Buying, leasing or investing in a commercial property is a significant financial commitment. While a building may appear to be in good condition during a viewing, defects, maintenance liabilities and future repair costs are not always immediately obvious.
A Commercial Building Survey provides a detailed assessment of the property’s condition before you commit to the transaction.
At Stokemont, our Commercial Building Surveyors inspect commercial properties across London, providing clear and practical advice to purchasers, investors, landlords and tenants.
What Is a Commercial Building Survey?
A Commercial Building Survey is a detailed inspection of a commercial property’s visible and accessible construction.
The purpose is to identify defects, areas of deterioration, maintenance requirements and matters that may require further specialist investigation.
Commercial surveys are particularly useful before purchasing or taking a lease of a property, as they allow you to understand potential liabilities before becoming legally committed. Pre-acquisition surveys are commonly used for this purpose.
Depending on the building and agreed scope, our inspection may 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;
- external areas;
- previous alterations; and
- general repair and maintenance requirements.
Why Have a Commercial Property Survey?
Commercial buildings can contain defects that are difficult to identify during a standard viewing.
Problems such as water penetration, roof deterioration, cracking, dampness and structural issues can lead to significant expenditure if they are discovered only after completion. Commercial surveys can therefore help purchasers understand potential repair liabilities and future maintenance requirements before proceeding.
A survey can also provide valuable information when assessing whether the agreed purchase price remains commercially sensible.
If significant defects are identified, you may decide to obtain repair quotations, commission further investigations or raise the findings with the seller before exchange.
The survey does not automatically mean that a property is unsuitable to purchase. Instead, it gives you better information upon which to base your decision.
Commercial Pre-Purchase Surveys
A Commercial Pre-Purchase Building Survey is designed for purchasers who want to understand the physical condition of a property before acquisition.
We inspect the accessible parts of the building and provide a written report explaining the principal defects, likely repair requirements and areas requiring further investigation.
This can help you understand not only the property’s present condition but also the level of expenditure that may be required after purchase.
Surveys Before Taking a Commercial Lease
A building survey can also be valuable before entering into a commercial lease.
Commercial leases can place substantial repairing obligations upon tenants. Understanding the condition of the premises before signing the lease can therefore be extremely important.
Where appropriate, a Schedule of Condition may also be prepared to provide a written and photographic record of the premises at the commencement of the lease. Schedules of Condition are commonly used to record existing condition and can assist landlords and tenants when dealing with repair obligations.
Your solicitor should separately advise on the legal effect of the lease and how any Schedule of Condition should be incorporated.
What Happens After the Inspection?
Following the site inspection, we prepare a report setting out our findings in a clear and practical format.
Where appropriate, we will highlight:
- significant defects;
- recommended repairs;
- areas requiring monitoring;
- matters requiring further specialist investigation; and
- foreseeable maintenance considerations.
Building surveyors may also recommend specialist testing where matters such as electrical, gas or other building services fall outside the scope of a general visual building inspection.
Stokemont’s Help & Input
Stokemont provides Commercial Building Surveys for a wide range of properties, including:
- offices;
- retail units;
- shops and restaurants;
- warehouses;
- industrial units;
- mixed-use properties; and
- commercial investment buildings.
Our approach is straightforward: identify the issues, explain their significance and help you make an informed property decision.
Contact Stokemont today to discuss your Commercial Building Survey requirements.
