Services

Surveying

We offer three types of report:

A Building Survey Report (RICS Level 3)

A detailed report on the property you may be intending to buy or lease. We deal with the current structure and condition, we identify defects and advise on any necessary repairs, when they should be undertaken and the likely cost.

The report is intended to tell you as much relevant information as possible before you are legally committed to buy and to help you with the purchase decision. The report is also of great value to your solicitor who rarely has the opportunity to see the property and who we can assist by suggesting specific enquiries to raise before you sign the contract.

A Home Survey Report (RICS Level 2)

We offer an abbreviated form of survey report known as the ISVA (Independent Surveyors & Valuers Association) Home Survey Report. This is more suitable when a full Building Survey is more than required. It is less costly and is relevant if the property is a modern house or a purpose-built flat in a block. We will report on any defects, their significance and advise on appropriate repairs.

A Defects Report

There is no set format for this type of work. If you are concerned about a problem you have identified, we can make an inspection, analyse the evidence and diagnose the cause, advise on the consequences, the seriousness and the best and most cost-effective method of repair.

Valuations

We are Registered Valuers. This means we are approved by the RICS to prepare “Red Book” valuations. We undertake valuations for a variety of reasons. Here are some of them:

Dispute Resolution

Divorce, partnership disputes, HMRC Investigations and many more situations give rise to the need for a Valuation Report.

Probate / Inheritance Tax Valuation

When a property owner dies, a trustee may be required to provide a valuation on a private dwelling or commercial property to the Valuation Office, nowadays this is known as an

Capital Gains Tax

This is often an issue when dealing with lifetime transfers and transfers to trust or for foreign ownership.

Leasehold Enfranchisement

Leases are a wasting asset and become difficult to sell when the remaining term of years falls below a certain level, nowadays mortgage-ability starts to become questionable at less than 80 years. To exercise a right to extension an assessment of the premium is required. Alternatively you may be a freeholder and need to know whether an offer you have received is sufficient.

The freehold can also be purchased by the lessees collectively and this is known as ‘enfranchisement’.

To exercise the right to acquire the freehold or extend a lease, you will also need advice as to the premium payable in accordance with the legislation.

Party Wall

If you have extension, alteration or reconstruction plans that could affect your neighbour’s property, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 dictates what a property owner, whether residential or commercial, must do. This usually includes using the expert advice of experienced Party Wall Surveyors such as Price Partnership. You can learn more about this from an explanatory leaflet available on Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors website – https://fpws.org.uk/

A statutory appointment

The surveyor holds a statutory appointment. He or she is required to administer the statutory process impartially to facilitate the Building Owner’s works that the Act accords him or her a right to do. This means that the surveyor is not an agent of the Building Owner or Adjoining Owner and neither of them can be the surveyor’s clients.

If you are planning an extension of your property that may affect your neighbour’s building, you should consult us because we are experts in the Party Wall Act. Simon Price is a Fellow of the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors and a member of the Pyramus & Thisbe Society, both organisations which promote good practice in this field.

How we can help

We can provide expert advice on the procedure to both Building Owners (those undertaking the work) and to Adjoining Owners (those whose property is at risk of damage).

For Building Owners, we would usually draft and serve the requisite notices; for Adjoining Owners we will take over matters on their behalf once they have received a notice. In other words, we act as an independent referee to ensure fair play for both parties.