STORM DAMAGE REINSTATEMENT — ST PETER

Storm Damage to Granite Cottage. Full project management of repairs.

Project Summary

Peak Surveying Services was appointed by the policyholder following significant storm damage to a traditional Jersey granite property, where a fallen tree caused structural damage to the building.

Our involvement began with a detailed inspection to assess the extent of the damage and determine the appropriate repair strategy. We prepared technical specifications for initial stabilisation and enabling works to secure the property and prevent further deterioration before the reinstatement works commenced.

Peak Surveying coordinated the appointment and management of specialist consultants, including architects and structural engineers, and oversaw the process of obtaining the necessary planning and building Bye-Laws approvals for the proposed repairs.

Once the investigation and design stages were complete, we prepared a detailed schedule of works and tender documentation. Competitive tenders were obtained from suitably qualified contractors and assessed to ensure value for money and appropriate expertise for the project.

Peak Surveying then provided full contract administration and project management services throughout the reinstatement works, overseeing the repairs and ensuring the project was delivered in accordance with the agreed specification, programme and regulatory requirements through to practical completion.

Before — Storm damage to the property

During — Temporary stabilisation and protection

After — Completed reinstatement

Dilapidations — St Helier

£166,000 saved. A £253,000 dilapidations claim settled at £87,000.

Our client, a respected financial services company, was approaching the end of a nine-year lease of its 4,000 sq ft office premises in St Helier.

The Directors had been cautious when they originally committed to the lease, recognising their potential exposure to a significant dilapidations liability at lease termination, particularly as the premises had not been fully repaired or reinstated by the previous tenant.

A Schedule of Condition had been appended to the lease, with the repairing and yielding-up covenants consequently limited. The client was therefore surprised when the landlord subsequently served a quantified dilapidations claim of approximately £253,000, just two months before the end of the lease term.

Peak Surveying undertook a thorough review of the lease, inspected the premises and assessed the extent of the genuine dilapidations. We also reviewed maintenance documentation supplied by the client, consulted with the client's legal advisers and obtained specialist advice from building services engineers.

Drawing on our experience in dilapidations matters, we developed an appropriate strategy to challenge and mitigate the landlord's claim. This ultimately enabled a final settlement of £87,000 to be agreed. A saving of £166,000 against the landlord's original claim, demonstrating the significant value that informed dilapidations advice can provide to commercial tenants.