When the value of a property is itself the battleground, the court needs more than competing assertions: it needs a reasoned, independent valuation from a qualified expert. As a valuation dispute expert witness, we provide impartial opinions of value for use in litigation, arbitration and formal negotiation. Our role is not to advocate for the highest or lowest figure, but to explain, transparently and with evidence, what the property was worth at the relevant date and why. That opinion is delivered in a report suitable for court proceedings.
Property values sit at the heart of a surprising range of legal disputes. We are commonly instructed in:
In each case an independent figure gives the parties solid ground to negotiate or litigate from.
Every instruction starts with a conflict check and a clear letter of instruction, so the question we are answering is precisely defined. We then gather the evidence: an inspection of the property where possible, comparable transactions, market commentary for the valuation date, and any documents disclosed in the proceedings. The valuation is built up using recognised methods appropriate to the asset, cross-checked, and set out in a draft for factual accuracy review before the final report is signed. Where two experts are appointed, we participate in discussions and joint statements as directed.
Our reports explain the valuation rather than simply asserting it. You can expect a description of the property and its legal and physical context, the basis and date of valuation, the comparable evidence relied upon with our adjustments explained, the reasoning that leads to the concluded figure, and commentary on any competing valuations already in the case. The report includes the expert’s declaration and statement of truth required by CPR Part 35, and is written so that a judge with no valuation background can follow every step.
There is no standard price for expert valuation work because no two disputes are alike. Fees reflect the number and type of properties involved, whether the valuation is current or retrospective, how much documentation must be reviewed, whether we are acting as a party-appointed or single joint expert, and the likelihood of joint statements, questions from the parties and attendance at a hearing. We set out a clear fee basis at the outset, agreed with your solicitors, so costs remain predictable as the case develops.
Valuation evidence is only as persuasive as the independence behind it. Our valuers are RICS-qualified chartered surveyors, and our expert work is prepared in accordance with RICS valuation and expert witness standards. Under CPR Part 35 our duty is owed to the court and overrides any obligation to the instructing party, and every report contains the required declarations. Judges are quick to discount partisan valuations; a disciplined, standards-compliant report from a regulated professional is what carries weight in the courtroom and at the negotiating table.
Many valuation disputes turn on what a property was worth years ago: at the date of a negligent valuation, a death, a transfer between spouses or a partner’s retirement. Retrospective valuation is a distinct skill. It demands comparable evidence from the correct period, an understanding of market conditions at that date, and strict discipline in ignoring hindsight. Working in Notting Hill and across the wider London market, we maintain the records and market knowledge needed to reconstruct historic values credibly and defend them under cross-examination.
If a dispute in your case turns on the value of a property, early independent advice can shape everything that follows. Contact Notting Hill Surveyors to discuss your matter in confidence; we are happy to speak with you or your solicitors, confirm we are free of conflicts, and provide a written proposal and fee estimate.