Commercial property decisions can carry significant financial consequences. Whether you are purchasing a building, taking a new lease, managing an existing property or planning alterations, having a clear understanding of the building’s condition and your potential liabilities is essential.
At Stokemont, our Commercial Building Surveyors provide practical, independent advice to property owners, investors, landlords, tenants and professional advisers across London.
Our focus is straightforward:
- identify the issues,
- explain their significance
- help you make an informed commercial decision
Commercial Property Advice Tailored to Your Requirements
No two commercial properties are the same.
A purchaser acquiring a freehold investment will have very different priorities from a business taking a five-year lease of an office, shop or industrial unit.
Similarly, an existing property owner may simply need to understand the condition of a particular element before planning repairs or refurbishment.
For that reason, we tailor the scope of our commercial surveying services to the property and the reason for your instruction.
We can assist with:
- Commercial Pre-Purchase Building Surveys
- Commercial Schedules of Condition
- Pre-Lease Surveys
- Specific Defect Reports
- Licence for Alterations advice
- Planned maintenance advice
- Commercial property inspections
- Repair and refurbishment advice
Commercial Pre-Purchase Building Surveys
A Commercial Pre-Purchase Building Survey provides an independent assessment of the property’s physical condition before you become legally committed.
Depending on the building and agreed scope, our surveyors will typically consider:
- roofs and roof coverings;
- external walls and façades;
- structural movement;
- windows and doors;
- internal walls, floors and ceilings;
- damp and water penetration;
- visible drainage;
- accessible building services;
- previous alterations;
- external areas;
- common parts; and
- significant future repair liabilities.
Where appropriate, we will also identify areas that require further investigation by structural engineers, mechanical and electrical consultants, asbestos specialists or other professionals.
The purpose is not simply to produce a long list of defects. It is to help you understand what matters, what may require expenditure and what should be investigated before you purchase.
Commercial Pre-Lease Surveys
Taking a commercial lease can create substantial repair liabilities.
A property may look perfectly acceptable during a viewing while containing defects that could ultimately become the tenant’s responsibility under the lease.
A Pre-Lease Building Survey, also known as a Commercial Schedule of Condition Report allows you to understand the condition of the property before completing the lease.
Our surveyors can identify existing defects and areas of concern so that these can be considered alongside your solicitor’s review of the proposed lease.
This is particularly important where the proposed lease includes broad repairing obligations.
The objective is to understand what you may be taking responsibility for before the lease is signed, rather than discovering the extent of those liabilities later.
Defect Analysis Reports
Not every commercial property requires a full Building Survey.
Sometimes the concern is limited to one particular issue.
A Defect Analysis Report provides focused professional advice on an individual building defect or area of concern.
Typical instructions might include:
- cracking or structural movement;
- dampness;
- roof leaks;
- defective masonry;
- water penetration;
- failing render;
- drainage concerns;
- timber deterioration; or
- a particular element identified during another inspection.
A focused report can be a proportionate option where a full survey is unnecessary. This is also one of the distinct commercial survey services identified on the source page.
Why Is a Commercial Building Survey Important?
A commercial building can carry liabilities that are not immediately apparent during a viewing.
A survey can help you establish:
What condition is the property actually in?
A well-decorated interior does not necessarily mean that the roof, structure, façade or services are in equally good condition.
What repairs may be approaching?
A component does not need to have completely failed for it to represent a significant future cost.
Is further specialist investigation required?
Some matters require advice outside the scope of a general Building Survey.
Could the findings affect the transaction?
Significant defects may influence your decision to proceed, prompt further investigation or form part of wider commercial negotiations.
What am I potentially taking responsibility for?
This is particularly important when entering into a commercial lease.
Speak to a Commercial Building Surveyor
If you are purchasing, leasing, managing or altering a commercial property, Stokemont can advise on the most appropriate survey for your circumstances.
Send us the property address, sales particulars or proposed lease information, together with a brief explanation of your requirements.
One of our Commercial Building Surveyors can review the property and provide a quotation.
Contact Stokemont today for Commercial Property Surveying advice.
