When two parties cannot agree what a property is worth — or one believes a valuation was negligently prepared — the outcome usually rests on the quality of the expert evidence. Manchester Surveyors provides valuation dispute expert witness services from RICS Registered Valuers who combine Red Book rigour with genuine experience of litigation.
Disputes We Deal With
- Professional negligence claims — where a lender, buyer or seller alleges an earlier valuation fell outside the acceptable margin
- Matrimonial and partnership disputes — contested property values in divorce and business separations, including Single Joint Expert appointments
- Tax disputes with HMRC — contested probate, capital gains and ATED valuations, including retrospective valuations
- Lease extension and enfranchisement disputes — premium disagreements before the First-tier Tribunal
- Insurance and compulsory purchase disagreements — reinstatement values and compensation assessments
How We Approach Expert Valuation Evidence
A persuasive valuation report does three things: it sets out the evidence honestly, explains the reasoning step by step, and confronts the weaknesses in its own position before opposing counsel does. Our reports follow RICS Red Book methodology and CPR Part 35 requirements, with comparable evidence schedules the tribunal can check line by line. Where we act in negligence claims, we assess the original valuation against the standards and evidence available at the valuation date — not with hindsight.
Credentials That Carry Weight
- RICS Registered Valuers — the credential courts and HMRC expect
- Experience across residential, commercial and leasehold valuations, from probate to capital gains tax
- Nationwide coverage from Manchester to London, Birmingham, Bristol and beyond
Need expert valuation evidence? Speak to our team — early expert input frequently narrows the issues and settles the case.
How Expert Witness Instructions Work
Valuation dispute instructions centre on establishing the correct value at the relevant date — for negligence claims, matrimonial proceedings, tax disputes or contested purchases — using comparable evidence available at that date, not hindsight. Instructions usually come from solicitors, though parties can approach us directly for an initial merits view before proceedings are contemplated. We accept appointments as party-appointed expert or as single joint expert, and every report is CPR Part 35 compliant: independent, reasoned, and addressed to the court rather than the instructing party.
Format, Timescales and Fees
Valuation reports set out basis of value, comparables and adjustments transparently, and stand alongside our Red Book valuation practice, which keeps opinions grounded in live market evidence. Typical timescales run from two to six weeks depending on inspection access and documentation; urgent directions-driven deadlines can usually be accommodated. Fees are fixed at instruction — no hourly-rate drift — with joint statements, questions under Part 35.6 and hearing attendance priced separately and transparently. Read more about what an expert witness does.
Will the expert support my case?
An expert’s duty is to the court, which is precisely why credible expert evidence settles cases: if your position is strong, an independent report proves it; if it is weak, you find out before spending heavily on litigation. Either answer is worth having early. Call 020 4579 8270 to discuss an instruction.