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When contemplating the installation of solar panels, it is imperative to determine the roof’s load capacity. The real concern for structure and occupant safety is the roof’s ability to bear the load of the solar array, especially during a weather event. A qualified structural engineer can assess the load capacities of the roof structure and the solar array. Most roofs can handle the addition of solar panels without any problem. However, if your roof is at or near the limits of its capacity, a structural engineer can suggest options.
Your engineers will assist in certifying the roof structure to support the additional weight of the solar panels and in ensuring that the safety of those who access the roof is not compromised. The decision-making process involves an assessment of height, the number of people needed to handle the panels during the lift, and weight, just to name a couple of factors. Seasonal considerations—like how snow might affect the roof and, subsequently, the panels—also will be considered.
If the existing roof can not support the solar panels, our panel of structural engineers will steer you in the right direction to reinforce the roof. They’ll do what it takes—drawings and calculations, for starters—to demonstrate that the work you need does not endanger any part of the structure. They also help a lot with roof access and installation: If the roof is not too steep and the panels can bear the weight of a person, that’s one thing. If the panels will be too heavy for someone to hoist up and rig, or if the roof is so steep that a person is likely to fall off without a safety harness, that’s another. In both cases, it’s good to have an engineer on your side who understands what’s safe and what’s not.
Typically, installing solar panels does not need planning consent, unless their installation might impinge on the special character of Conservation Areas or is akin to a significant change in buildings that are Listed. The relevant considerations are as follows:
(a) the installer’s obligation to ensure that panels do not project unduly in terms of appearance
(b) a requirement for Listed Building consent where required
(c) for solar panels to be removed after micro-generation is no longer needed or functioning
A team of our structural engineers is also responsible for making the structural calculations necessary for the proper installation of solar panels on commercial roofs, along with green roofs and other plant, machinery, or roof deck installations. Their work spans many types of buildings, including large portal-frame structures, office buildings, and historic retail spaces.
The initial step in the procedure involves the Notting Hill leaseholders creating a company (the nominee purchaser) of which they are all members and then designating a purchaser. In the initial Notice, the leaseholders state certain foundational facts about themselves, as the flat owners, and about the building. They name an independent surveyor of their choice and cite a figure (substantially below the freeholder’s initial asking price) that they are offering for the freehold. This Notice is served on the freeholder, who then has 2 months to respond with a counter-notice.
When the nominee purchaser and the freeholder can not come to an agreement, the leaseholders can take the matter to the tribunal. The tribunal’s jurisdiction is set out in the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. Under this legislation, if leaseholders want to buy the freehold to a building, the price must be determined by an independent tribunal if direct negotiations fail. This process is necessary because, as with any negotiation, the two sides start from different positions. The freeholder usually bases the amount demanded on a very high figure, while the leaseholders want to pay a low and reasonable price. The steps are therefore:
The Full Building Survey report includes the following:
When it comes to the detail that the surveyor will go into concerning defects, repairs, and maintenance, the Homebuyer Survey is fairly standard. Full Building Surveys, however, are more refined and go into more detail about possible and likely defects. Repairs and maintenance are covered in more detail. The Survey cost depends on the age, size, and value of the property.
The analysis they undertake is a visual inspection. This means that, for the most part, the building components that can be seen will be looked at and assessed in accordance with the surveyor’s remit. The Home Survey Report will show you the visible defects and then go on to discuss the kinds of partially hidden or totally hidden defects that the surveyor thinks you should be aware of. It will also try to clarify what kinds of repair work need to be done and the nature of the repairs. The survey is effectively a way to consider “defects” and their potential impact on the building.
A Building Survey Report contains the most important information for understanding the condition of a property. The surveyors that undertake the work follow a set procedure. The first part of the report contains a general overview of the property and its surroundings. The second part details the major and minor problems with the property’s components, inside and out. These problems range from serious structural defects to issues with doors or windows that don’t close properly, and everything in between. The report is written in clear English, complemented by diagrams and photographs. If any of the problems found are what a surveyor might consider important, that’s what the report indicates—using clear and unambiguous language.
Surveyors usually use a tick box to indicate methods of repair when drafting a building survey report. They are also required to comment on the timescale of any repairs. A condition rating is typically included: what needs to be addressed immediately, what is in the process of deteriorating but is in reasonable condition, and what has not deteriorated at all.
A building surveyor is responsible for a variety of checks and tests during a building inspection. These could be checks or tests for damp and woodworm, or they could be visual inspections of the building’s structure. In building surveying, there are visual inspections of roofs – checking for tiles and slates (if applicable) and also checking for leadwork (if applicable) and looking at the junctions between roof and wall. If the wall structure has brick in it, the surveyor will visually check for any “spalling” (brick breaking apart visibly) and any bulging (brick failing to hold its place visibly), for example.
If defects need fixing immediately, then the options recommended for this survey specify what to repair and give some idea of how long the problem has existed. For the most part, this survey describes recommended repair approaches that are standard in the industry and that do not require excessive expenditure. Future maintenance is also discussed, including what to expect when the problem being surveyed is not repaired and what to expect with repairs that are made but with questionable methodology.
Your surveyor will explain some of the legal aspects of purchasing the building, covering—in as much or as little detail as you desire, and their implications, but this is subject to your solicitor verifying.
You might consider having a separate market valuation done to determine whether the property’s asking price is warranted. You’ll also need a reinstatement cost valuation for insurance reasons.
RICS’s industry guidelines suggest building surveys for properties that are large, very old, in some disrepair, or have unusual features. Building surveys are also recommended if you plan to do any significant renovations or extensions.
If you’re purchasing a relatively modern home that’s in decent shape and built to ordinary standards, then a Home Buyer Survey is an acceptable choice. If you want the assurance of an inspection and report that are pretty much guaranteed to turn up any issues that might be hidden or just hard to see, then you should go for a Full Building Survey instead.
The Full Building Survey is more detailed; it is more specifically tailored to the property your surveyor would be inspecting. It also comes with more advice on the visible defects found and on the potential hidden defects that they suspect may be present. Your surveyor will illustrate reports with photographs so that you can clearly see what has been discovered. Both the Home Buyer and Full Building Surveys describe the repairs needed, the order in which the repairs should be done, and the kind of “maintenance measures” that will be required to keep the property in good condition.
A HomeBuyer Report does include a market valuation as well as reinstatement costs. However, a Full Building Survey does not. The main reason for the differences in what is and isn’t included in the two types of reports is how focused the reports are on the condition of the property. The Full Building Survey is the most in-depth and comprehensive survey of a property that you can have done.
A number of different elements affect the calculation of the price for the freehold, making it less than straightforward. The principal ones are the value of the individual flats and the length of lease remaining on each flat. A formula provided in the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 can give valuers an idea of the sort of freehold premium that might need to be paid. It is essential that anyone considering the enfranchisement process knows precisely what they are buying. A basement, for example, or underground car parking could form a part of the freehold. If any of the leases could be described as short (less than 80 years), that in itself will inflate the freehold purchase price.
Looking for a Chartered Surveyor? If you are buying a property, contact us for a building survey. Our panel of CIOB, RPSA and RICS surveyors will help you with the Level 2 or Level 3 property survey you need in Notting Hill. We can also assist you in Red Book Valuations, Party Wall Awards and other services. Reach out to us today for building surveyors, valuers and party wall surveyors in London!
