Our Work

Collier Stevens completed a detailed schedule of three buildings, including a Martello Tower in an exposed location on the Suffolk coast. Major sea defences were to be constructed and Schedules were necessary to record the building condition before works started.

External Repair and refurbishment – Knightsbridge

This was a comprehensive programme of repair and redecoration to two high value residential apartment blocks in central London. This included inspection, specification, tendering and project management. Particular challenges were the negotiation of scaffold licences with neighbouring occupiers and complicated access over an operating restaurant to allow access to the rear elevation.

Ground Floor Victorian Conversion Flat, Kent

Collier Stevens were asked to undertake a level 2 survey of a ground floor conversion flat in a Victorian house. Our client was particularly interested in the suitability of the property for use as a buy-to-let investment. Our survey revealed extensive dampness and condensation as well as issues relating to sound separation and fire separation. They decided not to proceed with this acquisition.

Defect Assessment – Structural Movement, Kent

On behalf of a Housing Association we were asked to inspect a bungalow and determine the cause of fracturing to outer walls. We were able to identify the cause as subsidence caused by the roots of adjacent trees.

Building Owner’s Surveyor – Rear & Side Extension, London

Collier Stevens were the Building Owner’s Surveyor – our client was constructing a single storey rear extension to his detached thirties house in London. Notices were required for building on the boundary line and adjacent excavation for foundations and to reduce ground levels.

Building Owner’s Surveyor – Complex Adjacent Building Work, Kent

Collier Stevens were the Building Owner’s Surveyor, for a complicated scheme of demolition and reconstruction of a neighbouring property requiring temporary works and the introduction of a substantial structural steel frame and columns immediately adjacent to a neighbouring property.

Building Owner’s Surveyor – Residential Redevelopment, London

Collier Stevens acted as Building Owner’s Surveyor for a scheme in London with multiple Adjoining Owners. It required demolition and extensive residential redevelopment.

It was notable for significant structural damage being caused to a neighbouring property because of an error in construction. The entire remedial work and settlement which ran well into six figures was resolved to all parties’ satisfaction within the provisions of the Party Wall Act and without recourse to lawyers.

First Floor Conversion Flat in a Period Building, Kent

This level 2 ISVA Homesurvey was undertaken for a client who was concerned about the general decorative and maintenance repair of the building as a whole, as well as the standard of conversion and condition relating to obligations under the lease.

Window manufacturer and installer / client dispute

In this case we were instructed by the manufacturers and installers of replacement windows. Their client had rejected the product as poor quality and having been installed inadequately and wished to negotiate the agreed price.

Our report found that the windows were constructed in accordance with relevant standards and in the majority of cases had been satisfactorily installed. Any shortcomings were minor and easy to rectify.

Our report assisted the small claims court in finding in favour of our client.

Client / Conservatory installer dispute

A dispute over a poorly constructed and leaking conservatory led to our client taking legal action against the installers.

We were able to prepare an expert witness report identifying the shortcomings and design errors that assisted the parties in reaching an out of court settlement.

Pre-purchase survey for wheelchair user

Our client was purchasing a bungalow and asked us to carry out a pre-purchase survey with specific requirements to consider the alterations that would be required to allow full use by a wheelchair user. The survey included measurement of corridors, practicality of internal alterations and cost assessment.

Local authority service charge dispute

We were instructed by the leaseholders of a local authority block of flats disputing the scope and cost of work claimed in the service charge.

Our detailed inspection and report assisted the property tribunal in finding on their behalf and having the service charges reduced.

Adjoining Owners Surveyor – Basement Conversion, Chislehurst

Collier Stevens were the Adjoining Owner’s Surveyor, where a neighbour was excavating, enlarging and altering an existing coal cellar to form additional habitable accommodation. This included works to chimney breasts, underpinning and the introduction of a substantial structural steel frame.

