Commercial Building Surveying & Project Management
WHITES Commercial provides clear, practical building surveying and project management services for commercial property. We help clients understand building condition, reduce risk and make sound property decisions — without the jargon.
Understand a building's condition before committing to a lease or purchase.
Landlord and tenant dilapidations guidance throughout and at lease end.
A clear, evidenced record of building condition to protect your position.
Specification, procurement and delivery for commercial building works.
What We Do
We cover the full range of building surveying and project management services for commercial property — from initial due diligence through to lease end and beyond.
Thorough building surveys before purchase or lease commitment to identify risk and inform negotiation.
→Detailed records of building condition at lease start, supported by photographic and written evidence.
→Clear, commercial guidance for landlords and tenants on repair obligations and end-of-lease claims.
→Specialist surveys of commercial property — warehouses, trade counters, retail units and mixed-use buildings.
→Expert identification of building defects with clear advice on cause, risk and the right course of action.
→Specification writing, contractor procurement and contract administration for commercial building works.
→Why WHITES Commercial
We are not a general practice firm. WHITES Commercial is a specialist service led by an experienced commercial Building Surveyor and Project Manager — focused entirely on commercial property.
Our focus is exclusively on commercial building surveying and project management. We understand the pressures, obligations and decisions that commercial landlords, tenants and occupiers face.
We write reports and give advice that clients can actually use. Plain English, commercially aware, with clear conclusions — not hedged opinions that leave you no better informed.
With experience across live operational estates, we understand the practical side of commercial property — not just the surveying theory. That makes our advice more relevant and more useful.
Get Started
We are happy to discuss your requirements without obligation. Whether you are a landlord, tenant, occupier or property professional — get in touch to find out how we can help.
What We Offer
Specialist building surveying and project management for commercial property. Each service is tailored to the specific needs of landlords, tenants, occupiers, buyers and property professionals.
A pre-acquisition survey is one of the most important steps you can take before committing to a commercial property — whether you are purchasing a freehold or agreeing a new lease. Understanding the physical condition of a building before you sign on the dotted line can be the difference between a sound investment and an expensive liability.
We carry out thorough building surveys of commercial premises — industrial units, warehouses, trade counters, retail units and mixed-use buildings — assessing structural condition, building fabric, services installations and any identified defects or items requiring attention. We provide a clear written report that gives you an honest picture of what you are taking on.
Where defects or issues are identified, our reports include practical advice on priority, likely cost implications, and recommendations for further investigation where appropriate. This information can also be used to inform lease negotiations, purchase price, or to request that remedial works are carried out prior to completion.
A schedule of condition is a comprehensive, evidenced record of the state of a building at the time a lease commences. Agreed and appended to the lease at the outset, it forms a crucial baseline against which the building's condition can be assessed when the lease ends — limiting a tenant's repairing liability to the condition recorded at the start.
Without a schedule of condition, tenants can face dilapidations claims at lease end based on a standard of repair higher than the building was in when they first took occupation. A properly prepared schedule, supported by detailed photography and written description, protects against this and provides clarity for both parties throughout the term.
We prepare schedules of condition for a wide range of commercial premises. We also act for landlords who wish to have a clear, independent record of condition before a letting, providing protection and clarity should disputes arise later.
Dilapidations is a specialist area of commercial property law and surveying that deals with the repair obligations of tenants under a lease — and the claims landlords may bring when those obligations have not been met. It is an area where the sums involved can be significant, and where the right advice, at the right time, can make a considerable difference.
We provide dilapidations advice throughout the lease cycle. For landlords, this means preparing terminal schedules of dilapidations, assessing the extent of breaches, and advising on the appropriate quantum of a claim. For tenants, it means reviewing landlord claims critically, negotiating a fair and properly evidenced settlement, and ensuring that claims do not exceed what is lawfully recoverable.
We also advise on interim dilapidations matters — where landlords are concerned about the state of repair mid-lease — and assist with the preparation of Jervis v Harris notices where circumstances require.
Whether you own, occupy or manage commercial premises, understanding the condition of your building is essential to managing risk, planning maintenance and protecting value. A general building survey provides an objective, professional assessment of the building fabric, structure and principal elements — identifying areas of concern, maintenance priorities and items requiring further investigation.
We survey industrial units, warehouses, trade counters, retail premises, mixed-use commercial buildings and similar commercial property. Our reports are written clearly, structured logically and give you actionable information rather than exhaustive descriptions of the blindingly obvious.
A building survey from WHITES Commercial is not a standardised tick-box exercise. We apply professional judgement throughout, drawing on practical experience of commercial buildings and a genuine understanding of how they are used and maintained.
Building defects — dampness, cracking, roof failures, structural movement, condensation, water ingress — are common in commercial property and often misdiagnosed. Treating symptoms without understanding the cause leads to wasted expenditure and recurring problems. Getting it right requires experience in building pathology and a methodical approach to investigation.
