FREQUENTLY ASKED
questions
General
What are your fees?
We operate a transparent pricing structure which we believe is great value for the professional, speedy, and accurate service we offer. We base our fees on the size and value of the property, as well as the location and complexity of the instruction.
For an exact instate quote please visit our Quotation page and select the service you require.
How quickly will I receive my report?
The short answer is quickly. We endeavour to turnaround all our survey reports within 24-48 hours of our inspection. We will also give you a call or video summary following the survey just to keep you in the loop. Our valuation reports are normally available within 5 working days of our inspection. Of course these timescales can be delayed if we are awaiting further information or it is a particularly large or complex report.
Will the surveyor by an RICS qualified surveyor?
Yes all of our surveyors are RICS qualified surveyors and registered valuers, experienced in an array of surveying, valuation and party wall matters across London and Surrey.
What type of survey should I have?
This really depends on the type or property. Our Building Survey is the most detailed and thorough report suitable for all properties but specifically those that are older, extended, larger or in poorer condition. The Building Survey includes photographs and quotes where appropriate and we will use a Pole Camera to access any areas that are not visible from the ground. The RICS HomeBuyer report is a more economic report focussing on the main issues only and this is more suitable for modern and unaltered flats and smaller houses. If you are buying a new build property a snagging list is a great way to highlight any defects and issues with the finish
Does the survey report include photographs and quotes?
All our building survey and roof survey reports include detailed photographs and where possible we will use a Pole Camera to access any hidden areas such as flat roofs. We will provide ‘rough costings’ for works where appropriate to provide context to the issues. These are very much ballpark figures based on our own experiences and you should always follow these up with formal quotations from contractors. The HomeBuyer report does not include photographs, detailed repair recommendations or costings and if this is a concern you should upgrade to a Building Survey.
Can I attend the survey inspection with the surveyor?
Our survey inspection are extremely thorough and require a great level of focus and concentration to ensure we do not miss anything. However, we are always more than happy to meet you on site at the end of the inspection or arrange follow-up calls to discuss our findings, just let your surveyor know this in advance.
Does the survey include a market valuation, floor area measurements or an insurance reinstatement assessment?
Not normally no, but these services are available for an additional fee. Just ask and we will be more than happy to discuss this.
Will you test the electrics, gas, heating and drains during the survey?
We will undertake a visual inspection of the services and comment on any obvious defects. But as you will hopefully understand, we are not qualified electricians, gas engineers or drainage contractors and are therefore not qualified to test or comment in detail upon the services within the building. Elements such as the wiring, plumbing and underground drainage are often hidden and therefore cannot be fully visually inspected.
We do however work closely with a number of electricians, gas engineers/plumbers, and drainage contractors and are more than happy to help arrange tests. We would always recommend having these additional tests as faulty wiring, leaking plumbing or blocked drains can often go unidentified resulting in costly repairs. An electrical safety test typically costs £150-£300, a gas safety test approximately £75-£100 and a CCTV drainage survey approximately £200.
Valuations
Do I need a valuation?
A market valuation is a great way to ensure you the purchase price reflects the true value of the property. If you are purchasing via a mortgage then the bank’s valuer may provide you with a copy of their valuation. If they will not or you are not having a mortgage valuation, then we are able to provide a market valuation for an additional fee- just ask!
We also provide valuations for a variety of purposes such as lease extension, collective enfranchisements, shared ownership staircasing, Right to Buy, Capital Gains Tax, Non-Domicile Tax, Inheritance Tax, ATED, matrimonial and divorce.
Can you value my property in the past?
Often for taxation valuations we are asked to value the property at a specific date in the past. This is not an issue and we have access to data which allows us to obtain the market evidence at the time and accurately value your property. We may however still need to inspect the property and if anything has changed since the valuation date you should supply this information.
Leasehold Valuations
What is a statutory lease extension?
A statutory lease extension is a lease extension under the rights granted under the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 and amended by the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.
My flat is shared ownership can I still extend my lease?
Unfortunately, shared ownership leases will not qualify for a statutory lease extension unless they have staircased to 100% ownership. However, some freeholders are prepared to offer an informal lease extension.
Are there any other costs?
Unfortunately yes you have the professional costs of your solicitor and your surveyor. For further information on our costs please click here. On top of your own professional fees, under Section 60 of the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993, you are responsible for the reasonable solicitor and surveyors costs of the freeholder. Please be aware that you are only responsible for their surveyors costs for the initial valuation, not the subsequent negotiation or any representation at the tribunal. You are also not responsible for their solicitor costs if the matter proceeds to tribunal.
When should I extend my lease?
Now. The shorter the lease term the higher the premium will be to extend the lease. Therefore, the longer a lease is left to run down the more it will cost to extend. When the lease has over 100 years to run the increase in cost to extend the lease is likely to be rather negligible. However once the lease drops below 100 years the premium to extend rises more steadily. Below 80 years statutory lease extensions have to take into account marriage value which drastically increases the premium. We would therefore advise that leases are extended when the lease has between 81-99 years unexpired.
How long does a Statutory lease extension take?
Generally lease extensions take 3 to 8 months to go through, and depend largely on the freeholder’s response and the reasonableness of their professionals.
Do I need a solicitor and valuer?