Dampness & Condensation, London

On behalf of tenants’ legal advisers Collier Stevens were asked to attend site, inspect the property and prepare a CPR35 compliant Expert Witness Report to assist in identifying housing disrepair liability for dampness and condensation damage. Principally due to a lack of ventilation and inadequate insulation.

Purpose-built Third Floor Flat, Kent

Collier Stevens were asked to undertake a Level 2 Building Survey of a purpose-built flat in a modern timber framed structure in an exposed coastal location.

Full building survey – semi detached house, Bromley

Our client wished to understand the condition of the property and that the structural alteration and extension work had been satisfactorily undertaken. A detailed survey was able to confirm that all structural work was in satisfactory order and that the property was suitable for purchase.

Full building survey – Edwardian House, Kent

This substantial Edwardian house was converted to three self-contained flats during the 1950s and had not been the subject of any modernisation for at least 30 years. Our client wished to return the house to a single dwelling.

They required a building survey to identify the current structural condition, the scope of structural work necessary to reinstate the property and an assessment of the potential cost of all of the work, including reinstatement to a single dwelling. Our survey identified concerns with the roof, water penetration, the services and asbestos.

Building survey of bungalow, Kent

This was a detailed survey on behalf of a prospective purchaser of a bungalow constructed in the mid-1960s in Kent.

Our client had particular concerns regarding the performance and expected life of the large flat roof and wished to understand the costs of modernisation. Our survey also identified the presence of asbestos board in various locations and irregularities with the plumbing installation.

External repairs and redecoration – Canterbury

Collier Stevens inspected, specified and managed a programme of external repair and decoration works at a purpose-built development. Our project management service included the redesign of defective external construction details, financial control and liaison with residents and third parties.

The works were subject to section 20 consultation process of the Landlord & Tenant Act. The consultation process formed a part of our instructions.

Community Hall extension and alterations

Collier Stevens provided design, specification and project management services for the extension, internal alteration and refurbishment of a community centre in Surrey. We incorporated enhancements to meet Equality Act obligations.

Access audit of office accommodation, London office building

Before entering into a lease, our clients required advice as to whether the accommodation they intended to occupy was suitable for access by those of all abilities.

As a business they employed one person of limited mobility and received regular visits from members of the public. We were able to add value to their decision-making process and advise our client of their obligations under the Equality Act.

Access audit – parks & open spaces

Collier Stevens was retained by a London local authority to inspect and audit their parks, open spaces and pathways to ensure they were accessible to all. The scope of audit and inspection encompassed children’s play parks, café and common spaces, as well as the paths, entrances and direction signage.

Police Force – disabled accessibility to first point of contact

Collier Stevens were engaged by a large Police Force to undertake an access audit of their estate. We were required to concentrate specifically on those sites where there was a first point of access to Police services, principally police stations.

Our audits were used to prioritise a programme of improvements to ensure equal access to services for all abilities wherever possible. We were subsequently retained to provide design advice where alterations were appropriate.

Schedule of condition, apartment building, London

A schedule of condition was prepared of the flats above and below a unit where major structural building work was proposed. Although the works were not subject to the party wall process, our clients were keen to ensure that an accurate record of condition was taken before they started their refurbishment. This could be used to consider liability for damage to neighbouring properties were it to occur.

Lease of Office Premises, Kent

Collier Stevens was asked to undertake before and after schedules of condition reports for the lease of an industrial unit in Kent.

We conducted an internal and external inspection of the condition of the premises and prepared a written and photographic schedule of condition to be appended to a new fully repairing lease.

We provided an agreed record of the condition of the premises at the outset so that future dilapidation claims may be mitigated.

Historic Wall, Kent

Collier Stevens conducted a schedule of condition report for an historic wall in Ashford, Kent.

Our client was undertaking a major commercial development and prior to commencement required a detailed record of historic structures to the perimeter of the site. We assessed the stability of the structures and prepared a detailed written and photographic record of their condition. This meant that any claim for damage on completion could be reasonably assessed.