Independent building surveying consultancy

Insurance Reinstatement

When your property is damaged by events such as a storm, fire or flood, your insurer will typically appoint a loss adjuster to assess and manage the claim on their behalf. Peak Surveying works on behalf of property owners, providing independent professional advice throughout the claims process. We assess the damage, prepare detailed specifications for the necessary repair works, and oversee the reinstatement process from start to finish. Acting as your representative, we help ensure that your property is restored to its pre-loss condition and that your interests are protected every step of the way. Drawing on our extensive experience of insurance claims and loss adjusting procedures, we provide loss adjusters with the clear, detailed information they require to assess and progress claims efficiently. This helps reduce unnecessary delays and friction, facilitating a smoother claims process and allowing reinstatement works to commence as quickly as possible.

Damage Assessment

Post-event survey and quantification for insurance claims. Independent assessment — not instructed by, and not reported to, the adjuster.

BUILDING PROJECTS (including maintenance, repair and reinstatement projects)

Initial appraisals and advice

Where required we will discuss project requirements with the client; agree the scope of the project as well as the scope of services that you require us to provide; make recommendations in relation to procurement; and the appointment of other consultants whose advice/expertise may be required eg structural engineer, architect, quantity surveyor etc

Specification

We will prepare a specification for works required and, if required, procure technical drawings in order to clearly describe the project requirements.

Tendering

We will prepare a specification for works required and, if required, procure technical drawings in order to clearly describe the project requirements.

Statutory Consents

We will prepare a specification for works required and, if required, procure technical drawings in order to clearly describe the project requirements.

Contract Administration

Acting as Contract Administrator, we will arrange the appointment of a building contractor on behalf of our client and, where appropriate, advise on the type of contract to be entered into between the client and the contractor. We will co-ordinate communication between the project team; monitor progress and quality as works proceed; certify payments to the contractor; and administer the building contract throughout the construction phase.
 
The engagement of a professional contract administrator will help manage the client’s risk, minimise the likelihood of a dispute with the contractor arising, and ensure that projects are delivered efficiently and in accordance with any contract and/or statutory requirements.

Dilapidations

We can provide general advice to landlord or tenants clients in relation to dilapidations matters, where necessary working in conjunction with the client’s legal advisors.

In some situations, where a new lease is being prepared it may be appropriate to make reference to a ‘schedule of condition’ within a lease. We can provide and tailor such schedules to the particular situation.

Working for landlord clients we can prepare interim or terminal dilapidations schedules for serving upon their tenant(s) and subsequently negotiate and agree the extent of works required which will put the tenant in compliance with the requirements of the lease vis a vis the repairing and/or yielding up covenants. Thereafter we can seek to ensure that the tenant either undertakes the required works to the required standard or agrees to make a fair and reasonable cash settlement to the the landlord client in lieu.

Where a tenant client is served with a schedule of dilapidations we can act on their behalf to mitigate it’s financial exposure through, for example, negotiation with the landlords surveyor vis a vis the extent of the schedule and the costs relating to it, and where appropriate recommending works/actions to be undertaken prior to lease termination.

Building surveys & defect analysis

We undertake building surveys on commercial and domestic properties and subsequently provide written reports for clients. Where we do not have appropriate specialist knowledge, we will recommend the engagement of third-party specialist consultants or contractors such as structural engineering consultants or building services consultants or contractors.

Following our inspection and, if appropriate, any follow-up investigations or research, we will supply a written Building Survey/Technical Due Diligence report incorporating details of concerns and any recommended remedial works.   

Survey reports are most commonly required by client who are acquiring premises. However, they are also required to inform requirements for remedial works, outstanding maintenance needs, shortcomings in statutory compliance, improvement opportunities.

In certain situations, we may be required to inspect and investigate a specific defect(s) with a view to reporting upon the cause or causes and remedial works required. On some occasions this may result in a recommendation to engage a contractor to assist with undertaking some extent of testing and/or ‘opening’ up with a view to obtaining certainty.
 
Please note that Peak Surveying Services do not provide valuations of domestic or commercial properties.