At Adams Building Consultancy we pride ourselves on our specialist, award winning Expert Witness and Dispute Resolution Services. We are one of the leading firms in this field in Scotland having undertaken over 70 Expert Witness appointments within the last year. Most litigation cases settle before attendance in court is required, however this week we have again had a case called and were cited to provide oral evidence this time taking the short journey to the Sheriffdom of Lothian and Borders at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. 

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This case was particularly interesting given that contrasting Expert Opinions were obtained and therefore the case relied upon the respective Experts. ABC are delighted to report that our Greig Adams opinions were accepted in full and preferred to the opposing Expert. As a consequence, court success was obtained for the party appointing us.

Dispatches investigated allegations of shoddy standards, poor customer care, sky high profits and executive bonuses at Britain's most profitable builder, Persimmon within their programme titled "Britain's New Build Scandal". The Channel 4 investigation aired on Monday 15th July 2019 and featured an interview with one of the industry's leading expert surveyors, Greig Adams of Adams Building Consultancy.

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Greig within his interview covered some concerning aspects relating to new build properties such as the refusal of many house builders to allow a professional surveyor to carry out a snagging inspection prior to purchase and full settlement.

This worrying trend means that many homeowners would be unable to establish if there are major faults within the building until after they have legally concluded and paid in full. They would also for instance be unable to withhold retention monies to cover the full cost of faults identified. In short, many homeowner's bargaining power and negotiation position is severely compromised as a result with numerous homeowners experiencing difficulties in getting defects remedied.

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Greig said "the existing position regarding new homes is simply unfair to homeowners with a distinct lack of protection. It is often said that a person has more rights buying a kettle than a house and that is largely true given that a property falls outwith the provision of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and instead there is sole reliant on the contracts signed. Unfortunately, these contracts are largely drafted and dictated by the housebuilders and do not, in my opinion, adequately protect a homeowner with a lack of adequate retention monies, lack of right for professional to inspect prior to purchase and various other deficiencies present. Much more needs to be done to address the status quo."

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The RICS Scotland Dilapidations Conference 2019 provided a comprehensive update and expert guidance on the current and future issues impacting commercial landlords and tenants, building surveyors and valuers, delivered by the combined expertise of leading speakers at the forefront of dilapidations issues. The conference brought together the combined expertise of expert surveyors, litigation solicitors and advocates to provide a roundup of recent case law and analyse the impact it had on day-to-day practice. 

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ABC's Director, Greig Adams was invited to present on "accession" including accession on moveables and fixtures, and rights and obligations during the lease, at lease expiry and on subsequent leases.

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Accession is a common area of dispute between the parties and an important area where tactical leverage can be implemented and where knowledge of this particular area can bring important benefits when dealing with dilapidation settlements, including specifically when advising clients to maximise their advantage. 

Twenty flats were destroyed by fire and a further 10 were damaged by heat and smoke affecting the ground floor to the sixth floor of the building in Barking. Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters were called to the flats on De Pass Gardens as people were evacuated from their homes. 

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Leading Expert, Greig Adams who had recently completed investigations into fire barrier breaches as part of the BBC Watchdog investigations was interviewed by BBC Radio London in light of this fire to provide his views.

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Greig said "My own views are that using an arbitary and outdated height (apparently based on post-war fire grading) of 18m to floor slab as the trigger to decide whether combustible materials can be used is not an effective regulation.

A minimum benchmark for regulations is just that, a minimum. Design in my opinion should be based on providing suitable conditions to allow all occupants to escape... as opposed to an arbitary height of the building.

Until this Regulation is further amended, such tragedies will continue. I will leave you with a worrying thought.... this building could be constructed again tomorrow until there is a change in regulation".
 

ABC were proud to see our Director Greig Adams appear prominently on television as the Expert Surveyor tasked with the investigation into fire barrier breaches within last night's BBC Watchdog programme. The programme showed Greig as their appointed Expert inspect four different houses which extended to disruptive inspections whereby drilling into the external walls was undertaken combined with specialist borescope equipment before accessing the attic spaces within each.

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Greig also provided an on screen interview outlining the worrying issues found. 

