5-star building services design & project management

Our Services

Commercial Property

Commercial property services include Schedule of Conditions, Reinstatement Cost Assessments, Schedule of Works, EPC and Minimum Energy Efficiency (MEES) advice for both commercial and residential clients.

Our range of commercial property services includes:

Schedule of Condition
Reinstatement Cost Assessment
Schedule/ Specification of Works
EPC and MEES Advice (energy performance certificates and minimum energy efficiency standard)
Development Monitoring
Planned Preventative Maintenance
Expert Witness
Employers Agent
Project Management
Contract Administration
Feasibility Studies

At Duke National, we have vast experience working with commercial property landlords and managing agents, providing services across the entire property lifecycle of Planning & Acquisition, Development and Operational phases. We understand the importance of maximising the financial performance of these assets, and our services can assist with budget capital expenditure, advising on Landlord and Tenant matters and planning and managing refurbishment or development works.

Construction Project Management

To all our property project management services, we offer a bespoke and personalised approach.

Project management encompasses the techniques and skills involved in producing a defined outcome (an extension, a new build, refurbishment) within the constraints of people, time, budget and resources.

A property management company would be an asset to you, no matter whether you are undertaking a residential or commercial development project. Our services will save you a significant amount of stress and anxiety, as the Project Manager role is one that qualified and experienced individuals or teams should only undertake.

Construction Project Management is about more than simply overseeing contractors; it’s about understanding construction practices, applying for any necessary approvals, managing all project contracts, ensuring the project meets expectations and checking that the building complies with government regulations as well as the legal requirements.

In summary: Duke National offers commercial and residential project management expertise from small to significantly large building activities ranging from £30k extensions to £2m construction projects. Our approach is built on cutting-edge technological processes, efficient time management and liaison with cost-effective contractors to deliver a forward-thinking project management strategy that allows us to work smarter for our clients.

Opting for a project manager from Duke National will give you peace of mind as we will closely monitor your costs, that the schedule will be adhered to and will free up your own time to focus on other areas of your business or life. In addition, we’ll ensure the successful management of the planning, coordination and execution of the project, whether it’s commercial or residential.

As well as a significant understanding of the building and construction process, our talented team has expertise across finance, law, business and mediation, and strong communication skills to ensure that we can quickly solve challenges and progress can continue smoothly.

Cost Management

The company offers cost management services throughout the entire construction process of buildings.

When it comes to large commercial or residential building projects, it is essential to employ quantity surveyors to help understand and manage the costs involved in the project’s completion.

They will have a detailed understanding of managing the costs and risks associated with construction project planning and management. Their role begins during the feasibility and planning stages, and they will consider all parts of the process to ensure that the desired outcomes are achieved by the end of the development.

A successful construction project requires controlling costs, regardless of whether it is a new build, repair work, or refurbishment.

In summary: We ensure that our quantity surveyors provide our clients with accurate and effective cost management, as we understand the vital role it plays in the success and performance of their building projects and property assets. The approach we take is flexible, transparent, and responsive; we make sure that our clients understand the information presented to them throughout our consultation, and because we have construction, design, legal, compliance, and project management experience, they can rely on us for a complete turnkey solution.

Party Wall

Our knowledgeable party wall consultants can ensure you follow the law and prevent disputes with your neighbours.

What is the Party Wall Etc. Act 1996?

The Party Wall Etc. Act 1996 is a longstanding piece of legislation initially implemented in London. It is intended to guide, prevent and resolve disputes in relation to party walls, whereby property owners should serve appropriate notice to take their adjoining owners into account. Its principal aim is to ensure that building works cause no untoward damage to adjoining or adjacent properties/structures whilst causing the least disturbance and inconvenience to the occupants.

The term ‘party wall’ refers to a dividing wall between the boundary of land that belongs to two or more owners. For example, a shared wall between a terraced or semi-detached property.

Only applicable in England and Wales, the Party Wall Act requires those carrying out work to their property (building owner) to serve notice on their neighbour (adjoining owner), outlining their intentions. This ensures work cannot be unlawfully carried out without the adjoining owner/s being aware. It also gives the adjoining owner/s a choice to consent or dissent to the notice if they have a dispute over such work being carried out.

Any owner or occupier that is proposing works to/in the vicinity of a party wall, on a boundary line or near adjacent buildings/structures will invariably be required to comply with the requirements of the Act.

Building Contract Administration & Consultancy

We provide contract administration, management, and consultancy services for domestic and commercial building projects in the Southern Counties and London.

Contract Administration

Such is the nature of construction work with its complexities, liabilities and cost exposure. It is vital that the client is suitably assisted and protected through the course of a project.

The role of the Contract Administrator is to manage a suitable binding contract between client and contractor. Their appointment at the outset of a project is designed to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the works until successful completion. To achieve this, the CA will invariably prepare the works specification, procure the most suitable contract type, inspect the works at regular intervals, chair meetings with the contractor, instruct the contractor, agree to variations and consider delays along with authorising payments and ultimately approving the overall cost of the works.

Contract administration is often offered alongside quantity surveying, project management and monitoring surveying to ensure that one practice is ultimately responsible for the successful oversight and management of a build.

Duke National have expertise in building and construction contract administration. Our previous projects and areas of operation include the entire southern region as well as the London area.

We offer a complete turnkey service from design, quantity surveying and cost management to the preparation of contracts and monitoring surveying, ensuring completion of the project as intended. Our approach is one of transparency, speed and communication to ensure that you understand the works involved and that clear lines of dialogue occur between both the contractors and the employers.

Projects overseen by Duke National are delivered to specification, meeting the agreed schedule and budgetary requirements laid out throughout the process.

