Expert witness reports
A report and Scott Schedule prepared for the court, presenting impartial findings and opinions on the instructed housing conditions issues.
Housing Conditions Expert Witness Reports
Independent evidence prepared for the court. Prompt inspection arrangements and efficient report preparation for legal teams and housing providers.
Housing conditions evidence for the court
Our expert witness reports are prepared for the court. We investigate housing conditions, record the evidence and provide impartial findings in a report and Scott Schedule. We accept instructions from claimant solicitors, councils, housing associations and other legal advisers, as well as single joint expert instructions on behalf of both parties.
Independent expert evidence
Independent housing conditions evidence for the court
We inspect alleged housing defects, record relevant evidence and provide reasoned opinions on the property’s condition, likely causes and appropriate remedial work. Reports distinguish inspection findings from information supplied by others and explain limitations or the need for further investigation.
Scott Schedules
A clear presentation of allegations, findings and recommended works within the agreed scope. We can work with your existing documents.
Joint inspections
Where appropriate, the appointed expert undertakes a joint inspection with the other expert to investigate the property’s condition and record the evidence.
Specialist investigations
Moisture measurements, ventilation testing, thermal imaging and other testing where relevant and agreed.
Explore our damp, mould and condensation surveys, specialist testing and building pathology services. Testing is selected for the issues under investigation; it is not required for every inspection.
Experience behind the opinion
Meet our housing conditions experts
Practical construction knowledge, housing investigations and experience of expert evidence underpin our reporting. The expert’s relevant experience and suitability are considered for each instruction.
Simon Redfearn
Managing Director · Surveyor and expert witness
More than 25 years’ surveying experience, with experience of instructions from both parties and as a single joint expert. His work includes housing conditions, building pathology and cavity wall investigations.
Experience and qualifications
- Diploma in Quantity Surveying and HND in Building Studies.
- Co-author of A Practical Guide to Running Housing Disrepair and Cavity Wall Claims.
- Courtroom experience and Bond Solon training in courtroom skills and discussions between experts.
- Specialist investigation and testing experience, including thermal imaging, moisture and cavity wall investigations.
Steven Robinson
Surveyor and expert witness
More than 20 years’ experience across construction, design, project management, property development and building surveying, alongside expert reporting for both parties and as a single joint expert.
Experience and qualifications
- BSc (Hons) and HHSRS assessor training.
- Former Leeds City Council Technical Officer and housing conditions expert witness.
- Experience of Part 35 reports, Scott Schedules and courtroom evidence.
- Building pathology, moisture testing, thermographic imaging and refurbishment experience.
Nick Harrop
Surveyor and expert witness
More than 16 years’ experience across construction, design, project management and surveying, with local-authority housing conditions, single joint expert and courtroom experience.
Experience and qualifications
- HNC in Construction and the Built Environment, awarded with Merit.
- HHSRS assessment training and continuing development in damp and moisture investigations.
- Former Leeds City Council Technical Officer and housing conditions expert witness; building control experience.
- Building pathology, calcium carbide testing, cavity wall investigations and thermal imaging.
Chris Denny
Surveyor and expert witness
A practical background spanning more than 20 years in housing repairs and refurbishment, combined with public-sector surveying, housing conditions expert reporting and giving evidence in court.
Experience and qualifications
- HHSRS practitioner training and continuing development in damp, mould, ventilation and thermographic surveys.
- Former Leeds City Council Technical Officer and housing conditions expert witness; building control experience.
- Part 35 reports, Scott Schedules and joint expert meetings.
- Hands-on defect diagnosis, remedial specifications and contractor supervision.
Contact our instructions team to discuss the appropriate expert and their CV for a proposed appointment. Meet the wider Redfearn team.
One expert. An impartial assessment.
Single joint expert instructions
Simon Redfearn is increasingly instructed as a single joint expert on behalf of both parties. These instructions reflect the confidence placed in his impartial approach by those bringing and responding to housing conditions claims.
A single joint expert prepares independent evidence for the court. The role is to investigate, report the findings and assist the court—not to advocate for either party.
