Professional Negligence Solicitors
Claims Against Property Professionals
In every property transaction, you put your trust in professionals to do a good job. If you have suffered financial harm through the negligent advice or actions of a third party, you may have a claim for professional negligence. Our lawyers specialise in helping bring such claims.
An experienced team of property litigation solicitors
Our specialist team of property litigation solicitors collectively bring more than a century of legal experience to the table. As a result, Osbornes are able to provide an outstanding service to businesses of all sizes as well as private clients, for both commercial and residential property professional negligence claims. We deliver a tailored, efficient and jargon-free approach in every case.
Professional negligence claims
If you suffer loss or damage due to the bad advice of a professional you employed, you may be able to make a professional negligence claim against that professional. In a property transaction, these include:
- Estate agent negligence
- Surveyor negligence
- Conveyancing negligence
- Architect negligence
- Financial advisor negligence
- Tradespeople negligence
- Auctioneers negligence
All of these individuals are required to act with competence in accordance with their own regulatory bodies and professional standards. The standards themselves will differ from profession to profession. However, the general rule is the same: if the professional falls short of their own professional standards and you suffer loss as a result, there may be grounds for a claim against them.
To speak to a solicitor who specialises in the negligence of property professionals, please contact the property litigation team.
Shilpa really helped us take charge of the situation and helped resolve this property dispute. I would not hesitate to recommend her or the team to anyone in a similar situation.
On first meeting Shilpa I was sure that she understood immediately my requirements, and was sympathetic both to my financial restraints and my emotional state. She achieved everything I asked of her and proved to be invaluable, professional and efficient
At every step Shilpa alleviated any concerns and stresses we had. Always fast to respond, always professional and super knowledgeable.
Shilpa has helped us through some key property litigation matters (residential and commercial) since 2014 and has delivered on every occasion. One particular issue had kept us in a state of stress and tension for almost a decade and after getting in touch with Shilpa she was able to help us bring the matter to a peaceful and successful conclusion.
I received a call from Shilpa Mathuradas a couple of hours after filling the enquiry form for a callback. She actively listened to my party wall concerns responding with gentle professionalism, answering my concerns, letting me know what is and is not possible and when best to bring in a solicitor. All this within 10 minutes. Excellent.
"They are an outstanding firm to work with. They are consistently impressive in their work."
Excellent in every aspect.
If I had another reason to have to seek legal advice again, I wouldn’t hesitate to use Shilpa, and would recommend her to anybody who needed legal advice.
Shilpa was professional, realistic, and unflappable. Shilpa managed to persuade a reluctant witness to come forward to support my case. She obviously knows her subject very well.
I always had full confidence in Shilpa keeping my best interests at heart. I often didn’t understand the legal language, and she would follow this up with a phone call and patiently explain.
Professional Negligence and Property Professionals FAQs
Do I have a professional negligence claim?
When you hire a property professional, you should be able to trust that they are competent, diligent, and experienced in their area of expertise. If they fall short of professional standards and you lose out financially, then you may be able to make a professional negligence claim.
There are many things that can go wrong in real estate, and losing out financially is not just about the cost of fixing a problem that someone missed. Here are some examples of common professional negligence claims that we can help with:
- Solicitors who do not properly investigate title, making it difficult to renovate or sell
- Surveyors who miss structural problems with the property, which cost a lot of money to fix
- Valuers who misvalue the property, causing you to overpay
- Construction managers providing a poor budget planning service, leading to the construction project being more expensive
- Engineers getting their structural calculations wrong, causing the building to become dangerous
When mistakes are made and there are financial consequences, you have the right to answers and to compensation for your loss. Strict time limits apply to claims against property professionals, so the sooner you can speak to us the better.
Who is the professional negligence claim against?
The claim will be against the property professional or the firm that employs them. Most times, the professional will have indemnity insurance to protect themselves against a claim for negligence. In these cases, the insurance company will probably come on the record and have their say in the defence of the case.
This is good news, since it means the property professional has insurance to pay out the claim. The professional’s personal financial position will not affect your case.
How do I make a professional negligence claim?
The first step is to speak to a member of the property litigation team at Osbornes. We will listen to the facts of your case and advise if the service you received was legally negligent or merely ‘poor.’ Poor service, while frustrating, is not something we can take to court.
Before any proceedings are launched, your solicitor will make a thorough investigation of the circumstances of the case. This might include obtaining an expert opinion and making sense of complex technical details. It is our job to build a strong case against the professional and their firm, proving that the professional was negligent and this caused you or your business financial harm.
Where possible, we seek to avoid litigation and reach an out-of-court settlement. This is a comparatively fast and cost-effective way of settling the professional negligence dispute.
How much compensation could I claim?
There is no set amount of compensation you could receive. It comes down to your financial losses.
The aim is to put you into the position you would have been in if the property professionally had acted competently.
The value of your claim will be based on such factors as how much it costs to resolve the problem, the amount you overpaid on a property deal, or the loss of opportunity if you cannot now develop or deal with the property in the way you intended.
