Surveys
Think of surveys as a kind of health check for you prospective home. If you intend to buy, have a survey done and carefully consider the results before entering into contractual obligations. This could save you money.
Depending upon the seriousness of any structural problems you may decide to try to re-negotiate the price to reflect the cost of repairs or perhaps decide not to proceed.
Armed with the expert and impartial advice of a chartered surveyor you can buy your new home with confidence safe in the knowledge there will be no nasty and expensive surprises on the day you move in.
Whymark & Moulton are able to offer a full range of surveying options in addition to the standard services that national organisations tend to offer. We will tailor the inspection and the subsequent report to your particular needs together with personal telephone contact with the surveyor that actually inspected the property.
Do not hesitate to telephone us for our prompt and personal service.
Planning & Conservation
If you are thinking of altering or extending your property, or perhaps building new then Planning Permission or Listed Building Consent may be required but not always.
Whymark & Moulton will be pleased to discuss your requirements and offer clear and expert impartial advice and a guiding hand to help you through the maze of the planning process.
We can deal with the formalities of preparing and making all the necessary statutory applications to the Local planning Authority, Historic Buildings Officers, Environment Agency, English Heritage and any other related bodies.
In the event that you have been refused Planning Permission our specialist team may be able to assist in negotiating an acceptable amended scheme or alternatively dealing with a Planning Appeal.
Building Design
Our experienced team can assist with full detailed Architectural Design for alteration, extension or a new building from inception through to detailed working drawings. Any project from a new Farm storage building, to a new house or office or conversion of an existing building to alternative uses.
Initially a feasibility can be undertaken with sketch proposals to aid decision making and helping to direct the project to a successful outcome with the statutory authorities.
We are able to arrange 3D computer visualisations and workthroughs where required.
Project Management
Once you have obtained planning consent the next hurdle is turning those plans into a finished building. Numerous television programmes make the process look very easy, but from time to time the reality is shown where disputes arise over interpretation of details, timing, quality of work and most often over the costs.
We at Whymark and Moulton have many years experience in managing building projects allowing you to rest easy in the knowledge that the project is in safe hands.
We will draft detailed schedules of work and obtain clear prices from our panel of trusted and experienced contractors. We will arrange for proper legally binding contracts to be put in place.
We will ensure the works are executed to a proper standard and that any changes are implemented correctly and for the correct price.
We will report to you regularly and give you the peace of mind of knowing the works has been professionally monitored and certified on completion.
Party Walls
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996
If you live in a semi-detached or terraced house you share a wall (or walls) with your neighbour – that is known as a party wall. It separates buildings belonging to two different owners.
If you want to carry out building work to the Party Wall or near to your neighbours house you may need to comply with The Party Wall etc. 1996.
Alternatively you may have been served with a Party Wall Notice by your neighbour.
Either way Whymark and Moulton Can act as Party Wall Surveyors and ensure compliance with the provisions of the Act.
Dispute Resolution
Access to Neighbouring Land Act 1992
If the only way of undertaking maintenance to your building is over your neighbours land then we can help you negotiate the necessary access.
Boundary & other Neighbourly Issues
Your boundaries are shown on a large scale Ordnance Survey plan held by Land Registry. Each registered title has a title plan. This map shows your property’s physical rather than legal boundaries. The general boundary rule applies in the UK meaning that boundaries indicated on title plans may not be accurately represented on the ground. The new Land registration Act 2002 allows you to determine and record the exact line of your boundaries on a registered title, so avoiding any future boundary disputes.
Whymark and Moulton can advise you on all aspects of Party Wall, Boundary and Land Registration legislation. We have acted for numerous property owners, both of residential and commercial premises together with working for and with Local Authorities throughout East Anglia and the London Boroughs.
Nicholas Moulton is a member of the RICS Neighbour Dispute Scheme panel, and can help you devise the most cost effective method of resolving neighbourly disputes and reduce the unnecessary conflict that can unfortunately develop.
Expert Witness
Sometimes a surveyor will be involved from the very beginning of legal disputes, but at times they are not and the Court requires the parties in dispute to appoint either one or more Experts to assist the Court in reaching a fair decision.
We are experienced in acting as Party Experts and Single Joint Expert, we have received numerous instructions and given evidence at Court under examination. We have also assisted parties at mediation when this has been directed by the Court.
As members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) we are obliged to give impartial, expert and clear advice to all clients with the objective of achieving a prompt and cost effective resolution of any disputes.
Building Defects
Every building needs maintenance but sometimes the cause may not be obvious or perhaps you are unhappy with the advice given by a builder or the work they have already carried out.
Whymark & Moulton have years of experience from looking at thousands of buildings of all kinds. We will be able to inspect the building and from our continually updated training and research together with extensive expertise determine the cause of damage, the appropriate remedy and arrange implementing the works.
In the event that you are unhappy with work already completed we can either provide the peace of mind that the work is satisfactory or if we are not satisfied with the workmanship we would deal directly with the builder to resolve and potential disagreement before the matter become too involved. Alternatively if you are builder and you feel that your work has been unreasonably criticised we would gladly provide a second opinion.
As members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) we are obliged to give impartial, expert and clear advice to all clients with the objective of achieving a prompt and cost effective resolution of any problems.
Should legal action become unavoidable we can assist by providing either Expert Witness or advocacy assistance both at Court or ideally assisting with negotiated resolution.
Dilapidations
Every commercial lease requires the tenant to keep the building in good repair. We can assist with helping you programme and execute the required works.
If these work are not implemented and the building falls into disrepair your landlord can serve legally enforceable demands for the works to be done or money to be paid instead. Sometimes landlords will demand more than is reasonable and sometimes tenants will challenge legitimate claims.
Whymark & Moulton can assist both Landlords and Tenants in ensuring that the right work is implemented in good time or that fair amounts are claimed and paid when repair works have been missed.
There is a recognised protocol for dealing with these claims and Whymark & Moulton have years of experience from looking at many claims from both perspectives.
As members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) we are obliged to give impartial, expert and clear advice to all clients with the objective of achieving a prompt and cost effective resolution of any problems.
Should legal action become unavoidable we can assist by providing either Expert Witness or advocacy assistance both at Court or ideally assisting with negotiated resolution.