Based in Melbourne and working with our national teams, Coco will add further value to both our property development and asset advisory services – with particular focus on compliance, strategic asset management and client relationships.

Previously, Coco has worked for an international Quantity Surveying firm, laterally specialising in technical due diligence reporting, feasibility analyses, replacement cost assessments, tax depreciation assessments, capital expenditure forecasts and sinking fund reviews, for owners of large public and private property trusts, portfolios as well as development clients.

Coco also has extensive experience working for a large Building Surveying firm, focusing on building compliance reporting, essential safety measures assessments and client relationships for a range of owners and property types, including universities, large hospitals, government portfolios, public private partnerships assets, multi-storey residential, commercial, retail and industrial.

Over her career of nearly 25 years, Coco has developed an intimate knowledge of property markets and the industry, having worked with many major consultants and owners of large private and publicly owned assets.

Coco will work closely with all parts of our business, adding value to:

• risk management and building compliance;
• strategic asset management;
• technical due diligence and development monitoring;
• lifecycle assessment and capex planning; and
• client relationships;

m. 0418 348 712
e.  cowilliams@napierblakeley.com
a.  L13, 90 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Sydney Construction Cost Datacard July 2013

Melbourne Construction Cost Datacard July 2013

South East Queensland Construction Cost Datacard July 2013

Adelaide Construction Cost Datacard July 2013

Please contact us for a hard copy or for any other Napier & Blakeley service at any of our offices below:

Contacts

Development Advisory & Quantity Surveying
Craig Smith – 03 9915 6300 – csmith@napierblakeley.com
Peter Hammond – 02 9299 1899 – phammond@napierblakeley.com
Paul Cosker – 07 3221 8255 – pcosker@napierblakeley.com

Transaction & Asset Advisory
Rob Howells – 03 9915 6300 – rhowells@napierblakeley.com
Alastair Walker – 02 9299 1899 – awalker@napierblakeley.com
Gavin Peach - 02 9299 1899 – gpeach@napierblakeley.com

Property Depreciation & Insurance
John Mathew – 03 9915 6300 – jmathew@napierblakeley.com
Peter Guerra – 02 9299 1899 – pguerra@napierblakeley.com
Peter Osborn – 02 9299 1899 – psoborn@napierblakeley.com
Paul Mazoletti – 07 3221 8255 – pmazoletti@napierblakeley.com

Sustainable Property Solutions
Peter Frith – 03 9915 6300 – pfrith@napierblakeley.com

Disruption, potential unplanned costs and conflict at the end of a lease due to make good obligations can sour what has been a solid commercial relationship between landlord and tenant. This can complicate the tenant’s move or the re-letting of the premises. The pressures of a poorly set up lease in terms of documentation, understanding of the consequences of the relevant clauses from a technical perspective and agreement as to the condition at occupation, or of future alterations, are self evident for both parties. 

Properly qualified building consultants should be actively utilised in such processes due to their knowledge and understanding of leasing and legal aspects combined with their expertise in building conditioning and rectification. The proactive stance is to bring all parties together prior to the signing of the lease to agree not only the terms of occupation, lease and physical condition but also to the process at lease expiry.  

If this process has not been followed, the building consultant plays a key role in interpreting the relevant lease clauses and evaluating the property’s condition so to effectively define the make good obligations, the cost and the best method of rectification.

Proactive Tenancy Management  

Good management, both at lease commencement and during the tenancy, will help significantly in dealing with make good issues at the end of the lease. When the condition of the property at the commencement of the lease is identified, a schedule of condition (both photographic and descriptive) should be undertaken and specifically attached to the lease in agreement with both parties.  

Almost all leases provide a mechanism for the landlord to control alterations to the premises by requiring the landlord to approve alterations before they are carried out and requiring reinstatement at the end of the term. The agreement process, whether by letter or by licence, should be fully recorded. This enables accurate determination of who did what and when and again simplifies the unpicking process at lease expiry. The key to resolving make good issues is to begin the process early. The landlord should provide a summary of their understanding of the make good requirements contained in the lease one year to six months prior to the expiry of the term depending upon the length of the lease and the size of the property. 