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The investigation has also formed part of various national press articles with again Greig appearing prominently. For those who missed the programme, this can be found on BBC iplayer whilst a brief extract from the BBC News article is provided below:

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"In Scotland, BBC Watchdog Live sent its own expert surveyor to a new build Bellway Homes development in West Lothian, to examine the fire protection at four houses, after concerns were raised by one resident whose house had previously been found to have inadequate fire barriers.

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Surveyor and expert witness Greig Adams, who carried out the testing, found poorly fitted fire barriers at all four properties, with voids and gaps around them that would prevent them stopping fire from spreading. He said that the homes are not fire safe:

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"What we've unfortunately found is that there are fire breach issues in every house we've looked at. It's a legal requirement that the cavity barriers are to be there. It's not optional- and with good reason: it saves lives""

As one of the leading Expert Witness and Dispute Resolution companies in Scotland, we are delighted to have assisted the ground breaking investigation into missing and incorrectly installed fire barriers in new-build houses. Our Greig Adams was appointed as the BBC's expert and appeared prominently on the Watchdog Live episode undertaking his investigations.

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BBC News outlined "In Scotland, BBC Watchdog Live sent its own expert surveyor to a new build Bellway Homes development in West Lothian, to examine the fire protection at four houses, after concerns were raised by one resident whose house had previously been found to have inadequate fire barriers.

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Surveyor and expert witness Greig Adams, who carried out the testing, found poorly fitted fire barriers at all four properties, with voids and gaps around them that would prevent them stopping fire from spreading. He said that the homes are not fire safe:

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"What we've unfortunately found is that there are fire breach issues in every house we've looked at. It's a legal requirement that the cavity barriers are to be there. It's not optional- and with good reason: it saves lives""

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Unfortunately the incorrect installation of fire barriers is an issue across a considerable number of new-build houses also extending across numerous developers whilst our own investigations have found considerable issues with the use of timber fire barriers in particular which require a very low tolerance when abutting masonry to be capable of preventing fire spread. ABC are hopeful that these investigations will lead to significant changes within the industry that will ultimately safe lives.

ABC are one of the leading and most active Expert Witness and Dispute Resolution providers in construction, building and property related disputes. We are regularly appointed by numerous high profile legal firms especially in relation to workmanship, professional negligence and contractual compliance cases.

In this particular case the Pursuer alleged various workmanship issues and appointed a recognised and respected Expert Witness who reiterated the alleged workmanship failures. ABC were appointed by the Defender's solicitor to provide an independant review of the workmanship.

We disagreed with the Pursuer's expert and the case therefore revolved around the respective expert evidence. The court judgement agreed with ABC's findings and the defence was therefore successful:

"I decided that the most persuasive evidence came from the Respondent’s expert....He was able to explain how he reached his opinions with clarity. His oral evidence was detailed, sensible and confirmed the terms of his written reports. I have based my findings in fact and law on his reports and oral testimony. I rejected the Claimant’s expert evidence as it was less persuasive....”

If you are contemplating litigation or facing a claim appointing the best Expert Witness is of paramount importance. Please feel free to contact us if you wish to discuss any cases.

Renowned Property Speaker and Expert, Greig Adams of Adams Building Consultancy Ltd, presented the industry leading seminar "Uncovering Dilapidations - A Masterclass" on 25 March 2019.

The seminar was presented to a mix of surveyors and solicitors and included topics such as gaining a tactical advantage in dilapidation claims.

ABC provide leading Dilapidations Consultancy services including Expert Witness. Please feel free to be in touch with any dilapidation enquiries.

The RICS have now announced some of Scotland's most impressive building projects, with the publication of the RICS Awards 2019 shortlist. Across eight individual categories, the awards are regarded as the premier property and construction awards in the country, celebrating the most innovative projects in the region and their impact on local communities.

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Adams Building Consultancy's Greig Adams as one of the RICS Judges expressed difficulty in shortlisting this years entrants down to just twenty-eight across the range of categories extending from Building Conservation through Tourism & Leisure to Community Benefit.

The RICS Awards showcase the most inspirational initiatives and developments in land, real estate, construction and infrastructure. They celebrate the achievements and successes of RICS professionals and their impact on local communities.

RICS Judge Greig Adams revealed that the judging panel will be attending each individual project over the coming weeks in the lead up to the awards ceremony. 

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Adams Building Consultancy presented on behalf of the RICS to audiences of their professional members on "Defects and Rectification", covering defects in depth, how different standard contracts approach defects, various party's contractual obligations, the importance of limitation periods whilst drawing on practical examples and case law. 

