Independent chartered quantity surveyor
Property & builder disputes valued independently.
Overcharged, half-finished, badly built, or simply can't agree the final bill? A chartered quantity surveyor values the work actually done, the cost to put it right, and gives you an evidenced position. Initial review from £350 + VAT.
How we help
Turn an argument about money into a document about facts.
Most building disputes come down to the same three questions: what work was actually done, what is it reasonably worth, and what will it cost to finish or fix? Homeowners rarely have the tools to answer them, which is why disputes drift, invoices get paid under protest, and solicitors' fees overtake the sum in dispute.
A chartered quantity surveyor answers those questions professionally. Dave measures and values construction work every week for developers, contractors and private clients across the North East, and has acted as an independent expert on residential disputes ranging from a few thousand pounds to six-figure final accounts.
Services
- Initial review — contract, quotes, invoices and photographs reviewed; written opinion on where you stand
- Independent valuation of works — measured value of work done, cost to complete, cost to rectify defects
- Final account review — variations, extras, omissions and payments reconciled
- Defective works costing — scope and budget for remedial works to support a claim or a settlement
- Expert reports — CPR Part 35-compliant reports, single joint expert appointments, adjudication and mediation support
- Insurance and shared-repair costing — independent figures for insurers, neighbours and co-owners
Typical outcomes
Most matters settle once both sides have an independent valuation in front of them. Where they don't, you go into mediation, adjudication or court with a chartered QS's report rather than a stack of invoices and a grievance.
Acting for builders too. If a client is refusing to pay for work properly done, an independent valuation is equally persuasive in your hands. Contractor and developer services are provided through Lovatt Construction Consultants.
Dispute fees
| Initial desk review & written opinion | from £350 |
| Site inspection & independent valuation of works | Quoted |
| Expert report (CPR Part 35) | Quoted |
Plus VAT. Fixed fees agreed once we have seen the papers.
Discuss your dispute“A dispute is rarely about whether the work was bad. It is about what the bad work is worth. That is a QS question.”
Dave Lovatt MRICS MQSi · Academy of Experts
Questions
Disputes — asked before instructing.
What kinds of dispute do you deal with?
Builders who have overcharged or invoiced for work not done; work left incomplete or defective; disputes over variations and extras; final account disagreements; and disputes between neighbours or co-owners about the cost of shared repairs.
What is an independent valuation of works?
A measured, priced assessment by a chartered quantity surveyor of the work actually carried out, its reasonable value, the cost to complete it, and the cost to put defective work right. It is the document that turns an argument into a negotiation.
Can your report be used in court?
Yes. Dave is a member of the Academy of Experts and prepares reports in a form suitable for negotiation, mediation, adjudication and, where required, as expert evidence compliant with the Civil Procedure Rules Part 35.
How much does it cost?
An initial desk review of your contract, quotes, invoices and photographs starts at £350 + VAT with a written opinion. Site inspection and a full valuation or expert report are quoted as a fixed fee once we have seen the papers.
Do you act for builders as well as homeowners?
Yes. Independence is the point: the same chartered QS methodology applies whoever instructs us, which is why our reports carry weight on both sides of a table.
Send us the papers.
Contract, quotes, invoices and photographs — we'll tell you within a working day what an initial review would cover and cost.
Discuss your dispute Ask a question Call 07888 824248