Expert Witness Reports

Expert Witness Services

Smyth & Associates provide specialist Expert Witness services to clients involved in building and construction disputes of any scale or complexity. We are highly experienced in the preparation of CPR Part 35-compliant Expert Witness Reports and regularly act as either a Single Joint Expert (SJE) or a Party-Appointed Expert.

All reports are prepared in strict accordance with the RICS Practice Statement: Surveyors Acting as Expert Witnesses and the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR), ensuring independence, impartiality and court-ready presentation.

We provide Expert Witness Reports for issues including:

Construction & Building Defects

• General building defects (residential and commercial)
• Poor workmanship in new builds – fully conversant with the Building Regulations 2010, NHBC/LABC Structural Warranty Standards, and the Defective Premises Act 1972 (as amended by the Building Safety Act 2022)
• Poor workmanship to extensions – Consumer Rights Act 2015
• Loft conversions – compliance with the current Building Regulations 2010
• Water ingress and dampness, including:
  • Penetrating damp from adjoining properties
  • Below-ground waterproofing defects – BS 8102:2022
• Incorrect installation of spray foam insulation
• Poorly installed kitchens, bathrooms, wall and floor tiling, patios and external landscaping
• Poorly installed windows and doors – BS 8213-4:2016 and GGF Good Practice Guide (2016)
• Poorly installed solar panels
• Poorly constructed conservatories – LABC Homeowner Guide to Conservatory Construction (Oct 2021)

Surveying & Professional Negligence

• Negligent Homebuyer Reports and Building Surveys
• Professional negligence of surveyors and other construction professionals
• Residential and commercial survey disputes

Heritage & Traditional Buildings

• Repair and defects in historic and traditional buildings

Insurance & Claims Investigation

• Property insurance and claims investigation reports
• Personal injury claims related to construction or design defects

Specialist Structures

• Defective park homes and static caravans – BS 3632:2015 and Model Standards 2008

Home Improvement & Domestic Disputes

• Home improvement disputes of all types
• Poor workmanship and contractual disputes with builders
• Boundary issues and rights-of-way matters

Why Choose Smyth & Associates?

• Over 35 years in building surveying, construction and expert witness work
• Reports that are clear, structured, impartial and persuasive
• Full compliance with RICS guidance, CPR Part 35 and recognised expert-witness standards
• Extensive experience giving evidence in Court
• Deep technical knowledge across historic buildings, modern construction, building regulations and industry standards