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The Seminars extended over two separate dates within Edinburgh and Glasgow and received a warm reception from those in attendance. 

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Our Greig Adams presented the seminars and is an expert in Building Defects being one of the foremost experts in the field in Scotland and regularly appears in court in relation to such matters.

Following on from the success of 2018 where Greig provided over a dozen industry leading property seminars for a range of professional bodies and specialist training companies, we are delighted that we were invited to present for the afternoon at one of the leading and largest Chartered Surveying company's formal annual training (CPD) day. 

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Greig presented to over a 100 of his peers focusing on the topic of structural movement, including specifically identification during surveys and offering many tips and how to avoid pitfalls. 

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We are delighted that Greig continues to be recognised as a leading expert in the field, providing thought leadership whilst seeking to advance the surveying profession's training based on his years of litigation experience and practical experience. 

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Greig said "it is an honour to be invited to present an afternoon of structural defect seminars to such a well established, large and leading firm of Chartered Surveyors. It is always a pleasure to attempt to grow a surveyor's knowledge base whilst the firm are to be applauded for investing in their staff's training".  

Adams Building Consultancy are delighted to have received industry recognition within the 2018 Scottish Enterprise Awards for both "Specialist Building Consultancy of the Year - Edinburgh" and "Leading Providers of Dispute Resolution Services". 

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"From local businesses to SMEs and national franchises, we are showcasing anyone whose efforts and dedication have played a prominent role in Scottish economy. Whether you are contributing to the growth in sectors such as construction, technology, and engineering or are mainstays in agriculture or financial services, our award platform provides valuable recognition for the achievements made by the leading businesses within Scotland." (Scottish Enterprise Awards)

The Scottish Rural Awards are the ultimate benchmark of excellence in Scotland’s countryside – a celebration of the enterprise, innovation, dedication and community spirit of those who live in rural Scotland.

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Adams Building Consultancy are therefore proud for their achievement in becoming a Nominee at the Scottish Rural Awards 2019 following on considerable success over the previous year. The nominee comes directly in the footsteps of Adams Building Consultancy's 2018 Scottish Enterprise Awards for "Specialist Building Consultancy of the Year - Edinburgh" and "Leading Providers of Dispute Resolution Services".  

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Greig from Adams Building Consultancy said "for a building consultancy to be achieving such acclaim is testament to our hard work and expertise within the sector. We hope to continue to establish ourselves as the "go to experts" for disputes, defects and dilapidations providing technical advice on all types of property".

One of Scotland's leading Property Expert's, Greig Adams has become the newest Judge at the RICS Scotland's Awards 2019.

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The RICS Awards showcase the most inspirational initiatives and developments in land, real estate, construction and infrastructure. They celebrate the achievements and successes of RICS professionals and their impact on local communities.

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Greig said "being shortlisted or winning one of the categories of the RICS Awards is a great achievement. These projects require successful collaboration of talented teams and individuals, complimenting skills and exemplary vision to create remarkable buildings, buildings we can be proud of and buildings which provide a profoundly positive influence on wider communities.  It is an honour to be a Judge and get an inside tour or so many magnificent developments".

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There are eight categories; Building Conservation, Residential, Commercial, Infrastructure, Regeneration, Community Benefit, Design Through Innovation and Tourism & Leisure. Entries are now open.

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With the increasingly popular use of new materials and modern methods of construction, it has resulted in new and emerging building defects.

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This Seminar run by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) for both members and non-members is designed to examine what these defects are and most importantly how Surveyors or other professionals can correctly identify and report on them. Industry leading expert, Greig Adams will be presenting the RICS Seminar outlining real life case studies and some interesting and unusual defects.

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Greig said "there is an interesting array of defects that affect industrial buildings, a number of which are still relatively unknown within the surveying community. Successful surveying of industrial buildings is very much dependent on an individual's knowledge and from my extensive Expert Witness appointments I have seen a number of claims against surveyors across a number of unusual defects, that I look forward to sharing with my peers to aid their knowledge base." 

Benefits of attending:

Gain technical guidance on diagnosing unusual building defects.

Leave with techniques to provide clients with clear, relevant and useful advice.

Hear from a practising leading surveyor with real life case studies and examples to share.