Conflict Resolution 

When both parties cannot agree to the extent of the repairs and make good, what is the process to reach settlement? 

Generally, this is initiated by the landlord, although tenants may take separate initial advice when making long-term strategic decisions in large occupancies. The landlord should appoint a consultant to prepare a schedule of dilapidations and wants of repair setting out: 

a. Which covenant of the lease has been breached for each item of disrepair of make good
b. Location and description for each breach, eg. damaged walls
c. The remedy or repair required
d. The costs and quantity

The schedule should also include a separate summary of financial claim, which may include fees and loss of rent and property charges borne by the landlord for the make good program. This is traditionally forwarded to the landlord’s solicitor for checking and serving to the tenant. The tenant responds either directly or through a consultant and negotiation proceeds to either settlement or to two financial positions. A settlement is reached on, or shortly after, the joint inspection 95% of the time. If the parties cannot agree, they may decide to proceed further through mediation and, if necessary, the courts. 

Key issues to be considered by the landlord: 

• Schedule the condition of the property on commencement
• Track and approve tenant works and retain details
• Review lease covenants and obtain advice as necessary
• Identify make good issue early (6-12 months prior to lease expiry)
• Gauge the tenant response and undertake a schedule of dilapidations  

Key issues to be considered by the tenant: 

• Schedule the condition of the property on commencement
• Retain details of alterations
• Respond to landlord advice
• Retain a consultant to review the landlords claims 

Napier & Blakeley’s national team of Chartered Building Surveyors, Building Consultants, Services Engineers and Cost Planners prepare cost effective, defensible reports to quantify the risks of ‘make good’ to maximise return on investment.

For further information and a copy of our Make Good Cycle data card, please contact any of the Transaction & Asset Advisory Consultants below.

If you would like information on any of our other Napier & Blakeley services please contact us at any of our offices.

Contacts

Transaction & Asset Advisory
Rob Howells – 03 9915 6300 – rhowells@napierblakeley.com
Alastair Walker – 02 9299 1899 – awalker@napierblakeley.com
Gavin Peach - 02 9299 1899 – gpeach@napierblakeley.com

Property Depreciation & Insurance
John Mathew – 03 9915 6300 – jmathew@napierblakeley.com
Peter Guerra – 02 9299 1899 – pguerra@napierblakeley.com
Peter Osborn – 02 9299 1899 – psoborn@napierblakeley.com
Paul Mazoletti – 07 3221 8255 – pmazoletti@napierblakeley.com

Sustainable Property Solutions
Peter Frith – 03 9915 6300 – pfrith@napierblakeley.com

Development Advisory & Quantity Surveying
Craig Smith – 03 9915 6300 – csmith@napierblakeley.com
Peter Hammond – 02 9299 1899 – phammond@napierblakeley.com
Paul Cosker – 07 3221 8255 – pcosker@napierblakeley.com

Quantity Surveyors are the only construction cost trained professionals that can make sure your assets have the appropriate insurance replacement cost cover.

A Quantity Surveyors purpose is to predict and manage construction costs. They are specifically trained to do so and they don’t value, they don’t build, they don’t design, they don’t buy and sell property. They are independent and professional consultants.

So here’s a quick list of Property Reinstatement Cost Assessments do’s and don’ts :

Do’s:

• Make sure you’re not under or over insured
• Include all relevant costs in your insurance
• Estimate costs based on current market rates
• Escalate costs going forward appropriately
• Consider the time involved to demolish, re-plan and re-build
• Include costs for professional fees for re-design
• Consider cost not ‘value’
• Assume nothing, as risk is risk, and risk management is good
• Be nice to your family and friends when they ‘offer you construction advice’

Don’ts:

• Don’t forget to contact us to assist you

Napier & Blakeley’s Quantity Surveyors prepare reinstatement cost assessments for billions of dollars worth of properties every year, including many of the largest property portfolios and our knowledge and experience in this area is second to none.

So call us today to make sure your property insurance needs are covered.

