Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of the Expert Witness Building Surveyor website and services. By accessing our website or engaging our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part of these Terms, please do not use our website or services.

2. Definitions

• "We", "us", "our" refers to Expert Witness Building Surveyor
• "You", "your" refers to the user or client of our services
• "Services" refers to all surveying, expert witness, and related professional services we provide
• "Website" refers to expertwitnessbuildingsurveyor.co.uk

3. Professional Standards

We are chartered building surveyors registered with:

• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
• Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)
• Royal Property Services Association (RPSA)
• Academy of Experts

We conduct all services in accordance with the professional standards, codes of conduct, and ethical requirements of these organizations, including but not limited to:

• RICS Rules of Conduct
• RICS Practice Statements and Guidance Notes
• Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) Part 35 for expert witness work
• Academy of Experts Code of Practice

4. Use of Website

4.1 Permitted Use

You may use our website for lawful purposes only. You must not:

• Use the website in any way that breaches applicable laws or regulations
• Transmit any harmful or malicious code
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the website
• Use automated systems to scrape or collect data from the website
• Reproduce, duplicate, copy, or resell any part of the website without permission

4.2 Intellectual Property

All content on this website, including text, graphics, logos, images, and software, is the property of Expert Witness Building Surveyor or its content suppliers and is protected by UK and international copyright laws.

5. Services

5.1 Scope of Services

Our services include but are not limited to:

• Expert witness reports and testimony
• Building surveys and inspections
• Dilapidations assessments
• Boundary dispute resolution
• Party wall surveys
• Property valuations
• Building pathology investigations

5.2 Engagement and Fees

Services are provided subject to:

• Acceptance of our Terms of Engagement (provided separately for each instruction)
• Agreement on scope of work and fees
• Receipt of agreed fee or deposit where applicable
• Provision of necessary access and information

Fees are charged based on time spent, complexity of work, and urgency. Detailed fee estimates will be provided before commencement of work. Unless otherwise agreed, fees are payable within 14 days of invoice date.

5.3 Expert Witness Services

When acting as expert witness, we:

• Comply with CPR Part 35 and our overriding duty to the court
• Provide impartial and objective opinions
• Work within our areas of expertise only
• Maintain independence regardless of who instructs us

6. Client Obligations

Clients must:

• Provide accurate and complete information
• Grant reasonable access to properties for inspection
• Disclose any conflicts of interest
• Pay fees in accordance with agreed terms
• Maintain confidentiality of draft reports
• Not misrepresent our findings or opinions

7. Limitation of Liability

7.1 Professional Indemnity

We maintain professional indemnity insurance as required by RICS. Details of our insurance coverage are available on request.

7.2 Limitations

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• Our liability for any claim shall not exceed the limits of our professional indemnity insurance
• We are not liable for losses arising from information provided by third parties
• We are not liable for consequential, indirect, or special losses
• Reports and opinions are prepared for the specific purpose stated and should not be relied upon for other purposes without our written consent

7.3 Website Disclaimer

Information on this website is for general guidance only and does not constitute professional advice. We do not guarantee that the website will be error-free, uninterrupted, or free from viruses.

8. Confidentiality

We treat all client information as confidential, subject to:

• Our duty to the court in expert witness cases
• Legal or regulatory requirements to disclose
• Your consent to disclosure
• Requirements of our professional bodies

9. Data Protection

We process personal data in accordance with UK data protection legislation and our Privacy Policy. By using our services, you consent to such processing.

10. Complaints Procedure

If you are dissatisfied with our services, please contact us in writing. We maintain a formal complaints procedure in accordance with RICS requirements and will investigate all complaints thoroughly. If you remain dissatisfied, you may refer your complaint to:

• RICS Regulation (www.rics.org/regulation)
• Property Redress Scheme where applicable

11. Termination

Either party may terminate an engagement by giving written notice, subject to:

• Payment for work completed to date
• Our professional obligations (including to the court)
• Any additional terms in the specific Terms of Engagement

12. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the content or availability of these websites. Inclusion of links does not imply endorsement.

13. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Your continued use of the website or services after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

14. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from these Terms or our services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

15. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

16. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any specific Terms of Engagement, constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding use of the website and services.

17. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, please contact us: