Case Studies

Expert Witness

We were engaged by a householder who had a £200,000 building extension project, which in our view had not been carried out to a reasonable standard or in accordance with the plans and specifications.

This included a misplaced wall, which led to the loss of a ground floor shower room and a partially completed heating system.

We prepared an Expert Witness Report, which was used pursuing the project management company for costs of rectification in excess of £30,000.

Expert Witness

We were engaged by a plumbing and heating contractor who had been unsuccessful in pursuing an unpaid invoice.

Their client had refused to pay because of alleged defective and incomplete works. We carried out a site inspection on their behalf and prepared a detailed schedule of defects, considering the drawings, specifications that were part of the agreed contract.

We were able to advise that although some of the agreed work had not been completed satisfactorily as alleged by their client, a significant proportion of the work had been carried out to a good standard and was required to be settled by the client.

Expert Witness

Our client instructed a building contractor to carry out refurbishment and extension of his property. The contract value was in the region of £600,000.

After many months of delay and intermittent work and poor workmanship, he sought our Expert Witness report service.

We were able to prepare a detailed Schedule of Defects and costed this to allow him to pursue the contractor with the costs of rectification, valued in excess of £100,000.

Schedule of Condition/Schedule of Dilapidations/Project Management

Our client’s agent approached us; his property had been vacant for several years following the collapse of the Lessees business.

We were asked to prepare a Schedule of Dilapidation’s on behalf of the Landlord of a large industrial unit and thereafter to refurbish the unit. We successfully project managed a team of Contractors to refurbish the property, this enabled our client to let the property shortly afterwards.

Commercial Water Damage/Expert Witness (Contract Value £50,000)

We were approached by the absentee landlord of an office property.

It had sustained burst water pipe damage. The Tenants and their Insurers had failed to take action over a period of several months. We were called in to prepare a detailed Schedule of Condition to provide Expert Witness evidence if required for his legal advisers.

We also provided professional advice in respect of warranties, the serving of the insurance claim and refurbishment of the property, in order that the landlord could once again obtain rental income from his property.

Flood Damage/Project Management (Contract Value £150,000)

We were recommended by a firm of Surveyors, who recognised and respected our position as leading Chartered Building Surveyors, specialising in Insurance Claims.

Our client owned a Grade II Listed thatched cottage, which had been extensively flood damaged. We negotiated with our clients Insurers Loss Adjusters and Contractors a substantial claim.

We successfully project managed the refurbishment of the entire ground floor of the property to a high standard and were able to incorporate flood prevention measures. Taking into consideration conservation and listed building aspects, we carefully and sympathetically totally renovated and rejuvenated the property.

Project Management (Contract Value £30,000)

Several years previously we had been asked to carry out a quinquennial inspection to a small chapel in the centre of Witney.

Due to funding constraints, the maintenance of it had been neglected for a considerable period of time.

A release of funds enabled us to prepare a planned maintenance schedule, budget costings and project management of the refurbishment of the chapel over a period of time, using budgets as they became available.

This included specialist stone repairs to the ornate windows, dealing with historic subsidence damage in one corner of the building, lifting and relaying the stone flag floor and installing a new efficient heating and lighting system. We mitigated the effects of rising dampness by installing a land drainage system and retrofitted a damp proof course. Latterly we successfully reinstated the use of the old Bell tower.

House Extension

We were contacted by a client requesting advice on adding a two-storey extension to his property, which was a large four-bedroomed modern house.

At interview we established their needs and requirements for additional space.

We prepared some budget costings for the extension, but using our knowledge and experience advised on remodelling the internal layout of the existing property as an alternative.

It was agreed with our client that the significant additional cost of the large two-storey extension initially considered was not justified. Remodelling of the existing space provided our clients with the space they required with a cost saving of over £60,000!!!

Building Surveys

We were asked to carry out a Building Survey for clients purchasing a modest bungalow.

As part of the survey, we identified significant repair costs. Using the benefit of our report, our clients negotiated a saving of £4000.00.

We arranged for the roof to be stripped using the latest techniques and project managed the works quickly and to a high standard.

Party Wall Matters

We were instructed by the Adjoining Owner to act as Party Wall Surveyors when a national developer moved onto his neighbours land to undertake town centre redevelopment including the provision of a large multi screen cinema and shopping complex at Marriotts Walk, Witney.