Contacts

Development Advisory & Quantity Surveying
Peter Hammond – 02 9299 1899 – phammond@napierblakeley.com
Craig Smith – 03 9915 6300 – csmith@napierblakeley.com
Paul Cosker – 07 3221 8255 – pcosker@napierblakeley.com

Transaction & Asset Advisory
Rob Howells – 03 9915 6300 – rhowells@napierblakeley.com
Alastair Walker – 02 9299 1899 – awalker@napierblakeley.com
Gavin Peach - 02 9299 1899 – gpeach@napierblakeley.com

Property Depreciation
John Mathew – 03 9915 6300 – jmathew@napierblakeley.com
Peter Guerra – 02 9299 1899 – pguerra@napierblakeley.com
Peter Osborn – 02 9299 1899 – psoborn@napierblakeley.com

Sustainable Property Solutions
Peter Frith – 03 9915 6300 – pfrith@napierblakeley.com

Napier & Blakeley have assessed, negotiated and managed ‘make good’ costs for many years, including benchmark data to help inform future strategy.

To manage large portfolios, property and lease profiles are reviewed and sampled to quickly determine ‘make good’ obligations and the cost for returning the property to the required condition.

Costs and square metre rates from the sample are risk adjusted against Napier & Blakeley’s independent bench mark data and applied to the leased portfolio.

Features and benefits :

• Quick and cost effective assessment
• Detailed samples to test assumptions
• Independent benchmark data from hundreds of actual ‘make good’ scenarios
• Confidence in forecasting budgets for physical works or negotiated cash settlements
• Meets accounting needs and compliance with financial reporting standards
• Costs can be provided at a tenancy, property, regional and portfolio level

See the pie charts for a breakdown of ‘make good’ costs across the sectors.

Napier & Blakeley’s national team of Chartered Building Surveyors, Building Consultants, Services Engineers and Cost Planners prepare cost effective, defensible reports to quantify the risks of ‘make good’ to maximise return on investment.

For further information and a copy of our Make Good Cycle data card, please contact any of the Transaction & Asset Advisory Consultants below.

If you would like information on any of our other Napier & Blakeley services please contact us at any of our offices.

Contacts

Transaction & Asset Advisory
Rob Howells – 03 9915 6300 – rhowells@napierblakeley.com
Alastair Walker – 02 9299 1899 - awalker@napierblakeley.com
Gavin Peach - 02 9299 1899 – gpeach@napierblakeley.com

Property Depreciation & Insurance
John Mathew – 03 9915 6300 – jmathew@napierblakeley.com
Peter Guerra – 02 9299 1899 – pguerra@napierblakeley.com
Peter Osborn – 02 9299 1899 – psoborn@napierblakeley.com
Paul Mazoletti – 07 3221 8255 – pmazoletti@napierblakeley.com

Sustainable Property Solutions
Peter Frith – 03 9915 6300 – pfrith@napierblakeley.com

Development Advisory & Quantity Surveying
Craig Smith – 03 9915 6300 – csmith@napierblakeley.com
Peter Hammond – 02 9299 1899 – phammond@napierblakeley.com
Paul Cosker – 07 3221 8255 – pcosker@napierblakeley.com

The End of Financial Year has come and gone and the 31st October is lodgement day.  So there is less than 2 weeks to get your Depreciation Schedules in place.

We can assist you, guarantee you get maximum deductions and also be fully compliant with the A.T.O. as we are Registered Tax Practitioners.

Napier & Blakeley, the first Property Depreciation Company and still the best – just ask your Accountant.

