Cooke & Arkwright employs a specialist building surveying department staffed by experienced Chartered Building Surveyors and equipped with a full CAD facility. The department gives perceptive and relevant advice across the whole range of building surveying issues.
Contact:
John Day BSc (Hons) MRICS - Director
Lloyd Newland BSc MRICS - Senior Building Surveyor
Tim Lawley BA (Hons) MRICS - Senior Building Surveyor
Tel: (029) 20 346346
One of main requirements of the traditional Chartered Building Surveyor is the ability to identify the cause and effects of defects to existing and new buildings and advise in respect of making good and the costs thereof.
Requirements for Building Surveys can vary considerably, dependent on the precise requirements of the Client.
There are many types of surveys that can be carried out including:
Building fabric condition and structural surveys — this survey will involve detailed examination of the building and the production of a report detailing the style and type of construction and advising on potential or existing defects or future problems in terms of maintenance.
Full building investigation survey — this will include the testing of the structure, mechanical and electrical elements as well as reporting on the building fabric and will require the appointment of other consultants.
Investment appraisal survey — this may include a review of the property with an general report based on visual evidence in order to determine existing defects and potential future defects.
A Schedule of Condition is usually prepared at the commencement of a lease term and can be referred to in and appended to a lease document as a means of stating the building condition at that time and thereafter restricting the Clients repairing liability at the lease end.
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 set out broad general duties which apply to almost all building activities. They are aimed mainly at improving the Health and Safety management of building works.
The Regulations place duties on all parties to designated building works and Cooke & Arkwright are able to act as Employers Agent and Planning Supervisor in this regard.
Appointments are generally carried out on behalf of landlords to review tenant’s proposals for adaptation and fitting out of properties in order to comply with lease documentation. Upon vacation of the properties at lease end a further inspection will identify repairing liabilities under the terms of the licence previously granted
Chartered Building Surveyors are often asked to appear as Expert Witnesses in building related disputes which require legal clarification.
We are able to prepare concise reports in accordance with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Practice Statement and Guidance Notes and appear as a personal representation in a Court of Law if required.
Many landlords and tenants require alterations and/or conversion work to be carried out to their properties in order to maintain a building’s function.
We are able to prepare outline schemes, complete detailed design and procure the contracts on site, including certifying payments to approved contractors.
All buildings will require repair and maintenance during their life cycle in order to protect the value of the asset and these works may be carried out by landlords and/or tenants.
We are able to prepare planned preventative maintenance programmes to identify the repairs required in short, medium and long term in order that the Client may budget expenditure for the life of the building.
Schedules of Dilapidations can be undertaken on behalf of both landlord and tenants and may be prepared on either an interim or final basis, dependent on the unexpired term of the lease.
The Schedule is an express statement of the Clients liability in respect of the subject lease terms and may form the basis of legal action if a negotiated settlement of the claim cannot be achieved.
Fire Insurance Valuations are required by owners and tenants in order to establish the reconstruction cost of the property in case of total or partial loss due to a specific peril.
Requirements may include for the valuation of individual properties and/or complete portfolios and will often include desktop valuations in subsequent years to advise on percentage basis uplifts.
Refurbishment and Fitting Out Works may be carried out by landlords and/or tenants properties periodically throughout the lifecycle in order to adapt the space to meet changing requirements and legislation.
With the use of computer aided design (CAD) we are able to prepare a full range of schemes from inception, through to final design and procurement of works on site.
Development monitoring is usually carried out on behalf of funding institutions or tenants procuring new buildings.
No two projects are the same and the scope of the services offered by Cooke & Arkwright can be adjusted to meet the needs and protect the interests of each particular Client.
The Party Wall Etc Act 1998 requires that a named surveyor should act as building owner surveyor or adjoining owner survey when building works are carried out to a party wall, or within certain designated distances of adjacent properties.
Specific procedures are set out and a specialist knowledge is required when acting on behalf of the building owner or adjoining owner.
Chartered Building Surveyors may act on behalf of occupiers in the procurement of new buildings using the design and build process.
We are able to prepare the initial scheme design, employers requirements, documentation and monitor the works on site to completion, ensuring that the Clients requirements are adhered to.