We represented our client for over two years dealing with the developers Surveyors and team dealing with Party Wall Awards, boundary issues, tree preservation orders, and access arrangements etc.

Defect Repairs (Contract value approximately £30,000)

On this occasion, we were introduced as an expert by the Insurers Loss Adjuster following the owners concern that cracks had developed in the floor of their 17th-century cottage, approximately one year, after Insurers contractors had carried out flood damage repairs.

We identified that repairs had not been completely and correctly carried out and replacement of the ground floor was required along with the temporary support of the first floor support structure, staircase etc.

Despite the upheaval our clients were able to stay in their home whilst we obtained Insurers agreement and project managed the restoration work to completion.

Water Damage (Contract value approximately £60,000)

We were instructed by the client’s Granddaughter following a burst water pipe that had severely damaged her Grandmother’s bungalow.

Over a month had elapsed without any progress being made therefore a local Surveyor recommended our involvement. Stephen Hodge Associates Ltd, were appointed to project manage the restoration of the property and deal with Insurers and the selection and appointment of various contractors. We successfully negotiated the claim with the clients Insurers Loss Adjusters. We instructed various specialists to deal with decontamination, asbestos removal and specialist drying. We prepared a specification, obtained tenders, and completed the restoration of the property using local contractors.

Defect Analysis

Our client had received three or four different pieces of advice regarding eradication of dampness, in her old stone cottage.

They approached Stephen Hodge Associates Ltd for professional and experienced advice.
We identified several causes of dampness, and noted that various inappropriate and ineffective repairs that had been carried out by various contractors in an attempt to deal with the misdiagnosed problem. We prepared a jargon free report with recommendations.

Defect Report

Our client had been concerned regarding heat losses to his property and received a Contractors quote, which he accepted for the installation of sprayed insulation within his loft space.

Following adverse TV coverage, he sought our professional advice for peace of mind.

We were able to establish that the system had been defectively installed, and contrary to the BBA certificate. We made proposals for rectification of the identified defects and assisted him in pursuing the Contractor for costs.

Structural Report

Our clients purchased a small Victorian terraced property. The rooms were very small and we were asked to consider the cost and practicality of removing the chimney stack.

With careful thought, planning and attention to detail, we were able to remove the chimney breasts, whilst installing beams to support the remaining chimney stack. We considered the implications of the Party Wall Etc Act and avoided the significant costs and disruption of its removal. Our Structural Engineer designed a means of supporting the stack, whilst only removing the chimney breasts to give our client the additional space he had requested.

Flood Damage/Project Management 
(Contract value £450,000)

The Riverside Hotel was built in 1584. This 10 room hotel in Boscastle was flooded above first floor level in the flood of the 16th August 2004.

Stephen Hodge Associates Ltd were appointed as Chartered Surveyors to completely refurbish the Grade II Listed building.

Negotiation of the insurance claim with the Insurers Loss Adjusters was an essential part of the project since the reinstatement costs exceeded the Sum Insured. We negotiated with the Local Authority and Conservation Officer, regarding the manner of its sensitive reinstatement, particularly as it was situated in the centre of the village. We advised the client in respect of incorporating alterations to create a new kitchen, utility room, and disabled facilities to comply with DDA. We worked closely with the Environment Agency regarding initially underpinning and exposing the damaged foundations to the property in the river bed, obtaining licences in respect of scaffolding within the water course and then negotiating the Riverside Garden and bridge reconstruction.

Commercial New Shop (Contract value approximately £100.000)

The Harbour Lights Tearoom Boscastle was completely washed away in the flood of 16th August 2004.

We project managed the sensitive reconstruction of this former listed building to match the style of the existing chapel type construction. This included the careful redesign of the roof structure with purpose made and designed oak trusses to create a vaulted ceiling. We were able to maintain the dropped ridge appearance, which was characteristic of the original 16th Century building that the new building replaced. This project required close consultation with Local Authority Conservation and Building Control staff.

New Commercial Industrial Unit 
(Contract value approximately £100.000)

We designed a new steel framed commercial building for car servicing, including an MOT Bay. We prepared sketch schemes from an initial brief and sketch designs. We then negotiated and obtained Planning Consent. We designed this purpose made steel frame building, using our in-house Structural Engineer and obtained Building Regulation Consent for its construction.