Contacts

Call Napier & Blakeley today for assistance with your Tax Depreciation Schedule or any other Napier & Blakeley services at any of our offices below:

Property Depreciation & Insurance
John Mathew – 03 9915 6300 – jmathew@napierblakeley.com
Peter Guerra – 02 9299 1899 – pguerra@napierblakeley.com
Raymond Yen – 02 9299 1899 – ryen@napierblakeley.com
Paul Mazoletti – 07 3221 8255 – pmazoletti@napierblakeley.com

Transaction & Asset Advisory
Rob Howells – 03 9915 6300 – rhowells@napierblakeley.com
Alastair Walker – 02 9299 1899 – awalker@napierblakeley.com
Peter Osborn – 02 9299 1899 – posborn@napierblakeley.com

Sustainable Property Solutions
Peter Frith – 03 9915 6300 – pfrith@napierblakeley.com

Development Advisory & Quantity Surveying
Craig Smith – 03 9915 6300 – csmith@napierblakeley.com
Peter Hammond – 02 9299 1899 – phammond@napierblakeley.com
Paul Cosker – 07 3221 8255 – pcosker@napierblakeley.com

Lack of Capital post GFC has lead to a significant neglect of R&M and Capex spend.

Having worked on property due diligence valued over $10B since the GFC, Napier & Blakeley have seen only nominal spend on upkeep compared with previous years.

Risk of Non-Compliance (i)

During this period the increasing trend has been a notable reduction of Repair and Maintenance (R&M) and Capital Expenditure (Capex)  budgets. Whilst this strategy may have been necessary in some circumstances e.g. postponement of non-essential Capex, we have found too commonly evidence of non-compliance regarding statutory maintenance such as testing, auditing and reporting of essential safety measures and fire safety systems.

Reduced Life Expectancy and Premature Capex 

Recent technical due diligence and condition assessments have also found that the lack of R&M and Capex budgets for economic life driven plant and equipment overhauls and refurbishments has resulted in increased short and medium term Capex.

To put this in context, without appropriate R&M, major plant items may have an economic expected life of (say) 25 years, however, the reduction or removal of maintenance can result in a major shortfall in expected life to around 15 years.

The Reaction

Astute purchasers have become aware of this risk and look for these patterns in their technical due diligence reporting to ensure that appropriate Capex costs are factored into the purchase price to account for a vendor’s R&M expenditure shortfalls.

Condition assessments, maintenance reviews, energy assessments and risk weighted strategic Capex forecasts have become 2010’s essential tools for good asset and facility management and sustainable property solutions.

Risk of Non-Compliance (ii)

Legislation requires that most commercial office property will be required to have a formal energy performance rating in the next few years and many will require this imminently or in the next few months.

This Legislation has caught most by surprise.

For purchasers and owners it is now important to understand where a property currently sits from a formally rated energy performance perspective.

It is also important to understand how the rating can be maintained at the same level over a period of time, and how it can be strategically and cost effectively improved to avoid future obsolescence.

The Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Act 2010 is on the cusp of taking effect. The transitional provisions (1 November 2010 to 30 October 2011) require the disclosure of a building’s energy performance through a NABERS Energy base or whole building rating, for all commercial office property with a net lettable area of 2,000m² or more that is offered for sale or lease. However, with only 388 commercial office buildings registered nationally to date, it would seem the message may not have reached all concerned parties with property interests that fall under the Act’s disclosure requirements.

Anxious Vendors

With fines in excess of $110,000 for breaches of the Act’s obligations; including advertising the property for sale or lease, after 1 November 2010 without an appropriate NABERS Energy rating, there is significant anxiety in the market place.

The latest information from the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE) will surely increase anxiety levels, as they have confirmed that neither exemptions nor extensions will be granted for lack of knowledge or where assessments are currently underway but not yet completed.

It will be interesting to see how owners, selling and leasing agents and DCCEE react.

Astute Purchasers

The story doesn’t end once the rating has been achieved. Purchasers want to know about the processes and procedures that owners have in place, the potential risks of maintaining the rating at the current level and what plans are in place, or could be implemented, to improve the rating, perhaps strategically in line with planned Capex or future lease expiries. Such initiatives are considered in terms of funding opportunities, reduced energy costs, pay back periods and commercial outcomes.

For more information on Technical Due Diligence, Capex Forecasts, NABERS Ratings and Sustainable Property Solutions contact Napier & Blakeley.

NSW / ACT / WA / NZ  -  Alastair Walker  -  02 9299 1899
VIC /  SA  / TAS  -  Peter Frith, Rob Howells -  03 9915 6300