Commercial Property Surveyors
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Surveyors of Commercial Property Surveyors of Commercial Property in Canterbury, London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester & Cardiff
If you are purchasing, partaking in, or divesting from commercial real estate, then hiring a surveyor who specialises in commercial property in Canterbury could be one of the most advantageous decisions you make.
Our team of surveyors is made up of highly skilled individuals who are experts in every aspect of commercial property in Canterbury and the surrounding Home Counties. Many hold registration with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), and/or Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA), which are recognised throughout the world as the premier professional bodies that sets the standard for qualifications and operating procedures in land, property, and construction sectors. As our surveyors work independently from banks, they can provide totally objective and unconflicted advice.
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Defining Commercial Property Surveying
Commercial Property Surveyors possess advanced skills and training that enable them to effectively survey all varieties of commercial buildings. These venues might include residential rental properties, office space, retail space, and various types of warehouse and storage depots.
Commercial Property Surveyors are typically hired by the tenants, landlords, buyers, or sellers of the properties in question. They perform a number of essential tasks and are invaluable in supporting the property transaction process. Some of their duties include:
- reporting on the presence of defects in the building or its systems,
- making important recommendations regarding maintenance;
- preparing the Schedule of Condition, which details the state of the building at the time of the survey;
- preparing the Schedule of Dilapidations, which details what must be done to the building to make it conform to UK regulations and legislation on construction.
Many commercial property surveyors specialise in areas that pique their interest, such as land management, purchase and sale of property, leasing, or property design.
Types of Commercial Property Surveys Canterbury
There are many types of property surveys, and the commercial team performs several of them tailored to the precise requirements of their clients. Among those is the building survey. A building survey is a very thorough inspection and the resultant report covers all of the physical elements of the building. If there are defects in the building, this survey will find them. It will also describe the materials used in the construction of the building and will do so in a way that clear distinctions can be made among the materials.
Building Surveys
Most commercial structures differ greatly from residential ones, and they are often constructed of reinforced concrete, steel, and cladding. This necessitates a different approach to surveying compared to surveys of residential buildings. When surveying a commercial structure, a residential building surveyor would likely not only find more potential issues and defects to report on but also ones that would be more serious and potentially much more expensive to rectify.
Schedule of Condition
A Schedule of Condition details the state of a property at a particular time, commonly when it is rented out. It is a document produced for landlords and tenants that can clarify and pre-emptively settle disputes over damage to a property.
The detail of the condition schedule varies: usually they are brief descriptions of defects with photographs and maybe annotations.
They do serve a common purpose: before renting out a space, a landlord can detail its condition and use this as evidence should any claims of damages come up during or after the rental period.
The Schedule of Condition is a key document relating to property responsibilities between landlord and tenant. It sets out the condition of the property at the formation of the lease: all parties know the state of the property beforehand. At the end of the lease, the Schedule of Condition can help avoid the very contentious issue of deciding which party had responsibility for property damage that was in existence (but not apparent) at the time the tenant took possession of the property. The saving this can achieve will almost certainly be many thousands of pounds.
Schedule of Dilapidations
Typically, at the end of a lease, a Schedule of Dilapidations is prepared. This document itemises repairs needing to be made by the tenant. The surveyor can help sort it all out and offer advice on the path to settlement, and he or she can represent either the landlord or tenant in case disputes arise.
Using a Commercial Property Surveyor in Canterbury
If you’re buying, selling, or leasing a commercial property, you need to have your interests protected by a property surveyor. That means a surveyor with experience and knowledge of commercial properties and their unique challenges. This arrangement makes good sense and protects you from potential future legal entanglements over the lease agreement. The property surveyor can help you understand your law obligations and, by doing so, ensure that your commercial estate manager has a pathway to communicate with you and your clients without it being an impediment.
Examples of our work include:
- ensuring that your tenant looks after your property
- helping investors understand what’s involved in buying land
- settling boundary disputes with your neighbour
Your RICS surveyor in Canterbury will support you in all aspects of commercial property, be it lease renewals, rent reviews, purchases, sales, or any other matter.
