Property Dispute Surveyors
Property disputes can quickly become stressful, time-consuming and expensive, particularly when there is disagreement over the cause of a problem, responsibility for repairs or the extent of damage to a building.
Contact Us
Professional Surveying Advice for Property and Building Disputes
At Sutherland Surveyors, our experienced Chartered Surveyors provide clear, independent advice to homeowners, landlords, property owners, developers and other parties involved in property and building disputes.
We can inspect the property, investigate the issues involved and provide professional surveying advice to help establish the facts and identify an appropriate way forward.
Whether a disagreement concerns building defects, boundaries, neighbouring properties, construction work or damage to a building, obtaining expert advice at an early stage can often help prevent a dispute from becoming unnecessarily complicated.
Independent Advice When Property Disputes Arise
Disagreements involving property can occur for many different reasons. In some cases, the cause of a defect or damage may be disputed. In others, neighbouring property owners may disagree about boundaries, alterations or responsibility for remedial work.
Our role is to provide an objective professional assessment based on the available evidence and the condition of the property.
Where appropriate, we can undertake a detailed inspection, review relevant documentation and provide a written report setting out our observations, findings and professional opinion.
Our involvement can help the parties better understand the technical issues and may assist solicitors and other professional advisers where a dispute progresses further.
Property Disputes We Can Assist With
Sutherland Surveyors can provide surveying advice in connection with a wide range of property-related disagreements, including disputes concerning building defects, defective workmanship, damage caused by neighbouring works, water ingress, damp, cracking and movement, boundaries and structures close to boundaries.
We can also investigate disagreements relating to repairs, maintenance responsibilities, alterations and building works, as well as other situations where an independent assessment of the building or property is required.
Every dispute is different, so the scope of our involvement will depend upon the circumstances and the technical issues that need to be considered.
Cracking, Movement and Structural Concerns
Cracks appearing in a property can understandably cause concern and may lead to disagreements about their cause or responsibility.
Cracking can occur for many reasons, ranging from relatively minor movement to more significant building or ground-related issues.
Our surveyors can inspect the property, consider the pattern and nature of the cracking and provide professional advice on the likely cause and whether further investigation or specialist input may be necessary.
Building Defects and Defective Workmanship
Disputes frequently arise following building, renovation or repair work where the property owner believes the work has not been completed correctly.
Problems may include poor workmanship, inappropriate materials, incomplete work, water penetration, cracking or construction that does not correspond with the expected specification.
A Chartered Surveyor can inspect the affected areas and provide an independent assessment of the apparent defects. Where appropriate, we can also advise on the remedial work that may be required to rectify the problem.
Damp, Leaks and Water Damage Disputes
Water ingress can be particularly difficult to resolve when the source of the problem is unclear.
Leaks, penetrating damp, defective roofs, drainage problems and issues associated with neighbouring properties can all result in damage and disagreement over responsibility.
An independent inspection can help identify the likely source of moisture and distinguish between different potential causes, allowing decisions about repairs and responsibility to be based on professional evidence rather than assumption.
Boundary and Neighbour Disputes
Disagreements between neighbouring property owners can arise over boundaries, walls, fences, extensions, alterations and building work carried out close to adjoining properties.
These situations can become particularly sensitive because the parties often continue to live or operate alongside one another after the dispute has been resolved.
Our surveyors can provide an independent assessment of the physical property and relevant information available to us, helping to clarify the surveying issues involved.
Where the matter concerns work to a party wall or other structure covered by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, we can also advise on the appropriate procedures and our dedicated Party Wall Surveyor services.
Property Damage Caused by Building Works
Construction or renovation work at one property can sometimes result in alleged damage to another.
This might include cracking, vibration damage, water ingress or other physical changes noticed during or following nearby building work.
We can inspect the affected property, document its condition and provide an independent professional opinion regarding the observed damage and, where possible, its likely cause.
Kind regards, Mrs I.
P M.
Mr R.
Mrs W.
Hazel Dudley
Ms Johnston
Steve
Dr Giles Adams, Health, Safety & Welfare Adviser at Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester
Mike & Caroline Marks
Mrs Julie Sykes
Fred Eley
Jason Parnwell
Teresa Mitchell
Surveying Reports for Property Disputes
A clear written report can be extremely valuable when there is disagreement about the condition of a property.
Depending on the circumstances and agreed scope of instruction, our reports may record the condition of relevant areas, identify defects or damage, consider possible causes and provide recommendations regarding further investigation or remedial work. Where a matter has become, or is likely to become, the subject of formal legal proceedings, different requirements may apply. Sutherland Surveyors can advise whether our Expert Witness services would be appropriate in those circumstances.
Why Instruct a Chartered Surveyor?
Property disputes often involve a combination of technical, practical and legal considerations.
While solicitors can advise on the legal aspects of a dispute, a Chartered Surveyor can provide the specialist property and construction knowledge required to investigate what has physically happened to the building.
Obtaining independent surveying advice can help establish the technical facts, clarify the extent of a problem and provide a sounder basis for discussions between the parties and their professional advisers.
Resolving Property Disputes at an Early Stage
Not every property disagreement needs to develop into formal legal proceedings. In many situations, obtaining clear independent advice early can help both sides understand the nature of the problem and the work required to resolve it.
Where possible, our approach is practical and proportionate. We aim to identify the relevant property issues clearly and provide straightforward professional advice that helps our clients make informed decisions about their next steps.
Experienced Chartered Surveyors
Sutherland Surveyors provides independent surveying advice to homeowners, landlords, businesses, property professionals and legal advisers. Our experienced team combines detailed knowledge of buildings and construction with a practical approach to property problems and disputes.
Where additional specialist investigation is required, we can also advise on the appropriate next steps.
Building Surveying Services We Offer
Speak to Sutherland Surveyors About a Property Dispute
If you are involved in a dispute concerning a property, building defect, neighbouring works or damage to a building, early professional advice can help you understand the problem and your available options. Contact Sutherland Surveyors to discuss the circumstances of your property dispute and find out how one of our Chartered Surveyors may be able to assist.
Speak to our team today to arrange an initial discussion about your property dispute.
