SMITH & KNIGHT

Property Experts

COMMERCIAL - SMITH & KNIGHT LIMITED

COMMERCIAL VALUATIONS

Surveyors provided by Smith & Knight in London undertake various valuations for private individuals, companies, or charities wishing to aquire, sell or revalue their property assets. We offer a fast, efficient and professional service.

Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

INSURANCE REINSTATEMENT

Surveyors appointed by Smith & Knight Property Services Limited provide an accurate opinion of rebuilding costs for all types of commercial property.

SCHEDULE OF DILAPIDATIONS

Surveyors provided by Smith & Knight undertake schedules on all types of commercial property. Schedules of dilapidation are prepared usually at the end of a lease and are governed by the terms of the lease, in particular the repairing covenants.

EXPERT WITNESS

Surveyors for Smith & Knight Property Services Limited act on behalf of solicitors and clients in the preparation of valuations for Court.

Smith & Knight London can provide arbitrators and expert witnesses in court for rental disputes.

THE EXPERTS OPERATE IN TWO MAIN FIELDS:

Commercial: Valuations, Insurance Re-instatement, Dilapidations and Building disputes.

Landlord & Tenant: Rent Reviews, Lease Renewals, Dilapidations.

COMMERCIAL EPC'S

The European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, taking instruction from the Kyoto Protocol, seeks to reduce the CO2 emissions from buildings. The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) measures the built in energy performance of a building, its assets, by looking at the site orientation, fabric, heating, lighting, air-conditioning and ventilation of the property.

Since January 2009 practically all commercial buildings require an EPC on the sale, letting or sub-letting. The EPC and its Recommendations Report must be made available to interested parties prior to marketing.

In a consultation paper in March 2010, the Government said that all property advertising must show the EPC rating.It is believed that this consultation will be implemented by the end of 2010.

PENALTY

The penalty for non-compliance is normally 12.5% of the rateable value of the property, rising from a minimum of £500, to a maximum of £5000.

EXCEPTIONS

  • Places of Worship
  • Temporary buildings ( 2 years or less )
  • Stand alone (ie detached) buildings < 50 m2
  • Buildings due for demolition
  • A limited number of agricultural and industrial sites that are deemed low energy demand.

WHAT IS A LEVEL 3 OR A LEVEL 4 BUILDING?

Commercial buildings are divided into levels 3, 4 & 5.

A level 3 building is normally small to medium sized, importantly it has cooling < 12kw output and heating < 100kw output. Anything above this would be a Level 4.

A level 4 building is much more complex, in terms of HVAC. Ventilated or conditioned air is provided through ducting, usually from centralised AHU and plant. An accurate, detailed survey and assessment should only be undertaken by competent, experienced professionals.

Level 5 buildings are those with significant amounts of glass atria or passive cooling. Dynamic Simulation Modeling is used to mimic complicated air flows and to generate the most accurate rating.

How much will it cost?

The cost of the survey is based upon the size, type and complexity of the building. The final cost may also be affected by the amount of detail that can be provided prior to the day of inspection.

ADL2A Building Control Compliance

Smith & Knight Property Services Limited is ideally positioned to produce the BRUKL Report, the document required by Building Control to sign off a new build. The report is produced twice, firstly at the design stage to show that the proposed building is expected to comply with the 2006 amendments to Part L of the Building Regulations; secondly at the “as built’ stage to show that any changes that occurred during construction still comply with Part L.

To achieve a PASS, the fabric and building services should be no worse than the design limits set in the 2002 Regulations. In addition to this, the building must show a 15% or 20% CO2 emissions improvement, depending on the type of building involved. Furthermore, an additional 10% CO2 reduction must be gained through LZC, low and zero carbon energy sources.

It is expected that these design limits and improvement factors will be tightened up via the ADL2A amendments in 2010, 2013, 2016 & 2019.

Which buildings apply?
All new buildings other than dwellings.

Extensions to existing non-dwellings, if: the total useful floor area of the proposed extension is > 100m2 AND the proposed extension is > 25% of the total useful floor area of the existing building.