Expert Witness
Copping Joyce Surveyors provide expert witness advice on property valuation in commercial disputes, probate, matrimonial and professional negligence claims. Our Expert Witness team has a thorough understanding of the legal context in which they operate. Our Expert Witness reports are fully compliant with Civil Procedure Rules, Part 35, and associated court guides and protocols as well as Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Practice Statements.
Areas of Expertise
Valuation
Copping Joyce Surveyors specialise in expert witness valuation of different asset types including residential, offices, retail, industrial, development land, medical and leisure. We on behalf of private property companies, legal advisors, Local Authorities, Property Funds and Banks advising on aspects such as valuation negligence claims, valuation for litigation purposes, matrimonial disputes, ‘ransom strip’ valuations and restrictive covenant dispute and valuations.
Copping Joyce Surveyors specialise in expert witness valuation of different asset types including residential, offices, retail, industrial, development land, medical and leisure. We on behalf of private property companies, legal advisors, Local Authorities, Property Funds and Banks advising on aspects such as valuation negligence claims, valuation for litigation purposes, matrimonial disputes, ‘ransom strip’ valuations and restrictive covenant dispute and valuations.
Development & Land
Our Expert Witness surveyors have particular expertise in undertaking Development Viability Reports and prepare evidence relating to valuation of development land (including option agreements), Gross Development Value and Section 106 obligations. We also assist developers with affordable housing provisions and advise on the viable proportion of social housing the development will be able to provide.
Our Expert Witness surveyors have particular expertise in undertaking Development Viability Reports and prepare evidence relating to valuation of development land (including option agreements), Gross Development Value and Section 106 obligations. We also assist developers with affordable housing provisions and advise on the viable proportion of social housing the development will be able to provide.
Lease Advisory
When rent review and lease renewal matters are referred to an Independent Expert or an Arbitrator, our Expert Witness surveyors have a wealth of technical expertise in acting on behalf of both Landlord and Tenants on a wide range of commercial property types such as retail, offices, industrial, hotels, medical, schools and nurseries.
When rent review and lease renewal matters are referred to an Independent Expert or an Arbitrator, our Expert Witness surveyors have a wealth of technical expertise in acting on behalf of both Landlord and Tenants on a wide range of commercial property types such as retail, offices, industrial, hotels, medical, schools and nurseries.
Compulsory Purchase
Copping Joyce Surveyors provide expert witness compulsory purchase reports and advise when it comes to resolving disputes relating to compensation through mediation and by way of a reference to the Lands Chamber (Upper Tribunal). We provide advice to both acquiring authorities and claimants in respect of the compulsory acquisition of land and rights.
Copping Joyce Surveyors provide expert witness compulsory purchase reports and advise when it comes to resolving disputes relating to compensation through mediation and by way of a reference to the Lands Chamber (Upper Tribunal). We provide advice to both acquiring authorities and claimants in respect of the compulsory acquisition of land and rights.
Expert Witness Surveyor CV
Richard G. Alford - BSc MRICS LETAPAWE
Richard Alford MRICS LETAPAWE, Chartered Surveyor, is a Registered Valuer and an accredited Expert Witness. He has a thorough knowledge and experience in the production of expert witness reports to meet the requirements of Courts, Tribunals and Arbitrators and is familiar with the requirements of the Courts and in particular Part 35 of the Civil Procedure Rules, accompanying Practice Direction, the protocol for the instruction of experts to give evidence in Civil Claims and the Practice Direction for Pre- Action Conduct. In the particular case of Expert Reports for Court proceedings, Richard accepts appointments in the following circumstances:-
- Advisory Expert
- Shadow Expert (instructed by a party to assist behind the scenes)
- Lead Expert
- Jointly Appointed Expert (Part 35) instructed by the parties with the permission of the Court to prepare a report and give evidence.
- A Single Joint Expert (SJE)
Case Studies
280 Borough High Street, London, SE1
This was an expert witness valuation report carried out by Richard Alford, involving the conversion of a former public house into a five storey structure with residential accommodation on the upper floor levels and office accommodation on the ground and basement levels. This report was for the court purposes but in fact, due to the evidence we provided within the report, a negotiated settlement was reached to the satisfaction of our client.