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The Seminar will take place on 21 November at 12.30-14.00.

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We have recently advised and completed a Building Survey as part of Due Diligence relating to the £27.5 million acquisition of one of Edinburgh's first Build-to-Rent (BTR) schemes, Lochrin Quay. 

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Lochrin Quay comprises a collection of 113 one, two and four bedroom apartments of fully furnished accommodation for the Private Rented Sector, situated canalside adjacent to the City's Exchange business district.  

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Greig said of the appointment: "This substantial acquisition shows confidence in the Scottish residential property market and specifically the Private Rented Sector, which is continuing to grow. Indeed, it is anticipated that there will be a 24% increase in private renting by 2022 with property investors increasingly moving into this sector. I am delighted to have advised and carried out Building Consultancy services on such a substantial acquisition which will no doubt prove to be one of the largest acquisitions in Scotland this year whilst being a pleasure to survey a landmark building with thrilling views over the canal basin."

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The annual RICS Building Surveying Conference 2018 is one of the leading and best attended property conferences in the UK providing technical insight, legal updates and the latest developments impacting the built environment sector and the surveying profession.

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A key feature of this year’s agenda is examining and reflecting on the recent tragedies of fire incidents and the school closures which has seen a spotlight on fire safety standards, structural damage and health and safety. The industry leading expert speakers will explore the above topics to identify best practice and strategies to ensure that surveyors are adhering to the highest standards.

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We are delighted that our Greig Adams has been kindly invited by the RICS to present one of the key topics of the day in "Structural damage and quality of monitoring" – "Know how to spot and identify structural movement and fundamental defects in buildings. Review the principles and lessons learned from the school closures across Scotland to understand how this could be prevented in the future".

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Attending this conference gives attendees the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge of the RICS's expert speakers, ensuring you remain at the forefront of your profession and are equipped to provide the best advice to your clients in common areas of practice

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Greig said of the upcoming Conference "The upcoming Conference tackles the issues at the forefront of the profession, tackling topical issues and most importantly outlining what can be learnt from the recent tragedies. Once again, the RICS has provided a panel of the leading industry experts to present at one of the must attend property events of the year".

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RICS Building Surveying Conference Scotland 2018 is to be held on 15 November 2018 between 08.45-16.45 at  Hampden Park, Glasgow.  

The success of a Litigation action is largely dependent on the Expert Witness appointed. Every case will ultimately incorporate cross examination of the respective experts and it is this stage where a great Expert Witness comes to the fore. As one of Scotland's most prominent and most active Expert Witnesses, Greig is delighted to have had his opinion validated at the highest level with recent court judgements providing a double success. 

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In Greig's most recent court appearance involving a homeowner against a national and major housebuilder regarding quality of work and snagging items, the Sheriff found "the defects are detailed in the report of expert witness Greig Adams. The work required to rectify the defects are detailed in said report. The value of the claim is reasonable and represents the actual loss to the Claimant... The Sheriff finds the Claimant entitled to Decree as craved together with interest and expenses as assessed". The Pursuer was completely successful.

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In our other most recent judgement, Greig was appointed by the Defender's litigation team in an interesting case involving the manufacture of specialist timber windows and subsequent defects. The Pursuer's appointed a prominent Expert Witness who concluded that all the windows were defective, that the Defender's were in breach of contract and that all windows required replacement whilst an Advocate led their case. The Sheriff ultimately concluded "in the event, I prefer the evidence of Mr Adams" and as such the Defenders were found not to be in breach of any contractual obligations and were fully successful in their defence. 

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Ultimately the appointment of an Expert Witness is of paramount importance and many Experts falter even before a court date is set. An example of this is a recent water ingress escape claim and corresponding nuisance action whereby the Pursuer's appointed Expert completely reversed their view on receipt of Greig's Expert Opinion. 

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If you are involved in a Building Dispute or require an Expert Witness or Expert Opinion then contact Greig Adams to discuss further.

A previous survey undertaken by consumer groups revealed that at least 2.4 million people have had a dispute with their appointed builder in the last 3 years whilst a quarter have been forced to take formal action. The most common form of complaint was found to be quality of work. This is likely to worsen over future years as homeowners follow an increasing trend to extend and refurbish their homes instead of moving.

