Building Surveying

Who We Are

Over 2 decades of experience
in building surveying

OCK Chartered Surveyors’ building surveying department possesses over 25 years of experience providing a comprehensive range of Building Surveying skills together with a detailed knowledge of current and planned legislation and regulations, maintained through continuous training and professional development.

 The team is led by Hillel Broder BSc (Hons) MRICS a Partner at OCK. As specialists in building surveying, We can advise you on the following :

  • Building Surveys

Dream House? A building survey will help you find out

A Building Survey (alternatively known as a Structural Survey), simply explained, is an all-over health check on a property informing you of its current structural and general condition. It comprises a detailed report and gives a comprehensive view on the construction, condition and maintenance liability of the property in question.

This survey can frequently save the purchaser money as any structural problems or disrepair may have considerable cost implications

  • Areas covered are as follows:
  • Serious Structural Defects that may have an impact on the safety and stability of the structure such as structural movement.
  • Essential Repairs that require immediate attention and longer term maintenance issues such as dampness and rot.
  • Budgets for these Essential Repairs. (If required)
  • Matters for your solicitor.
  • Schedule of condition

This simply records the condition of a building at a particular time and has two main uses. When used to record the condition at lease commencement, a tenant can save costs at the lease termination if an accurate record is prepared, thereby limiting any dilapidation liability.

A Schedule of Condition is also often required when  works involving a party wall or party wall Notice are carried out. If a building owner wishes to carry out works to party walls or floors or undertake certain excavations then a party wall award must be produced. A schedule of condition is prepared prior to any works commencing. The state of the building is re-examined once all works are completed and if there has been any damage due to these works, the building owner carrying out the works is obligated to compensate or remedy the defects of the adjoining property by reference to the Schedule of Condition.

  • Party wall advice

Building works that involve any part of the wall or floor separating different buildings, often known as ‘Party Walls’, must comply with the Party Wall etc Act 1996. Under the act, the person carrying out the works is known as the Building Owner and the neighbour as the Adjoining Owner. The main obligations are to give the Adjoining Owner notice that the work is to be carried out and to repair any damage that may be caused by the work.

Professional advice is therefore advisable to ensure correct notices are served and the Party Wall Act is complied with.

By appointing a Party Wall surveyor, you can be properly advised on the correct course of action and in doing so keep future costs and potential disputes to a minimum

  • Expert Witness

In the event of a dispute with a neighbour or builder, it’s often better to settle such a dispute without going to court. Sometimes this may be the only appropriate action and there may then be a need for an Expert Witness report.

 
  • Dilapidations

Under normal lease terms (fully repairing and insuring lease covenants), a tenant has an obligation to keep premises in a good and tenantable repair throughout the lease and the financial implications can be serious should they fail to do this.  A landlord will therefore contact a Chartered Surveyor either during the course of the lease and certainly towards the end of the lease term in order to seek advice on any dilapidations liability that may arise.

At the start of a lease it is also highly advisable to seek the advice of a Chartered Surveyor so they can prepare either a Building Survey or a report on condition.

  • CDM Regulations 2015

CDM Regulations is concerned with all Health and Safety aspects of construction.

If you are about to build, extend or demolish a structure then the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 may place a number of legal duties on you as the client.

For many building projects an advisor is needed to assist with the project.  A key project advisor in respect of construction  for notifiable projects is known as the Principal Designer whom the client must  appoint. It is their task to plan, manage and coordinate the planning and design work. Our schedule of work include guidance for the contractor on health & safety issues so that a construction phase Health & safety plan can be prepared so that safety can be managed.

  • Contract administration

Contract Administration, simply explained, is the procedure followed where contacts are involved. The process focuses on the relationship formed between the client and the contractor, from the time of the award of the contract to its termination. The focus of Contract Administration is to obtain the supplies and services outlined in the contract within a specific time frame and within a specific, agreed budget.

In the case of building contracts, this includes preparing specifications and schedules of works, obtaining competitive tenders and administering building contracts for the works.

OCK have a number of staff highly trained and with many years of experience in this area and are also able to provide a service that ensures full consultation with leaseholders under the Housing Act.

  • Planned maintenance programmes and advice

We prepare planned maintenance programmes and plans specific to our client’s requirements. Our service includes assessing the cost of works needed and the preparation of a coordinated programme to deal with items found, which can be structured to suit the client’s budgeting requirements.

We carry out drone surveys which are helpful for difficult to reach areas particularly roofs and are cost effective compared to arranging costly scaffold access to inspect. The drone survey will potentially save on costly damaged due to neglected unseen areas. The drone survey can also be used in conjunction with a Building Survey to report more comprehensively on inaccessible areas such as roofs.

The secretary to the Building Surveying department is Fiona Walsh and she can be contacted on Fiona@ock-survey.co.uk

Our Surveyors

Hillel Broder BSc (Hons) MRICS

Building Surveying

hb@ock-survey.co.uk

Benjy Dolties BSc (Hons)

Building Surveying

bd@ock-survey.co.uk

Fiona Walsh - Secretary

Building Surveying

fiona@ock-survey.co.uk

To find out more or to discuss your requirements, please contact us.

Leasehold Enfranchisement

Services

OCK offers a professional, efficient and comprehensive service designed to meet all your management requirements in and around London. Our portfolio includes residential and commercial properties across the UK on behalf of clients ranging from small to corporate investors both national and internationally based.

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Lease Extensions

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A valuation is an assessment of what a property is worth given certain assumptions.   Most valuations relate to the market – commonly known as open market value – and it is therefore important that the purpose of a specific valuation is fully understood.  Since a valuation can be on the basis of a projected market value also known as a forced sale value or indeed a rental value.

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Valuation

Services

A valuation is an assessment of what a property is worth given certain assumptions.   Most valuations relate to the market – commonly known as open market value – and it is therefore important that the purpose of a specific valuation is fully understood.  Since a valuation can be on the basis of a projected market value also known as a forced sale value or indeed a rental value.

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Management

Services

OCK offers a professional, efficient and comprehensive service designed to meet all your management requirements in and around London. Our portfolio includes residential and commercial properties across the UK on behalf of clients ranging from small to corporate investors both national and internationally based.

View Service