richard also handled dilapidations matters on exit.

Career developments
Being appointed to the board overseeing the expansion of the Carter Jonas Commercial Division, which took place in early 2017. Also, managing the expansion of the Architecture and Building Consultancy team. The service line has doubled the number of specialists working within it in the last two years, becoming the largest team within the division. Further growth plans are currently in place for the next few years.

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Matthew is a Chartered Building Surveyor in the Chapel Place office. Matthew has undertaken various Building Surveying services to a diverse portfolio of clients, including Royal Mail, Salvation Army, Winchester Working Men’s Housing Society, Aurora Fashions and Network Rail.

His primary skills cover: Schedules of Work, Schedules of Condition, Party Wall matters, Planned Maintenance Repair and Refurbishment Contracts of various properties, Schedules of Dilapidations, Insurance Valuations , Fire Insurance Valuations, Contract Administration, Defect Diagnosis and Prognosis, Statutory Consents, Budget Costs and Pre-acquisition survey.

Career Highlights:

  • Shortlisted for Young Surveyor of the year in 2016.
  • Leading on Party Wall matters for whole Thameslink project over 5 year period.
  • Defending dilapidations claim on behalf of Tenant, resulting in a reduction of the Landlord’s claim from £4.9m to £1.45m
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Career Highlights:

  • Securing a portfolio insurance assessment in 2016 for over 150 assets in Greater London and Scotland.
  • Delivering a £700,000 CAT B fit out to fifth floor offices on Paternoster Square overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral in the Summer of 2015. 
  • Providing Lead Consultancy advice to major financial institution for CAT A refurbishment of 20,000 sqft offices in central Bath.
 
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Matthew Ellams is head of our project management team. He has considerable experience within the sector and has worked across a wide range of projects, servicing many different types of clients.

I can provide advice on:

Keith is a Partner in the commercial team and is based out of our Cambridge office.

I can provide advice on:

Career Highlights:

  • Project Management of the UK’s first retrospective fire pressurisation system on Grade II* listed tower building.
  • Conservation and Restoration of Grade II* listed 18thC Summerhouse.
  • Award Winning Conversion and Refurbishment of a Grade II listed farmhouse and range of traditional barns into a mixed use development.
I can provide advice on:

Keith is a Partner in the commercial team and is based out of our Cambridge office.

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Dilapidations back in the spotlight

Read now what our experts have to say about the implication of dilapidations when businesses exercise lease breaks.

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