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MBL Seminars are hosting a specialist half day Seminar on Defective Building Works designed for solicitors, litigators, surveyors and architects involved in this specialist dispute area, which will be presented by one of Scotland's most active and respected Expert Witnesses, Greig Adams. 

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This seminar is designed to keep professionals ahead of the competition and provide the unique insight of a specialist expert witness surveyor benefiting from years of dispute and litigation experience in quality of work disputes. This course will examine various real life cases, scrutinising contradicting expert opinion, highlighting how to establish warning signs from any submitted reports as part of a case due diligence process whilst outlining potential traps and tips for litigators specialising in building disputes.

"I am delighted to be invited to present a half day Seminar on such a specialist area often encompassed in litigation actions. For many litigators and indeed professional staff involved in establishing quality of works it is rare for such an indepth analysis revealing such tips and detailing pitfalls awaiting based on years of expert witness work and many many hours of cross examination in the courts." Greig Adams

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This course will cover the following:

• Quality of work standards in simple offer and acceptance contracts

• Quality of work standards in standard forms of contract

• Estimate v quotation - practical discussion.

• Manufacturer’s recommendations - what do these mean and do they influence quality of work standards

• British Standards - are they relevant?

• An ordinarily competent contractor - a practical discussion

• Reasonable skill and care - a practical discussion

• Contractor reports and quotations

• Typical problems with remedial action and quantum assessment

• Expert witness - what type of expert to appoint and limitations of relevant disciplines

• Expert opinions - the inspection and equipment used including associated limitations

• Expert opinions - common pitfalls and issues, including how to scrutinise an opinion

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A must attend seminar for Expert Witnesses, Architects, Surveyors and Litigation Solicitors. 

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Bookings can be made directly via MBL Seminars. 

http://www.mblseminars.com/

Once again, Greig has been invited as one of Scotland's leading Chartered Building Surveyors to present two Seminars on Reinstatement Cost Assessments which are property rebuild valuations utilised for Buildings Insurance purposes to his peers.

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On 29 May in Glasgow and 30 May in Edinburgh, Greig will present on behalf of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) presenting best practice, how to ensure a client is insured to the correct level whilst eliminating negligence claims. He will cover property inspection, collation of appropriate data, cost references and calculation of the insured amount whilst providing practical examples including specialist historical buildings.

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Greig said "recent statistics show that up to 80% of property's may be underinsured which can bring with it disastrous consequences financially for a property owner. For the practicing surveyor an incorrect valuation also brings with it similar risks and consequences whilst in the event of an averaging principle being adopted by the Insurer the surveyor is the first person in the firing line. This seminar is designed to present best practice from a practical perspective and manage those risks. I'm delighted to be invited to present on this topic on what is sure to be one of the must attend seminars of the year."

Buildings insurance is something that every property owner, business owner or homeowner will be aware of.  However one factor that is often overlooked is the actual cost of rebuilding a property, as if the building is not insured for the correct rebuild cost, then the insurance can spring a nasty surprise when you need it the most. Market research has shown a rather alarming statistic that up to 80% of properties may be underinsured.

In the event of a claim then insurers can look to apply ‘average’ and reduce the claim payment accordingly. To use a basic example, if someone has only insured a building for 60% of it’s true rebuild value then insurers are only obligated to pay 60% of the value of the claim, whether this is a small claim for a damaged wall or a significant claim where a large portion of the building has been destroyed.

Needless to say, such a difference in costs can be catastrophic, whether for an individual or a business.

Insurance valuations are often less than you may think. For example, we have recently launched our Insurance Shortfall Valuation Service for our clients. This is a desktop service where, for buildings of a relatively straightforward nature, we are able to provide a valuation without actually visiting your premises, keeping costs low.

Renowned Property Expert Greig Adams said "the advice for Property Owners is clear... it is essential to obtain a professional rebuild valuation if not obtained within the last 3 years".

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If you wish to discuss your current insurance valuation requirements whether to an individual property or a large portfolio extending to thousands of individual properties then give us a call.

The RICS Surveys in Practice Roadshow represents best practice in surveying and reporting on the entire anatomy of residential properties and is one of the RICS's most popular Seminars. Our Greig Adams is delighted to again present to his peers and advise on "Assessing Building Movement in walls".

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Greig will be covering how to identify structural movement, assess building movement and report on it representing best practice for surveyors. In addition, Greig will be touching on real life examples including how to apply this knowledge in practice. 