We provide defect diagnosis and repair advice across a wide range of building types and defect categories. Our approach is to identify the cause of a problem clearly, explain it in plain language, and set out the appropriate remedial action — whether that is a straightforward repair or a more detailed programme of investigation and works.
Where defects have a landlord and tenant dimension — for example, disputes over responsibility for a building defect — we can provide independent advice or act as a party's appointed surveyor. Our experience spans building pathology, repair specification and contractor procurement, giving clients a comprehensive service from diagnosis through to delivery.
Getting building work done on commercial property — whether it is a refurbishment, a fit-out, a dilapidations repair programme or capital maintenance works — requires more than just finding a contractor. It requires clear specification, proper procurement, appropriate contract structures and active management of the works from start to finish. Without these, costs rise, programmes slip and disputes follow.
We provide project management and contract administration services for commercial building projects. This includes preparation of schedules of works and specifications, contractor tendering and assessment, appointment of contractors under appropriate JCT or NEC contract forms, and contract administration during construction — including site inspections, valuations, instruction management and final account.
Our experience spans live operational estates, fit-out and refurbishment projects, dilapidations repair programmes and planned maintenance delivery. We provide clients with clear cost control, transparent reporting and a practical approach to managing risk on building contracts.
We are happy to have an initial conversation at no charge to help you understand what kind of advice is appropriate for your situation.
About the Business
WHITES Commercial is a specialist commercial building surveying and project management practice. We are not a general practice firm — our focus is entirely on commercial property, and on giving clients advice they can actually use.
The Practice
WHITES Commercial is led by an experienced chartered Building Surveyor and Project Manager with a background in commercial property across a range of sectors. The practice was established to provide a straightforward, commercially minded alternative to large general practice firms — with a focus on quality of advice rather than volume of instruction.
Our work covers the full range of building surveying and project management activity in commercial property: pre-acquisition due diligence, landlord and tenant matters, building pathology, condition assessments, specification writing, and the procurement and delivery of building works.
We work with landlords, tenants, owner-occupiers, investors, solicitors and commercial agents. Our clients range from private individuals with a single commercial investment to businesses managing operational property estates.
"Our job is to give clients the information and advice they need to make sound property decisions — clearly, honestly and without unnecessary complication."
Areas of Expertise
Our expertise is in Building Surveying and Project Management for commercial property. This is not general practice surveying — it is specialist work, developed through years of hands-on experience.
We are happy to discuss our experience in relation to a specific instruction. Please get in touch to find out more.
Our Approach
We write reports and give recommendations that tell clients what they need to know — not what fills pages. Clear conclusions, honest assessments and no unnecessary hedging.
Building surveying advice that ignores commercial context is of limited use. We understand the pressures, timescales and decisions involved in commercial property transactions and occupation.
Our experience comes from working on real buildings, in live operational environments, alongside contractors and project teams. That practical background informs everything we do.
We welcome enquiries from landlords, tenants, occupiers and property professionals. All initial enquiries are handled directly and in confidence.
Where We Work
WHITES Commercial provides building surveying and project management services across a range of commercial property types. Our experience is in operational, occupied premises — not just theoretical knowledge of how buildings should work.
Portal frame, steel clad and traditional construction industrial units. We understand the common defects, the repair implications and the lease dynamics that apply to industrial stock — from small starter units to large-format distribution buildings.
Large-format warehousing, logistics facilities and distribution units. Our experience includes condition assessments, pre-acquisition surveys and project management for warehousing operations where minimising disruption to live use is critical.
Trade counter and retail warehouse units — a sector where condition, presentation and tenant fit-out considerations all intersect. We advise landlords and tenants on condition matters, dilapidations and building works throughout the lease cycle.
High street and out-of-town retail premises, from individual units to parade and shopping centre environments. We advise on condition, dilapidations, fit-out compliance and repair obligations for retail landlords and tenants.
Commercial buildings with a mix of uses — retail at ground, offices or light industrial above. We understand the complexities of mixed-use tenure and the varied condition and repair obligations that apply to different parts of the same building.
Healthcare facilities, clinics and other operational buildings present particular challenges — continued occupation, specialist fit-out and strict requirements around working in live environments. We have experience in surveying and project management for operational buildings where standard approaches do not apply.
A Note on Sector Experience
Our sector experience has been built on working in and around commercial property across a number of years — not simply surveying from the outside. If your building type is not listed above, please get in touch. We are happy to discuss whether our experience is relevant to your situation.
Tell us about your building and what you need — we will let you know how we can help.
Get in Touch
We welcome enquiries from landlords, tenants, occupiers and property professionals. All enquiries are handled directly and in confidence. There is no obligation to proceed, and we are happy to have an initial conversation to help you understand whether our services are right for your situation.
Contact Details
Response Time
We aim to respond to all enquiries within one working day. For urgent matters, please call directly.
Send an Enquiry
Your enquiry will be handled directly and in confidence. We do not share your details with third parties.