Providing private and corporate clients with personal and specialist advice on landlord and tenant matters.
Dilapidations
Under the majority of leases, tenants have to abide by obligations to keep the landlord’s property in a good standard of repair. Landlords will be driven by the need to preserve their investment with a robust claim for dilapidations, whilst a tenant will seek to have such claims validated to ensure that they do not over-compensate. We are experienced in acting for both landlords and tenants in such matters, providing a considered approach in producing schedules of dilapidations and negotiating claims. We can also provide budgetary advice in advance of lease termination to assist with client’s operational planning.
Schedule of Condition
When taking on a repairing lease, tenants often miss the opportunity to append a schedule of condition limiting their repair obligations. Our experienced surveyors can produce a clear and sufficiently detailed schedule to mitigate excessive claims for dilapidations at lease termination.
Schedules of condition are a useful snapshot of a property’s condition and can also be used in situations where neighbouring construction work could potentially cause damage. Whilst appearing simple in nature, our understanding of construction enables us to produce a focused and considered document to suit the client’s objective.
Lease Advice
Leases often contain onerous obligations which a tenant should be wary of before signing a lease and when considering their next steps during the term. As specialists in dilapidations, we can identify potential risks arising at lease termination and advise on the most appropriate course of action to minimise the impact on your business.
Our Legat Owen team have wider expertise in assisting with the negotiation of leases and finding the right property for your business.
For more information, don’t hesitate to give one of our Building Surveyors a below a call.
Mark Atherton BSc MRICS leads our Building Surveying section. Mark graduated from Liverpool Polytechnic, and was elected Associate of the RICS building surveying division in 1989. Over a varied career he has worked in both professional consultancy and client side surveying roles and also as an insurance loss adjuster. Mark has first-hand experience in all aspects of construction consultancy including defect analysis and reporting, landlord and tenant professional work, party wall and neighbourly issues, building contract administration, insurance assessment and claims plus expert witness work. He is able to provide a client focussed commercially aware approach in achieving prompt and pragmatic solutions to often complicated and contentious building issues. In Mark’s spare time he is an avid football supporter.
Jon joined Legat Owen in 2011 and qualified as a Chartered Building Surveyor in 2012. He graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2008 and then gained valuable experience working in the Building Surveying department of a multinational consultancy.
Jon is experienced in all Building Surveying services and provides pragmatic and focused advice to a wide range of clients.
Outside of work, Jon enjoys running, circuit training and spending time with his young family.
Sam graduated from Liverpool John Moore’s University in 2012 with a first-class honour’s degree.
Following University, Sam gained valuable experience working on a national level with a north west building surveying consultancy and qualified P402 for asbestos management.
Sam joined Legat Owen in April 2016 and qualified as a Chartered Building Surveyor in 2019.
At home, Sam enjoys most sports and is a member of local golf and fishing clubs. Sam is a big Everton fan and is known for an occasional flutter on the horse racing.
Chris joined Legat Owen’s Building Surveying team in 2018, since then he has continued to support clients across all commercial and industrial sectors. He qualified as a Chartered Building Surveyor in 2015 whist growing his professional experience in the West Midlands. Chris delivers high quality professional advice on all Building Surveying disciplines from Project Management to diagnosis of building defects.
Outside of work Chris is a keen golfer, and he also enjoys following football and rugby league.
Cameron joined Legat Owen in May 2022 as an Apprentice Building Surveyor. He is currently studying as a Building Surveying Degree Apprentice at the University of Salford. Since joining the Legat Owen team, Cameron has gained valuable experience from working alongside his colleagues on instructions covering all aspects of building surveying.
Outside of work Cameron is a keen footballer, and also enjoys playing golf.