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Tickets are available now on the RICS website with the Seminar taking place on Thursday 1st March 2018 in Glasgow. Book now! 

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Back by popular demand! Following the success of the Dilapidation Masterclass held in January 2018 over half a day and presented by Dilapidation Expert Greig Adams, we are pleased to announce on behalf of MBL Seminars that the Dilapidation Masterclass will return on September 3rd 2018, this time in Glasgow. 

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Don't just take our word for it...

• "I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed (and benefited) from your seminar"

• "a really engaging afternoon"

• "very enjoyable"

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Dilapidations remain at the epicentre of successful asset management for landlords and at the forefront of business and financial planning for tenants.

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This course is designed to keep you ahead of the competition and provide the unique insight of a specialist dilapidations surveyor, benefiting from years of dispute and litigation experience.

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The course will examine a real life dilapidation case, a claim amounting to £1 million through to settlement at £200,000 scrutinising each areas of dispute, dilapidations theory, the respective tactics of landlord and tenant and risk proposition whilst touching on some of the conflicts between theory and practice.

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What You Will Learn

This course will cover the following:

• The repairing standard and typical disputes arising there from

• Extraordinary repairs - theory, interpretation and practical issues

• Alterations and reinstatement - the theory, in practice and leveraging tactical advantage

• Payment clauses and diminution in value

• Redecoration clauses - why such causes cause dispute and how to improve drafting

• Statutory obligations - the issues in practice

• VAT - demystifying VAT and impact on tactics

• Typical landlord and tenant tactics and how to counter them

• Settlement agreements - common pitfalls

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Don't miss out - book now! 

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https://www.mblseminars.com/Outline/Uncovering-Dilapidations---A-Masterclass/8955/

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Are you a Solicitor, Advocate, Surveyor or Property Owner involved with Commercial Property? Do you want to gain the edge from your competitors and maximise your or your client's commercial advantage? If so, then this course is not to be missed! 

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Dilapidations remain at the epicentre of successful asset management for landlords and at the forefront of business and financial planning for tenants.

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This course is designed to keep you ahead of the competition and provide the unique insight of a specialist dilapidations surveyor benefiting from years of dispute and litigation experience, run by leading legal CPD, training and seminar provider MBL Seminars Limited.

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The course will examine a real life dilapidation case, a claim amounting to £1 million through to settlement at £200,000 scrutinising each areas of dispute, dilapidations theory, the respective tactics of landlord and tenant and risk proposition whilst touching on some of the conflicts between theory and practice.

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What You Will Learn

This course will cover the following:

• The repairing standard and typical disputes arising there from

• Extraordinary repairs - theory, interpretation and practical issues

• Alterations and reinstatement - the theory, in practice and leveraging tactical advantage

• Payment clauses and diminution in value

• Redecoration clauses - why such causes cause dispute and how to improve drafting

• Statutory obligations - the issues in practice

• VAT - demystifying VAT and impact on tactics

• Typical landlord and tenant tactics and how to counter them

• Settlement agreements - common pitfalls

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Don't miss out - book now! 

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https://www.mblseminars.com/Outline/Uncovering-Dilapidations---A-Masterclass/8955/

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What a busy month July has been with a number of notable highs including defending a Landlord's Dilapidation claim from £1 million down to £200,000, a considerable number of new Expert Witness appointments and substantial Building Surveys of some of Scotland's most prestigious buildings.

Added to this, Greig has just been invited to write again in the peer reviewed Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal & Valuation discussing diagnosis of structural issues and following on from one of his earlier seminar delivered on behalf of the RICS as part of their Continued Professional Development (CPD) Day on a similar subject matter. 

If all of this wasn't enough, Greig has been invited to present a 3 hour seminar to the legal professional extending to solicitors, advocates and counsel. It is rare for a Chartered Building Surveyor to be provided with such an opportunity. 

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Greig said "it is certainly one of the highlights of my year to have received an invite to present to such a prestigious audience of solicitors and legal professionals extending across a considerable number of Scotland's most renowned companies. I look forward to outlining practical knowledge from a surveyor's perspective to provide a unique insight based on my years of experience". 

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Further details to be released soon including how to purchase a ticket. 

Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal & Valuation is the major new peer-reviewed journal for property professionals published quarterly both in print and online whilst "written by and for leading surveying professionals". As such it is a great honour for Greig's in depth paper on "Giant Hogweed: Public Enemy" to be featured on such a topical issue covering the UK's most dangerous plant. 

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Greig said "the journal provides detailed, actionable advice on the diverse range of concerns in the survey, appraisal and valuation of the built environment. I am pleased to feature within the peer reviewed publication among other leading surveying and legal professionals and to continue with assisting training and knowledge to raise surveying standards".

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The comprehensive 5 page article focuses on Giant Hogweed, the history of the plant, impact, legalities, identification, eradication and control. The timing of the article also directly follows from Greig presenting on Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed on behalf of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in March to surveying professionals.

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The paper's abstract is as follows:

 "Now widely recognised as the UK's most dangerous plant and amid a plethora of press articles depicting the excruciating burns experienced from persons unwittingly coming into contact with giant hogweed, surveyors need more than ever to be alert to the possibility of this invasive plant colonising subjects being inspected. Significant legal penalties, possible imprisonment and substantial fines relating to allowing the spread of this dangerous plant underpin the importance of the subject matter. This paper concentrates on identification of giant hogweed at different stages through its lifecycle, how to differentiate from similar species, legalities, eradication and control."

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The Journal or Paper can be purchased directly from Henry Stewart Publications.

Not many surveyors are ever asked to present seminars to their fellow peers by their professional body (The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and following Greig's role as key note speaker earlier this year at the RICS CPD Day in Dunblane it therefore came as some surprise for him to be asked to present a further two key seminars this week. 

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Greig presented a seminar on Japanese Knotweed and Other Invasive Species, including in depth coverage of the UK's most dangerous plant (Giant Hogweed) at the RICS Offices in Edinburgh and also the Teacher Building in Glasgow. 

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The series of seminars have proved to be a big hit with attendees describing the seminars as being "excellent", well done Greig!

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Following on from Greig's highly regarded key note speech at the #Kickstart2017 Commercial Property Insight event, he was delighted to have received an invite to provide a further key note speech at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) CPD Day, attended by over 200 attendees from the surveying and legal communities. Greig was delighted that his speech to his peers was so well received. 

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This week I have had the pleasure of being a keynote speaker at the #Kickstart2017 Commercial Property Insight event, held in Glasgow and provided by the Royal Bank of Scotland with legal content also provided by Gilson Gray LLP, a full service award winning law firm. For those who were unable to attend, don't worry my Top 10 Tips to Buying Commercial Property is derived from the presentations delivered which were found by attendees to be "of great interest" whilst "the content delivered was highly informative". I hope you think so too!

Greig Adams a Divisional Director of Capita Real Estate and Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has been appointed onto the Private Rented Housing Panel which is a Tribunal hearing residential property related disputes. 

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From the 1st of December 2016, the existing Private Rented Housing Panel (PRHP) and Home Owner Housing Panel (HOHP) will become known as the Housing and Property Chamber. The Chamber will sit within the newly-created First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (First-tier Tribunal). The administration will still be provided by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS).

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The Tribunals (Scotland) Act 2014 creates a two-tier structure which will bring improvements to the structure, management and organisation of Tribunals of which the new Chamber sits. Applications will initially be sent to the First-tier Tribunal for determination with an onward appeal route to the Upper Tribunal for Scotland, rather than to the Courts as at present. The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland and the Upper Tribunal for Scotland (Upper Tribunal) will be collectively known as the Scottish Tribunals. 

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The Housing and Property Chamber will continue to deal with determinations of rent or repair issues in private sector housing as well as assistance in exercising a landlord’s right of entry. The Chamber will also provide relatively informal and flexible proceedings to help resolve issues that arise between homeowners and property factors. The Chamber will also start to hear more private rented sector cases from December 2017 including the new letting agents’ regime, transfer of jurisdiction from the sheriff courts and new private tenancies. 

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Mr Adams said of the appointment "I am delighted to have been appointed at this time onto the Private Rented Housing Panel (PRHP) and to the imminent transfer of my appointment onto the newly formed Housing and Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland on the 1st December 2016. The appointment provides a great deal of responsibility and I am relishing the role and rewards associated with improving people's lives by ensuring compliance with the legal repairing standards within the private rented sector".

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