Yes. The solicitor will guide you through the legal frame work, serve the notice and agree the new lease term. The surveyor will advise you on what is a reasonable price for the lease extension.
What happens to the ground rent I pay?
Informal lease extensions vary, but have a bad reputation caused by certain freeholders who take advantages of leaseholders and the fact there is no formal process. Freeholder’s are likely to want to put a higher new ground rent into the new lease and may only offer a short extension. Our advice would be to have a solicitor and surveyor look over the freeholder’s offer to ensure it is a good deal.
Do I qualify for a statutory lease extension?
Generally, you will be eligible for a statutory lease extension, if your lease was more than 21 years when it was originally granted, and you have owned your flat for at least 2 years. If the freeholder is the Crown, National Trust or the flat forms part of a building within a cathedral precinct your property may be excluded.
How much will a lease extension cost?
The golden question, what will it cost. This is very dependent upon a number of factors which include how long is left on the lease, how much is the flat worth if sold with a long lease and how much ground rent you pay. For more information on how the premium is calculated click here. For an estimate of the premium for the lease extension please click here for our Lease Extension Calculator.
Why should I extend my lease?
As your lease gets shorter, the value of the leasehold flat decreases and it becomes more expensive to extend the lease. If you intend to sell the flat, you are likely to find that some purchasers will want a discount if the lease is less than 100 years. It can also be difficult to acquire a mortgage on properties with less than 70 years, greatly reducing their saleability.
What is the process?
The process commences with your solicitor serving the Section 42 notice under the 1993 Act upon the freeholder. The notice outlines the intention to extend the lease, the premium offered and specifying a date for response at least two months after the date of the serving of the notice. The freeholder then responds with their counter notice under section 45 of the act. The notice will state whether the freeholder accepts the premium offered or more likely offers a counter figure. The Act then allows a period of negotiation. If a compromise cannot be agreed either side can make an application to the FTT (First Tier Tribunal). Such an application must be made between 2 and 6 months after the section 45 counter notice was served.
How do I tell how long is left on my lease?
It should say on your lease or title register how long the original term was granted for and from when it commences.
What length of extension do I get?
You get an additional 90 years added to the existing term. So if you currently have 75 years you would then have 165 years.
Is a lease extension outside the act worth it?
Informal lease extensions vary, but have a bad reputation caused by certain freeholders who take advantages of leaseholders and the fact there is no formal process. Freeholder’s are likely to want to put a higher new ground rent into the new lease and may only offer a short extension. Our advice would be to have a solicitor and surveyor look over the freeholder’s offer to ensure it is a good deal.
Party Walls
Do my works require a Party Wall Notice and Award?
Generally speaking, works requiring Party Wall Notices fall within 3 categories:
- Works directly to the shared party wall, such as cutting into the wall (such as to insert beam and padstones), removing chimney breasts from the party wall, cutting back the footings to any foundations of a party wall, raising a party wall etc.
- Excavations within 3 meters of a neighbouring building to a depth beneath their foundations. The other area where excavation works will require party wall notices is when the building owner is excavating within 6 metres of the adjoining owners building and the excavation works bisects an imaginary 45 line drawn from the centre of the adjoining owner’s foundations. As shown on the drawing below.
- Constructing a wall either on the boundary line or adjacent the boundary line.
Common works which generally require a Party Wall Notice include rear extensions, loft conversion works, removing chimney breasts and basement extensions.
What is a Party Wall?
A Party Structure means a Party Wall and also a floor partition separating two owners. For example, this could be a floor between two flats.
What is a Party Fence Wall?
Surprisingly a Party Fence Wall is not a fence, but a wall which stands on the land of two owners but is not part of a building. Party Fence Wall does not include a wall on the boundary where only the foundations project onto the neighbours side.
What are your Party Wall Surveyor Fees?
For acting as the Building Owners’ Party Wall Surveyor, unlike our competitors who tend to operate on an hourly rate, we offer a set fee scale which can be found here.
For acting as the Neighbours/Adjoining Owner’s Party Wall Surveyor we charge an hourly rate of £150 per hour +VAT. The reasonable fees of the Adjoining Owner’s Surveyor are paid by the Building Owner and therefore in all usual circumstances our services, we be at no charge to you.
What is a Building Owner and Adjoining Owner?
The parties within a Party Wall Agreement are known as the Building Owner and the Adjoining Owner(s). The Building Owner is the party who is carrying out the building works. The Adjoining Owner(s) are those whose property is adjoining the proposed building works.
How do I know how many Adjoining Owners will be affected by my works?
This largely depends upon how many neighbours you have within close proximity to the works. Generally, your works will only affect your direct neighbours those to either side of you. However, there may be further adjoining owners if say you are building close to your rear boundary or you are excavating down to such a depth that you are within 6 metres of other neighbours’ foundations. You should also bear in mind that the act refers to owners which have an interest in the property of greater than a year being an adjoining owner. Therefore, in the case of neighbouring properties being flats they will likely have at least two adjoining owners: a freeholder and one or more leaseholders.
What is a Party Wall Award?
A Party Wall Award is the final documentation in the party wall process and ensures that the Adjoining Owner(s) are adequately legally protected in the event that damage is caused resulting from the works. The Award is commonly known as a Party Wall Agreement.