Appointing a Commercial Property Surveyor may be one of the most cost-effective decisions you can make when considering a commercial property or office space, whether you are purchasing it for your own use, as an investment or if you are taking occupation as a leaseholder.
A professional report will warn you of any major defects, health and safety concerns or legal complications that could cause problems with the property in the future. It can also be used to help you better understand the building; its construction, design and overall suitability for the purpose you intend to use it for. This allows you to make a fully informed decision before you take ownership, budget appropriately for repairs or refurbishment, and potentially re-negotiate the purchase price.
Our Commercial Chartered Surveyors are experienced with all types of modern and traditional structures, as demonstrated by our extensive Commercial Portfolio. Our qualified team will undertake a full assessment of the building’s current condition, providing you with a comprehensive report prior to your purchase or occupation. We can also provide valuations for a wide range of commercial properties.
We work with all kinds of commercial properties, both pre-existing and new builds, including:
Commercial / office space
Industrial and retail units
Healthcare facilities
Residential blocks
Mixed-use developments
Which parts of the building will be looked at by the Commercial Property Surveyor?
Your surveyor will inspect all visible features of the interior and exterior of the building. Internally, this includes (but is not limited to) the floors, walls, basement, sanitary fittings and general finish. Externally, a Commercial Property Surveyor will assess the condition of the roof, rainwater goods, windows, outbuildings and the boundary line of the site. They will also consider the general structure of the building(s), utility services and any health or safety considerations that may apply.
How detailed will the report be?
It is difficult to be specific, as every property is unique and there may be some practical limitations regarding which areas of the building can be assessed. However, our Commercial Chartered Surveyor will take the time to understand your priorities and ensure that any areas of concern are covered as thoroughly as possible in your report. Any areas with reasonable accessibility will be investigated, and you can expect that any major defects (or potential major defects) will be identified. If there are any areas that your Commercial Property Surveyor cannot inspect, it will be clearly identified in the report.
Please click on the sections below for more details about the Commercial Surveyor services we offer.
Dealing with commercial property can be on a leasehold or freehold basis and in either instance, you are taking on a potential liability which can have significant long term implications.
Silk Sharples Jennings Chartered Surveyors offer a full range of surveys and inspections for all types of commercial, industrial, office and retail premises and these can be critical in assisting in the negotiation of more favourable lease terms, or alternatively for ensuring the price being paid for freehold property is reflective of its condition.
When taking on a commercial property on a formal lease it is vital for a tenant to obtain a detailed Schedule of Condition, which would ideally be attached to the lease and agreed with the landlord to provide a baseline agreement as to the condition of the property at the time of occupation. This will ensure that as a tenant you are protected against having to undertake costly repairs and dilapidations at the end of the lease which were already in existence at its commencement.
Where a Schedule of Condition cannot be agreed with the landlord, it is still vitally important that as the tenant, you are aware of the condition of the property in order that you can budget accordingly over the term of the lease for any potential dilapidations.
The ability to use a Building Survey or Schedule of Condition prior to commencement of the lease is critical to ensure that you can negotiate the most appropriate terms. As Chartered Surveyors we are frequently working in association with Solicitors to ensure clients obtain the best advice prior to entering into a lease agreement and the earlier that we are involved in the process, the more cost-effective this can be.
Towards the end of a lease agreement, a Schedule of Dilapidation will need to be prepared by the landlord and this will be a reflection of the condition of the property based on the terms of the lease.
Silk Sharples Jennings are able to act for both landlords or tenants in the preparation or negotiation of Schedules of Dilapidation and their associated costs and we have many years experience working for individuals and corporate clients to ensure the terms of the lease and the repairing obligations are properly adhered to.
