Samuels Surveyors and Valuers

Samuels is an independent firm based in Richmond and Surrey. We offer comprehensive services and professional advice to all our clients.

With over 10 years’ experience in the property market in the Hampshire, Surrey and London we have forged extensive connections in the real estate and construction industries and are proud to claim no affiliations with banks or building societies. We enjoy focusing solely on our clients needs and requirements, working compatibly alongside other industry professionals.

Samuels offers a range of services which are as follows:-

Party wall - The Party Wall etc Act 1996 made it compulsory for building owners to serve notices on their neighbours (adjoining owners) for any works which would take place on or affect the party wall of the properties. The notice that needs to be served is known as a party wall notice and depending on the scope of the work there are several types of notice that may be necessary.

If you are looking to undertake building works such as: a single storey extension, loft or roof extension or basement conversion then you may need to serve a party wall notice on your neighbours. The 3 types of notices that need to be served are: Section 6: Notice for excavations within 3 or 6 meters, Section 3: notice cutting into a party wall and Section 1: Notice for building a wall adjacent to or astride a boundary.

Making sure you serve the right notices to your neighbours is essential in order to begin building works on schedule and avoid costly delays. At Samuels we are experienced party wall surveyors and can assist you in all aspects from notices and schedules of condition to drawing up party wall agreements and awards.

Another common situation that building owners face is when a neighbour serves a party wall notice which gives 2 weeks to appoint a surveyor. At this stage it’s important to pick a party wall surveyor who will work on your behalf but will still have to be impartial as arbitrators. If you fail to appoint your own surveyor your neighbour can appoint a surveyor on your behalf.

Building Surveys - A comprehensive building inspection that is used to assess the condition of a property prior to purchase. These types of surveys are particularly useful for customers who are buying an older property, a property that is of unusual construction or a timber framed property. Also if you’re considering making alterations to the property then a building survey really is the best option to choose.

The Building Survey is a detailed analysis of the property and include:

• Diagnosis of defects and advice on repairs and maintenance
• Full description of condition and construction of elements of the property
• Energy efficiency
• Condition ratings
• Overall assessment including repairs and suggested further investigations

Home Buyer Report - If you are purchasing a more modern property of traditional construction and in reasonable condition, then this report will provide everything you need.

It is a cheaper alternative to a building survey and not as in depth. The report will include advice on:

• The condition of each element of the property including a condition rating
• Particular points you should refer to your legal advisers
• Specific risks associated with the property
• Any other relevant considerations such as location and local environment

Condition Reports - The format of the condition report uses a standard format and is designed to be easily understood by the home buyer. Applying condition ratings to the major parts of a property, a Condition Report aims to highlight problems and any areas that may need further investigation.

If you are purchasing a property which is under 20 years old and free from is likely to be sufficient. The report will include:

• An inspection of the condition of the property
• Highlights and potential defects or issues
• Shows legal issues that need to be addressed
• Confirmation of the structure and fabric of elements

Valuation - Some of the areas of property valuations we cover are:

• Valuation for purchase
• Valuation for sale
• Insurance valuation
• Valuation for accounting purposes
• Valuation for Capital Gain Tax
• Valuations for Inheritance Tax
• Expert Witness Valuation

Lease extensions and freehold enfranchisement - At Samuels we’ve got the experience needed to deal with all types of lease extensions and freehold enfranchisement.

For those that own a house under leasehold they should be able to acquire the freehold by virtue of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967.