Chris is co-founder of Hamilton Darcey LLP and obtained his degree in Building Surveying from Sheffield Hallam University before qualifying as a professional member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Chris is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is also a member of the Pyramus and Thisbe Club, which seeks to promote best practice in relation to Party Wall procedures.Chris has previously acted for a wide range of clients, covering all areas of project and professional work. His experience includes major works refurbishments to privately owned residential blocks, project managing the construction of new build residential apartments and providing professional expertise in such matters as Party Walls, Rights of Light, Licences for Alteration and Reinstatement Cost Assessments.Chris is also an APC Assessor as well as a Mentor for candidates in the London area and undertakes the role of APC supervisor and Counsellor for RICS candidates.

Working on a number of prestigious residential mansion blocks and private residencies predominantly in the region central London, the types of instruction I carried out included the following:Building Surveys and Defect Analysis Reports:• Undertaking pre-acquisition building surveys and reporting on the condition of a variety of buildings within the central London area, including both residential and office buildings.Contract Administration and Project Management: • Contract selection and specification writing;• Tendering works, undertaking a full tender analysis and reporting to client;• Appointing contractors and monitoring works through to Practical Completion and DLP;• I acted as Contract Administrator on a range of projects with a value of between £50,000 - £1Million;• I was also the CDM Coordinator for many projects.Party Wall Advice to adjoining and building owners:• I was the main contact for Party Wall instructions for both Building and Adjoining Owners. Typical instructions included loft conversions, basement excavations and the demolition and rebuilding of properties.• I served Notices, inspected properties and produced Schedules of Condition and Awards.• I am a member of the Pyramus and Thisbe Club and I am constantly furthering my knowledge in the field of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.Licenses to Alter:• Assessing Licence to Alter applications to determine if a Licence is required;• I have undertaken inspections of numerous high-end residential properties and reported to the Landlord with recommendations based on the assessment, when an LTA is required.Planned Property Maintenance:• Creation of 10 year Planned Property Maintenance reports for various types of property including provision of budget costs with a view to carrying out the works.Reinstatement Cost Assessments:• Inspection and measurement of a variety of buildings across central London to complete the Reinstatement Cost Assessment valuation report.

• Interpreting daylight, sunlight and rights of light results and providing detailed and strategic reports to clients.• Reviewing legal documents including deeds and leases and assessing their relevance to a development.• Attending client meetings and advising on daylight, sunlight and rights of light issues and solutions associated with developing a property.• Identifying injured parties around a development site; approaching and negotiating with them to release their rights of light.

Lead Consultant / Contract Administrator: Creation of full specifications of works to be administered using various JCT contracts using NBS Building to produce project preliminaries and preambles. I carried out Tender analysis reports for my projects. Chairing pre-start meetings and administration of the project works through to issuing of Practical Completion certificates employing NBS Contract Administrator software. Employer’s Agent:Creation of Employer’s requirements. Project management of various New Build developments across London.Measured Surveys: Completion of measurement surveys for various instructions such as the production of full Land registry compliant lease plans, feasibility studies, reinstatement cost assessments and for dilapidations costing purposes.Property Inspections: Numerous property inspections to identify defects, identify cause, recommend remedial works and provide budget costs.Planning and Building Regulations Applications: I completed various applications for each as part of the project management process, including Listed Building Applications.