As Adjoining Owner’s surveyor our concern was that our client’s property and the occupying staff were fully protected before commencement of a major demolition and new development project that also involved deep piling. Together with the Building Owner’s surveyor a detailed schedule of condition of all internal walls, external elevations and the roof within 6 metres of their building were completed.

The Building Owner contacted Metcalfe Briggs Surveyors as he had received a query from his neighbour that the foundations excavated for the Building Owner’s extension contravened the 3 metre rule under the Party Wall Etc. Act 1996. The Act states that is a footing is dug within 3 metres of an adjoining property and is lower than the existing footings of the adjoining property, the Act applies.

In spite of a Party Wall Award being agreed, significant variations of the building works occurred by the Building Owner. This included building on our Adjoining Owner’s land and assuming the tenants of the flat above the development could use the Adjoining Owner’s land for access as the original pathway had been destroyed.

The roofs of this Grade II* listed mansion were of very high specification but the leadwork had reached the end of its useful life and had been patched numerous times. The future of the building was uncertain so Metcalfe Briggs Surveyors produced a minimum expenditure maintenance.

The occupier of these two London industrial units which were originally leased to a government funded body had made extensive alterations over the years and were approaching the end of their lease. Finding the premises a little too large and no longer ideally suiting them.

A vacant parcel of land in Essex was ripe for development to provide a residential refuge for women and children with support needs requiring temporary accommodation. It consists of 5 self contained 1 and 2 bedroom flats with a communal lounge and office for 24hr support.

This High Street Victorian property in Kent had been extended in modern times to provide additional open plan office accommodation and fitted out specifically for the use of the tenant, the DHSS as a Job Centre Plus and associated offices.

In 1914 a family trust created a lease of 99 years’ duration at a rent of £3 for a row of six tenanted cottages in Kent to provide accommodation under the Housing of the Working Classes Acts 1890-1909 – i.e. social housing.

Metcalfe Briggs Surveyors, acting for the tenant of an Ashford, Kent warehouse unit, were asked to advise on the contemplated assignment of the lease.

Metcalfe Briggs Surveyors represented the landlord, a small investment fund, with a commercial lease to a major High Street food retailer.  Although a modern brick building it was being vacated in a neglected and unrepaired condition internally and externally.