Other Surveying Services
In addition to party wall advice and RICS Home Surveys, we can provide the following residential surveying services.
Access Agreements
If you require access over an adjoining property or have received a request for access from a neighbour, we can assist with drafting an access licence that protects the interests of both owners. Reasons for access being required include installing a temporary hoarding for safe demolition, erecting a scaffold for maintenance or oversailing a crane from an adjacent development.
Licence for Alterations
If you own a leasehold property there will generally be a clause in the lease requiring you to obtain the freeholder’s consent for any material alterations. In most cases, consent should not be unreasonably withheld. The freeholder will generally confirm that consent in the form of a Licence for Alterations.
While the document itself will often be prepared by the freeholder’s solicitor our input to ensure that all surveying related issues are covered is essential. Part of our role includes visiting site to record the condition of adjoining properties and inspecting the alteration upon completion.
Specific Defect Reports
If an issue arises on a property that you already own, we can inspect and provide advice in the form of a Specific Defect Report. The report will diagnose the issue, set out the necessary remedial works including a brief specification that can be used as the basis for builder’s quotes. Reports can cover multiple issues if required.
Schedules of Repair
If you own the freehold of a converted house or block of flats you will have an obligation to keep the external and communal parts of the building in good repair. To ensure that the key issues are picked up, we can prepare a schedule of repair. Inspections are typically undertaken on 3-5 year rolling basis and can feed in to a maintenance plan to avoid large one off costs in the future and encourage sensible budgeting.
Schedule of Outstanding Works (Snagging List)
If you are buying a new property, it is a snagging list that you require rather than a standard Home Survey. New homes come with a warranty covering significant defects so a snagging list will focus on the quality of construction/finishing. The written documents is passed to the contractor so that all issues raised can be addressed before you take ownership.
A snagging list prepared by a Chartered Surveyor can also be useful to ensure that the finish to major refurbishment works is of an acceptable standard.
Valuations
There are many circumstances in which our clients may require a property valuation report undertaken and written by an RICS Registered Valuer, such as for the purposes of tax planning, probate, matrimonial matters, insurance or court proceedings. The majority of these valuations fall under the RICS Valuation Standards Manual (also known as ‘The Red Book’) and have to meet the governing body’s strict criteria.
All of Carter Fielding’s Chartered Surveyors who undertake Red Book work are also Registered Valuers and are experienced in a variety of valuation fields. We pride ourselves on our professional approach based on consistency, objectivity and transparency – criteria that are fundamental to building and maintaining public confidence and trust in our valuation work.
Leasehold Valuations & Freehold Enfranchisement
Our surveyors have extensive experience of valuing for lease extension and freehold purchases from small studios to blocks with tens of flats. The majority of claims fall under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (the 1993 Act) but there are certain circumstances when the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 (the 1987 Act) applies.
Leaseholders have a choice between the formal route (via the service of a notice) or what is commonly called the ‘informal route’ (approaching the freeholder prior to serving a notice). Choosing between the multitude of options can be daunting but can be easily explained by a member of our team who will set out the best and most appropriate way forward.
If you are interested in any of the above services, please feel free to drop us a line or call 01799 543532 to discuss further.