As we approach 2025 and embark on the festive season, we want to reflect on our recent accomplishments. We are proud to highlight key achievements, particularly in reducing dilapidations claims and helping tenants significantly save money.
What are dilapidations?
Dilapidations are breaches of lease covenants in terms of the property’s condition during or at the end of a tenancy.
We have a proven track record of securing unparalleled outcomes for our clients.
We uniquely both types of specialist chartered surveyors needed for the price of one:
- Our Chartered Building Surveyors negotiate to reduce the sum the landlord’s building surveyor claims for repairs & redecorating;
- Then our Chartered Valuation Surveyors reduce it further with an underused legal rule: dilapidations damages are capped at the lower of the Cost of the Remedial Works OR the disrepair's impact (if any) on the property's value. Often, this is FAR LESS, so the Valuation Surveyor's input is crucial to minimising what you pay the landlord.
Who do we help?
We help commercial tenants with all aspects of dilapidations by providing specialist surveys, schedules, advice and representation.
When a tenant leaves commercial premises at the lease end, receiving the Landlord's Schedule of Dilapidations (SoD) can be a huge shock, especially if you left the property in good condition.
We have a network of specialist dilapidations surveyors with experience in successfully minimising dilapidations settlements for all commercial and leisure property types, throughout the UK & Ireland.
Our video explains more about how we provide a building and valuation surveyor for the cost of one, vastly reducing how much you owe.
Key Numbers
- >50% Average saving on dilapidations claim when acting for Tenants.
- 2 Surveyors for the price of 1. We have both chartered surveyor ("building" and "valuation") disciplines that are required to optimise the outcome. For landlords, due to paragraphs 9.3 & 9.4 of the Dilapidations Protocol. For tenants, due to the need to use the diminution in value cap. Contact Us for a free factual explanation of the law & process.
- 40 Surveyors strategically located across the UK & ROI, ensuring comprehensive geographic coverage.
- 2 Lead Director Chartered Surveyors with a combined 50-plus years’ experience, providing a direct & personal point of contact on every case.
- £20K - £20M Range of claims handled with equal diligence and unrivalled expertise.
- 1 Unique Black Friday offer! Unlock expert support at a discounted cost! Take advantage of our limited-time offer for tenants facing a dilapidations claim due before 31st December 2025.
Managing Director Paul Raeburn says:
"Our team is proud to support commercial & leisure tenants across the UK, especially during these tough times for businesses which the Autumn Budget has not helped. We always secure unrivalled reductions,in some cases down to at or about zero,due to our unique offering of a valuation and building surveyor. Just one example in the past year is the tenant of a warehouse in Surrey,with a major landlord represented by expensive consultants,where we ultimately achieved settlement at just £1,700,relative to their claim which started at £300,000!"
Examples of Tenants we have helped save thousands
International coffee shop chain saves £250,000!
Acting on behalf of an international coffee shop chain, our unique provision of both BUILDING and VALUATION surveyors working together from the outset, ensured the minimum possible dilapidations payment.
The former Tenant instructed us to negotiate a dilapidations claim on one of their former shops, where the Landlord served their dilapidations claim at just over £300,000. One of our senior Building Surveyors inspected and responded at £165,000 and informed us of this; one of our specialist Valuers prepared a Diminution (Section 18) Valuation to cap the claim at £50,000.
We settled with the Landlord at £50,000, a reduction of over £250,000 on the Landlord's Claim. Further proof is optimistic that as a tenant, you can only be certain that the settlement sum recommended to you in a dilapidations dispute is as low as it can be if both a Building Surveyor and specialist Valuer worked together to achieve it.
Peloton dilapidations claim halved with the help of dilapsolutions!
Instructions were received to negotiate a significant claim for a Tenant in a mid-terrace industrial unit in an established industrial location.
The Landlord's (Cost of Works) claim by the Building Surveyor was £51,238. Our Building Surveyor’s response was a total sum of £20,000.
The above opposing figures between Building Surveyors ordinarily set the parameters of the eventual settlement sum, usually at about the midpoint (c £35k in this instance).
However, as we are the only dilapidations consultancy that also employs specialist valuation surveyors who, at no additional fee, automatically apply the law that caps payments to the lower impact on the property's value, we secure the lowest achievable settlement sums.
The agreed settlement was £25,000, saving the tenant significant sums.
The offices were dated, so our Valuer successfully argued they needed to be upgraded by the Landlord regardless of the condition when vacated. Such included modern w/cs and LED lighting, therefore, leading to supersession.
Similarly, the demise included partitions that were Landlord's fixtures and fittings that would have to be removed, thus not being the former
Tenant's liability. This, in turn, would 'damage'/supersede works to decorations and ceilings.
Take a look at more of our case study examples here.
What happens if you’re faced with a dilapidations claim?
Dilapidations claims are often exaggerated. Without proper representation, you will end up paying way over the odds. Money “saved” on fees, lost multiple times over, not to mention the avoidable stress.
Our qualified chartered surveyors will provide sound, knowledgeable, and reliable tenant lease advice and vital services to safeguard you against bloated and unnecessary repair, redecorations, and reinstatement charges. We are unique because we automatically provide both types of chartered surveyors required for a comprehensive tenant dilapidations service.
Get in touch with Paul for a no-obligation discussion. Call 0330 094 5446 or email paul@dilapsolutions.com.
Dilapsolutions
Chartered Surveyors
We are the only dilapidations consultancy in the UK & Ireland that provides both Chartered Building and Valuation Surveyors, ensuring the best results for our clients.