Building Surveys
Depending on the specific requirements, our professionals can provide surveys can describe a building’s current condition, outline identifiable risks of potential or hidden defects, considers a cost estimate for repairs and recommend any further action our clients should be taking.
For leasehold acquisitions, advice is provided on both short and long-term repair liabilities, carefully considering proposed lease terms, to provide meaningful and tailored guidance.
Why might you require a building survey?
- Our clients require a building survey for a range of reasons, examples include:
If you are a prospective purchaser or tenant who is considering whether to purchase or lease a new residential or commercial property, you will need professional advice on the building’s condition and the cost of future repair and maintenance liabilities. If identified, major issues can often be reflected in the terms of the sale or lease. - Also, well-timed pre-acquisition surveys can provide tangible and often significant savings by supporting negotiations, identifying risk, and delivering proposed solutions.
- If you have a have predetermined idea of what you want to do with a building you are leasing or acquiring, the feasibility of these plans can be assessed and incorporated into our survey report.
Carter Jonas’ approach to building surveys
Once we have been instructed by a client, our chartered building surveyors thoroughly inspect the interior and exterior of the building and all permanent outbuildings, recording their construction and identifying any minor or major defects. The inspection covers as much of the property as is physically accessible. The surveyor also carries out a desk top study and seeks information on environmental matters affecting the property, such as ground contamination, structure, flood risk and ecology.
External areas, including boundary walls, fences, and permanent buildings, are inspected and we provide advice on any potential underlying risks that may require further investigation.
Service installations are also visually inspected by appropriately qualified professionals, in many cases resulting in recommendations for specialist testing prior to exchange of contracts. We make enquiries regarding dangerous materials, contamination, and environmental issues and, if a problem is suspected, further recommendations are made. On completion of the inspection, the surveyor immediately gives a verbal report on the results and recommendations. A full report follows shortly afterwards to give clients a detailed understanding of the building condition, so that they can make an informed decision on serious or urgent repairs and maintenance requirements.
Once the survey is complete, if possible, our professionals often meet with the client, or their representative, to clarify the contents of the report.
Why choose Carter Jonas to undertake your building survey?
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 who consistently provide a professional, effective, and personal service.
We currently undertake many building surveys for both residential and commercial freehold and leasehold clients. Working closely with our commercial and investment teams, as well as our project management colleagues, we are well placed to give balanced, commercially focussed advice.
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.
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
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.
- Building consultancy
- Commercial Tenant Advisory
- Commercial property and asset management
- Commercial Landlord Advisory
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.
Keith is a Partner in the commercial team and is based out of our Cambridge office.
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.
Keith is a Partner in the commercial team and is based out of our Cambridge office.
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