Dilapidations

The subject of dilapidations is a complex and much misunderstood aspect of the landlord and tenant relationship. The meaning relates to the breaches of covenant to maintain and repair a building as stipulated under the terms of a lease.

Dilapidations concern the occupation of a leasehold property where a claim for remedial works or damages due to the breaches of covenant are identified and implemented by the landlord through the service of a Schedule of Dilapidations.

How we can help

We provide a full and comprehensive service relating to dilapidations to all types of buildings held under a leasehold agreement to both landlords and tenants, and have many strengths in this field:
 

• A detailed knowledge of the Property Litigation Association (PLA) pre-action protocol for dilapidations
• Surveyors skilled in negotiating dilapidations claims
• Ability to monitor and oversee repair and reinstatement works in accordance with their dilapidations liability
• In-house skills and knowledge to assess disrepair to specialist building elements and mechanical and electrical services.

We ensure that Schedules of Dilapidations are prepared and served in accordance with professional adopted guidelines and to the standard of the industry.

Our experienced building surveyors then set out to reach settlement through negotiation and can monitor any necessary works.   

Tenants

Tenants often have the misconception that dilapidations are an insignificant part of the landlord and tenant relationship, but in fact there are potentially large financial consequences for non-compliance with the terms within the lease.

We offer expert advice to tenants about how to minimise their repairing liability.  

We can also help minimise a tenant's dilapidations liability through the production of a Schedule of Condition for attaching to the lease. 

Landlords

We can act for the landlord, to identify the ‘loss in the value of the reversion' and consequently establish a claim for damages. We can also provide a Schedule of Condition on behalf of the landlord.