We provide a full contract administration service which includes:

Providing formal contracts
Issuing documentation to the contractor
Organising compliance, approvals and insurance
Organising schedule and phase meetings
Programme of works oversight and performance monitoring
Managing change and budget throughout
Issuing instructions
Agreeing on final accounts
Management of defect rectification/snagging

Planning Preventative Maintenance in Bristol

Our team of expert building surveyors will advise you and coordinate your PPM survey so you can understand the lifecycle costing of your assets.

Planning Preventative Maintenance

A Planned Preventative Maintenance Survey is an essential tool to allow for effective asset management of a property portfolio. Identifying the condition of a property will allow for a strategic approach to managing refurbishment, maintenance or even acquisition or disposal.

A PPM survey assesses the maintenance requirements of an asset over an agreed period (range from 5 years to 30 years) and provides cost projections to enable a maintenance budget to be set or a structured plan for maintenance to be developed. Our experienced team at Duke National are on hand to provide accurate and bespoke reports for our clients.

The benefits of a PPM survey are:

Provide a strategic overview of your portfolio or asset to assist in budget and capital expenditure planning
Provide a cost-saving on maintenance by avoiding reactive works
Provide predictable and stable year on year expenditure
Help to prolong the life cycle of the property and minimise the risk of unexpected failure
Assist with implementing policy works such as; energy efficiency, asbestos removal or carbon reduction alongside maintenance works

We have in-house expertise in undertaking planned preventative maintenance projects for clients in residential and commercial sectors. In addition, our team can offer a range of additional services, such as design and drawings, contract management, project management and building surveys, so you can rest assured that we have the skills required to guide you from an exhausted estate to premises of promise.

Our clients all agree that Duke National provides a refreshing and forward-looking approach to planned preventative maintenance. We utilise the latest technologies and practices to our benefit, seeking the best contractors to undertake the works. Our communications are transparent and regular, and we are incredibly responsive to enquiries from the client and on-site workers.

We offer extensive experience in planned preventative maintenance services to investors, developers, landlords, owner-occupiers and tenants. We work across most sectors, providing expertise to any office, warehouse, trade counter, retail unit, home, flat or estate.

Dilapidations Advice & Consulation

Professional building and property dilapidations advice for both commercial landlords and tenants.

Dilapidations consultancy is an area in which our team has extensive experience. Providing pragmatic, honest advice is essential to avoiding a dispute between the landlord and the tenant.

What are dilapidations?

Dilapidations represent the potential exit costs to the landlord by the tenant when they leave a property. It is the tenant’s responsibility to return the property to the landlord in its original, pre-let condition when they vacate.

It is common for tenants to fail to ensure that they have repaired any building faults or that any alterations they have made are restored before they vacate. If the contractual obligations have not been met, a dispute is likely to arise between the two parties following the service of the Schedule of Dilapidations.

The Schedule of Dilapidations contains a complete listing of deemed breaches relating to the tenants’ repairing liabilities and costs. When tenants leave, they need to know their lease obligations since the amount they will be charged by the landlord can be significant.

As a landlord, you will want to be compensated for any expenses incurred in preparing the premises for new tenants, but as a tenant, you will want to verify any claims made against you. A building surveyor will be needed in both scenarios to guide you through the legislation and procedures, or to help you calculate the costs and work involved in fixing faults or making cosmetic changes.

In summary: Our goal is to ensure that our clients achieve the best possible result in dilapidations matters, whether we are acting on behalf of the landlord or the tenant. In addition to staying up to date on all the latest regulations, our expert surveyors can guide you through the entire dilapidations process. Providing comprehensive negotiation services will be our focus to avoid formal legal actions. Thus, neither party will have to waste time or money on this.

Expenses associated with dilapidations claims can be expensive, confusing, and worrying for tenants. No matter what type of office or retail space you are leaving, we will provide comprehensive and coherent advice, so you can reach an agreement with the landlord without having to go to court.

If you’re a landlord, we’ll ensure that you’re adequately protected and provide you with an in-house service, giving you peace of mind. Because dealing with tenants can be both demanding and time-consuming, we will work on your behalf to prevent disputes and resolve them with efficiency and responsibility.

Pre-acquisition Building Surveys

We understand the need for responsible and accurate surveying, assessing the quality of commercial, domestic and public properties, detailing their condition and providing input on how to improve them.

What are building surveys & why are they needed?

For prospective house buyers or commercial clients looking to buy or lease new premises, they must hire a Building Surveyor with the proper credentials to ensure they are getting the best service.

Our surveying services can help you maximise the value, condition and use of your property, reduce your liability and ensure that you are protected from changing statutory requirements. For individuals and businesses seeking to purchase or lease property, our surveys will provide peace of mind and details often not found in lender valuation reports. It is usually recommended, particularly for commercial clients with full repairing leases, that a detailed property survey is conducted prior to purchase, especially when the property is of significant size or age.

Valuation surveys provided by your lender or building society can often fall short of the detailed information gained during a complete building inspection. For our clients, building surveys are a valuable tool for negotiating prices, and they usually provide a significant return on investment. Most importantly, they will help you determine if you will enter into a lease or purchase agreement with your eyes open or avoid purchasing properties with unexpected financial costs or conditions that have not been disclosed.

In summary: Our responsiveness and flexibility enable us to expedite building surveys efficiently and quickly for our clients. We provide an approachable and personable service to ensure you understand the information that is outlined to you by our RICS Chartered Surveyors, who keep up to date on all the latest statutory regulations.

NAVIGATION

LEGAL

Our Terms & Conditions are available on request. Please fill out this short form and submit.

London office:
23-24 Berkeley Square
Mayfair
London
W1J 6HE
England

Registered address:
3 Havenpool
Abbey Road
London
NW8 0BD
England