CASE HISTORIES

Over many years of carrying out Structural Dilapidation Surveys, a huge number of case histories have been observed.

The most significant fact is that nearby construction work has to be extreme in order to cause any issue regarding damage to adjoining properties.

The number of times that damage to adjoining properties is caused by construction work is significantly lower than usually expected.

There are however, no shortage of claims that damage has been caused by construction work. Society is becoming more litigation conscious, and it appears that in recent years, more claims are made that damage has resulted from the construction work.

Such claims tend to fall into 2 categories:

houseowners who have had cracks in their house/ wall for decades but simply have never noticed them
houseowners who see an opportunity for a claim against a large builder

In dozens of cases, a houseowner has been shown photographs taken some time before construction work commenced which clearly shows pre-existing cracks. Their claim disappears instantly.