BUILDING SURVEYORS

Our Building surveyors in UK provide professional advice on property and construction for commercial companies and consultants, central and local government, and private individuals.

Our surveyors are highly trained professionals, offering expert advice on all aspects of land, property and construction. They keep abreast of changes and developments throughout their professional life including legislation, business practices and technical developments.

Construction design and building works (including conservation and historic buildings)

From the inception of a project the building surveyor liaises with the client to determine his requirements, inspect the site and develop a brief.

Our building surveyors can provide advice on:

• Cost, timetable and legal approvals required to ensure that quality, time and cost requirements are met.
• The selection of other consultants, such as designers and engineers.
• The condition of an existing building.
  
  

Having decided to proceed with a project the building surveyor can:

• Prepare design sketches and drawings.
• Advise on project costs and timetables.
• Prepare specifications of work and contract documents.
• Submit local authority applications.
• Advise on legislative issues.
• Suggest procurement routes, appropriate forms of contract and advise on tender lists.
• Obtain prices for the work.
  

Once the project has started on site the building surveyor can administer the contract to ensure that it is built to the standards agreed and the contractual obligations are met and agree the final cost on completion.

Building surveys and measured surveys

The building surveyor can undertake a building survey of a property and advise on matters such as the condition, defects and remedies, and the need for specialist investigation. Measured surveys can be produced to provide dimensional information on land or property or as a preliminary service before the start of building work.

Defect investigation and maintenance advice

A building surveyor can provide advice on the existing condition of a property and its future maintenance liability. He can review the effect on maintenance of life cycle costing, comparing the cost now against the future maintenance and replacement costs to match the anticipated building life and expenditure. The building surveyor can also prepare a planned maintenance programme and encourage preventative cost effective maintenance.

Insurance assessment and claims

The building surveyor can assist in preparing an assessment of the cost of replacing a building in accordance with a clients' insurance policy. If a client needs to make a claim, the building surveyor can liaise with the insurer and loss adjuster.

Property legislation advice can be provided on many areas of property legislation such as planning, public health, historic buildings, boundary disputes and fire precautions and means of escape. The building surveyor can also act as an expert witness or an arbitrator in the case of a dispute arising.

Dilapidations

The building surveyor can advise on the extent of a tenant's liabilities under a lease, and negotiate a financial settlement at lease expiry.

CDM regulations: planning supervisor role. Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations most construction work requires the appointment of a Planning Supervisor to ensure that health and safety is considered throughout the design and construction process. In this role the building surveyor will ensure that a Health and Safety Plan governing the conduct of the works on site, and a Health and Safety File, containing information for future use, are produced in accordance with the Regulations.

Project management and monitoring. Building surveyors can also act as a Project Manager/Employer’s Agent for larger projects, co-ordinating the design team and providing strategic advice on all construction issues. He can also act on behalf on investment funds and banks to appraise the work, monitor its progress and authorise payments.

Miscellaneous services

Other services provided by building surveyors:

• Approval of plans submitted by lessees and inspection of the building works
• Acting as an Approved Inspector; examining building or proposed plans and work on site to ensure that they comply with the Building Act and Building Regulations
• Working in local authority building control
• Surveying a property to see if it meets the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act
• Providing energy efficiency advice