Independent technical and expert evidence for property lawyers and dispute teams
We provide independent surveying, building consultancy and expert witness support for solicitors, barristers, in-house legal teams and property dispute professionals across London, on building defects, dilapidations, party wall, schedules of condition and pre-action protocol matters.
Our role is the technical evidence and opinion that a legal team relies on, not the legal advice itself. Where an expert witness is appointed, our overriding duty is to the court or tribunal and our opinion is independent of the instructing party.
Where we support dispute teams
- Expert witness reports compliant with the relevant procedure rules.
- Building defect investigation and causation opinion.
- Dilapidations and lease-end disrepair disputes.
- Party wall and adjoining-owner disputes.
- Schedules of condition and pre-works evidence.
- Pre-action protocol and Scott Schedule support.
Instructing parties
We are instructed by claimant and defendant teams, single joint expert appointments, and parties needing early technical advice before a position is taken. We confirm the instructing party and carry out conflict checks before accepting an instruction, and where appointed as an expert our duty to the court overrides the interests of whoever instructs us.
Technical evidence for property disputes
The work is scoped to the dispute and the procedural stage.
Defect and Causation Reports
Investigation of building defects with a reasoned opinion on cause, responsibility and reasonable remedy.
Dilapidations Evidence
Schedules, Section 18 commentary and quantified opinion to support negotiation or proceedings.
Party Wall and Neighbour Disputes
Technical opinion on alleged damage, notifiable works and schedules of condition.
Expert Reports and Joint Statements
CPR-compliant reports, responses to Part 35 questions and experts' joint statements where directed.
What we do — and do not do
We provide independent technical surveying and building consultancy evidence and opinion. We do not provide legal advice, conduct litigation or act as advocates; those are matters for the instructing solicitors and counsel.
Where we are appointed as an expert witness our overriding duty is to the court or tribunal under the relevant procedure rules, and our opinion is independent of the party who instructs or pays us. We will not give an opinion that the evidence does not support.
Technical opinion is based on the inspection, information and instructions provided. It is not a structural engineering design, a fire risk assessment, a valuation or a legal opinion, and we identify where separate specialist input is required.
Building defect dispute support for a solicitor
The following London inspection and reporting workflow breakdown shows how our RICS surveyors scope, inspect and report on real properties across London; see our published London surveying case studies for completed project records.
- Instructing party: Solicitor acting for a flat owner
- Property: Leasehold flat in a converted period building, London
- The issue: Recurring water ingress and a dispute over responsibility between leaseholder and freeholder
- Instruction: Independent inspection, causation opinion and a report suitable for pre-action correspondence
- What was reviewed: Affected areas, building fabric, prior repair history and available documents
- What happened next: A reasoned opinion on cause and responsibility with a proportionate remedial approach
- Outcome: The report supported a negotiated settlement without the need for proceedings
- Related services: Expert Witness, Building Pathology
Services most often instructed
Expert Witness
Independent CPR-compliant expert reporting on building defects and disputes.
View ServiceBuilding Pathology
Defect investigation and causation diagnosis for disputed building issues.
View ServiceDilapidations
Schedules, Section 18 advice and quantified demands for lease-end disputes.
View ServiceParty Wall Surveyors
Notices, awards and adjoining-owner dispute support.
View ServiceSchedules of Condition
Independent condition records that provide an agreed evidential baseline.
View ServiceTechnical Due Diligence
Risk-focused technical review for transactions and disputes.
View ServiceExpert Witness Surveyors across London
We work London-wide. These are some of the priority areas where we regularly advise.
Expert Witness Surveyors in Hampstead
Independent dispute and expert evidence in Hampstead NW3.
View HampsteadExpert Witness Surveyors in Belsize Park
Independent dispute and expert evidence in Belsize Park NW3.
View Belsize ParkExpert Witness Surveyors in Highgate
Independent dispute and expert evidence in Highgate N6.
View HighgateExpert Witness Surveyors in St John’s Wood
Independent dispute and expert evidence in St John’s Wood NW8.
View St John’s WoodExpert Witness Surveyors in Marylebone
Independent dispute and expert evidence in Marylebone W1.
View MaryleboneExpert Witness Surveyors in Mayfair
Independent dispute and expert evidence in Mayfair W1.
View MayfairExpert Witness Surveyors in Chelsea
Independent dispute and expert evidence in Chelsea SW3.
View ChelseaExpert Witness Surveyors in South Kensington
Independent dispute and expert evidence in South Kensington SW7.
View South KensingtonCommon questions
Do you provide expert witness reports?
Yes. We provide independent expert witness reports on building defects, dilapidations, party wall and related matters. Where appointed as an expert, our overriding duty is to the court or tribunal under the relevant procedure rules.
Do you give legal advice?
No. We provide independent technical surveying and building consultancy evidence and opinion. Legal advice, strategy and the conduct of any dispute remain with the instructing solicitors and counsel.
Can you act as a single joint expert?
Yes. We can accept single joint expert appointments where both parties agree, as well as party-appointed instructions, subject to conflict checks.
Are you independent of the instructing party?
Yes. When appointed as an expert our duty to the court overrides the interests of whoever instructs or pays us. We will not give an opinion the evidence does not support.
Can you help before proceedings start?
Yes. We frequently provide early technical advice and pre-action protocol support so a party understands the building issues before a position is taken.
Do you prepare Scott Schedules and respond to Part 35 questions?
Yes. We prepare and comment on Scott Schedules, respond to written questions under the relevant rules and take part in experts' discussions and joint statements where directed.
What types of dispute do you cover?
Building defects and causation, dilapidations and lease-end disrepair, party wall and adjoining-owner damage, schedules of condition and pre-works disputes, and general building condition disagreements.
Do you cover structural engineering or valuation?
Our evidence is building surveying and building consultancy. Structural engineering design, fire engineering and Red Book valuation are separate specialisms; we identify where that input is required and can coordinate it.
How quickly can you report?
Timing depends on the dispute, access and the procedural timetable. We agree a realistic programme at the outset and prioritise where a court deadline applies.
Which London areas do you cover?
We support legal and dispute teams across London. Our office is in Hampstead NW3 and we attend properties London-wide.
Speak to a chartered surveyor
Contact our team to discuss your requirements and get a fixed-fee quote.