Appointments, fees and timescales
Working with your team
Councils and housing providers
We discuss your requirements through your organisation’s appointment or procurement process, including any supplier approval, agreed terms and case-specific instructions.
Solicitors and legal teams
We discuss the proposed expert, scope of work, fees, inspection arrangements and reporting timetable before the instruction is agreed.
Prompt scheduling once access is agreed
The interval between instruction and inspection varies with access to the property, the parties’ availability and any joint inspection arrangements. Once access and the necessary arrangements are agreed, we aim to inspect promptly.
Efficient report preparation
Following inspection, we work efficiently to prepare the report and Scott Schedule, with the evidence and any limitations clearly explained.
Tell us your proposed inspection and report dates when discussing an appointment. We distinguish the time needed to secure access from the time needed to prepare the report after inspection, and confirm achievable arrangements in light of the investigations required and the applicable procedural timetable.
From appointment to report
Agree the appointment
Confirm the expert, conflicts, scope, fees and timetable through the appropriate appointment process.
Arrange and inspect
Agree access and arrange a suitable inspection promptly. Coordinate any joint inspection and undertake the agreed testing.
Prepare the evidence
Prepare the report and Scott Schedule for the court, addressing the instructed issues and explaining findings, recommendations and limitations.
Support the later stages
Where required, the expert undertakes discussions and joint statements after inspection, usually once proceedings are underway, and attends court to give evidence.
A duty to the court
Independent opinions.
Clear limitations.
Our reports are prepared for the court. We accept instructions from either party and as a single joint expert instructed on behalf of both. The expert’s overriding duty is to the court; conclusions remain independent and evidence based, regardless of who instructs us.
We identify matters outside the expert’s competence and where further information or specialist investigation is needed.
We welcome instructions across England, including London boroughs. Availability and inspection arrangements are confirmed for each property. Meet our surveyors and instructions team.
See how we approach the evidence
Your questions answered
Frequently asked questions
Are your expert witness reports CPR Part 35 compliant?
Yes. Our expert witness reports are prepared to comply with CPR Part 35 and the accompanying Practice Direction. The expert’s overriding duty is to the court, and their opinions remain independent regardless of which party instructs them.
Can you work with our existing Scott Schedule and other documents?
Yes. We can work with documents supplied by the instructing council, housing association or solicitor, including existing Scott Schedules. You do not need to transfer everything into a Redfearn template before discussing an instruction. We will confirm what information and documents the expert needs.
How quickly can you inspect and prepare the report?
There is no single instruction-to-inspection period: securing access, the parties’ availability and joint inspection arrangements can affect the date. Once the inspection has taken place, we focus on efficient preparation of the report and Scott Schedule. Proposed dates, the investigations required and court or procedural deadlines are discussed at appointment. Please flag urgent requirements when contacting us.
Can specialist testing form part of the instruction?
Yes, where relevant to the issues being investigated and within the agreed scope. We discuss the testing required, access and permissions before proceeding. Findings are considered alongside the other evidence; not every property needs every type of test.
Do you accept instructions outside London?
Yes. We welcome enquiries from councils, housing associations and solicitors across England, with extensive experience in London. We confirm availability and inspection arrangements for each instruction.
How do we discuss a proposed appointment?
Contact our instructions team with the proposed scope, property location and required inspection and reporting dates. We discuss the appropriate expert, availability and fees, and work through any council or housing provider appointment process before accepting case instructions.
Ready to discuss an instruction?
Discuss the proposed expert, scope, fees and inspection-to-report timetable with our instructions team. We work with councils, housing providers and solicitors through the appropriate appointment process.
Discuss an appointmentOr email [email protected]
We aim to respond by the next working day. Please flag any court directions and procedural deadlines when you enquire.
Discuss a proposed appointment
Speak to our instructions team about the appropriate expert, scope, fees and inspection and reporting timescales. We work through the relevant appointment process before accepting case instructions.
Registered Office:
3rd Floor, 45 Albemarle Street | Mayfair | London | W1S 4JL
Call:
0203 910 0882
Email: [email protected]
Registered Company:
11911848