Gross Development Value: £4,500,000
Site Value: £1,400,000
Speak to our Expert Witness Team to find out more.
Gross Development Value: £4,500,000
Site Value: £1,400,000
Speak to our Expert Witness Team to find out more.
4-6 Islington Green, London, N1
This was a rent review of a Ground Floor and Basement Restaurant situated in Islington, overlooking Islington Green. A dispute arose as to the market rent of the subject property and an Independent Expert was instructed. I provided an Expert Witness, Submission and Counter Submission and the rental was settled at a rent satisfactory to the client and in line with the reported expectations.
Speak to our Expert Witness Team to find out more.
Speak to our Expert Witness Team to find out more.
Kenton Lane Farm, Harrow, HA3
Richard Alford was instructed as an Expert Witness to provide valuation of a 1.5 hectare site with a Grade II Listed Farmhouse, some Grade II Listed ancillary farm buildings together with 26 modern houses being a mix of 3 and 4 bedroom properties. Richard was instructed to provide his opinion of Existing Use Value, Site value and Gross Development Value to assist a planning dispute.
Speak to our Expert Witness Team to find out more.
Speak to our Expert Witness Team to find out more.
Earls Terrace, Kensington, London W8
Instructions were received as a Jointly Appointed Expert Witness to value this substantial period terraced house. The property included an underground swimming pool and car parking and is set in a very impressive terrace. Valuation Circa. £11,000,000.
Speak to our Expert Witness Team to find out more.
Speak to our Expert Witness Team to find out more.
Ransom Strip Valuation in Hertfordshire
Instructions were received to act as a jointly-appointed Expert Witness. A complicated case involving ‘a ransom strip’ and the correct approach to take in the valuation of such property adopted the principles laid down in Stoke v. Cambridge (1961) 13P CR7.
Speak to our Expert Witness Team to find out more.
Speak to our Expert Witness Team to find out more.
Tax Dispute on Baker Street
This property is a substantial development comprising of 78 high value properties from two bedroom flats up to duplex four bedroom split level apartments with roof terracing. In addition, there are two floors of underground car parking with over 100 spaces accessed by two large car lifts and a ground floor gymnasium and retail unit.
The property was subject to negotiations with the District Valuers office over a tax computation. The property was purchased by the existing owners in approximately 2009 and was valued for tax purposes by the District Valuer at a figure of over £110,000,000; the figure was disputed by Richard Alford acting on behalf of the owners.
Negotiations took place over a period of 18 months with the District Valuers office. The approach taken by the District Valuer was to value the subject property on the basis of standard Capital Gains Tax Assessments applying an individual value to each of the flats without any recourse to deductions for quantum, holding management repairs, insurance or sales costs.
The final tax computation was reduced by a figure of over £23,000,000 (Twenty Three Million Pounds).
The case is particularly important in that it has set, in the opinion of Richard Alford, a precedent with the District Valuers office whereby deductions to reflect these aforementioned costs should be taken into account where properties of such scale are purchased by investors.
Speak to our Expert Witness Team to find out more.
The property was subject to negotiations with the District Valuers office over a tax computation. The property was purchased by the existing owners in approximately 2009 and was valued for tax purposes by the District Valuer at a figure of over £110,000,000; the figure was disputed by Richard Alford acting on behalf of the owners.
Negotiations took place over a period of 18 months with the District Valuers office. The approach taken by the District Valuer was to value the subject property on the basis of standard Capital Gains Tax Assessments applying an individual value to each of the flats without any recourse to deductions for quantum, holding management repairs, insurance or sales costs.
The final tax computation was reduced by a figure of over £23,000,000 (Twenty Three Million Pounds).
The case is particularly important in that it has set, in the opinion of Richard Alford, a precedent with the District Valuers office whereby deductions to reflect these aforementioned costs should be taken into account where properties of such scale are purchased by investors.
Speak to our Expert Witness Team to find out more.