In all cases, our aim is to achieve the maximum amount of compensation. We’re here to help, so please get in touch and we can give you an estimate of the value of your claim.
Property News & InsightsVIEW ALL
5.2.2023Japanese Knotweed: Knot in my backyard again!
Many will have read the recent case in which a furniture designer pursued his seller successfully after he moved into...
Read more
9.6.2022TOLATA Claims
What are trusts of land? Property ownership is not always a straightforward legal issue, particularly where the parties are cohabitees...
Read more
8.6.2022Right to Light Law
Right to Light Law in the UK Property owners have a legal right to light as set out in the...
Read more
8.6.2022Landlords and the Dangers of Rent-to-Rent
Rent-to-Rent refers to the practice of landlords letting a whole property to a tenant (usually a limited company), which is...
Read more
30.5.2022The uncertainties of beginning a building project now
The construction industry is seeing a perfect storm at the moment with labour shortages following Brexit and material costs which...
Read more
9.11.2021Can I still claim adverse possession?
The principle of “adverse possession” commonly known as “squatters rights” is a principle which allows a person who does not...
Read more
5.10.2021Buying a property where a Party Wall Award...
Buying a house with a party wall agreement Buying a property can already be a stressful process but finding out...
Read more
26.6.2021The Risks Of Buying Properties Off Plan!
The Daily Mail reported recently that 300 families a week are having to move into shoddy newly built homes. Not all...
Read more
7.5.2021Costly clauses missed by lawyers in leasehold contracts
A mum has been left facing a bill of millions of pounds a year for the ground rent of her...
Read more
7.8.2020Property Litigation lawyer, Shilpa Mathuradas quoted in Inside...
House buyers and sellers should be wary of ‘too good to be true’ property raffles Shilpa Mathuradas, Head of Property...
Read more
8.5.2020Easements – Five Questions Answered
What is an easement? An easement is a right benefitting a piece of land (known as the dominant land) that...
Read more
18.2.2020Overlooking Nuisance Claims – Buy some net curtains!
Last week saw the Court of Appeal reaffirmed the decision not to allow the Neo Bankside residents’ an injunction to...
Read more
6.2.2020‘Glass in Hand’ Lecture – Should we be nervous...
Hampstead residents will be able to find out about their legal rights when trees damage or overhang their property, next...
Read more- 11.10.2019
Government eviction reforms “risk increasing delays”
Government plans to end so-called ‘no fault’ evictions – and at the same time expand what amounts to a good reason...
Read more - 13.8.2019
Osbornes win 5 day trial in property dispute at...
In 1985 clients of Osbornes, Mr and Mrs Ali-Khan, purchased a house. For various reasons they were not able to obtain...
Read more - 13.8.2019
Canary Wharf v EMA
EMA Decision: Brexit Does Not Frustrate Commercial Property Lease The largely anticipated decision in the case of Canary Wharf v...
Read more - 13.8.2019
Rogue landlord ordered to pay tenant over £20,000 in...
A team of our housing solicitors were successful in a longstanding claim against a rogue landlord concerning a conduct of...
Read more - 13.8.2019
Squatting-will the new law provide homeowners with increased...
On Saturday 1 September 2012 a new law came into force which makes squatting in a residential building an offence punishable by...
Read more - 12.8.2019
Basement developments- How to fight back
Basement developments are growing ever more popular, particularly in wealthy London boroughs, leaving homeowners fearful that neighbours’ excavation projects will...
Read more - 18.7.2019
New Builds, Poor Standards!
This week’s Dispatches programme looked at allegations of shoddy standards, poor customer care and excessive profits being made by...
Read more - 9.7.2019
EMA Decision: Brexit Does Not Frustrate Property Lease
The EMA’s appeal against the decision of the Order of Mr Justice Smith that Brexit would not frustrate the...
Read more - 10.4.2019
Tenant Fees Act 2019 – Landlords & Letting Agents be Warned
On 12 February 2019, the Tenant Fees Bill received Royal Assent and comes into effect on the 1 June 2019 The Act prevents landlord...
Read more - 25.3.2019
Court case has serious consequences for landlords recovery...
On the 21st December 2012 the High Court handed down its judgment in the case of Phillips & Godard -v- Francis &...
Read more 
23.9.2018The Frustrating Implications of Brexit!
Landlords up and down the country are awaiting the outcome of the case between European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) and Canary...
Read more
Why choose Osbornes?
Osborne’s trusted team of experts have handled many professional negligence claims against property professionals. Our client roster includes high-net-worth individuals, commercial occupiers, investors and property businesses. Our swift and careful guidance can give you the best chance of getting the compensation you are owed.
The Property Litigation Team View the whole team
William Ford
Partner
Housing and Social CareShilpa Mathuradas
Partner
Property LitigationMuna Adam
Solicitor
Property LitigationRory Matheson
Solicitor
Housing and Social CareJames Mayall
Solicitor
Property LitigationEllie McEvoy
Paralegal
Property LitigationAlex McMahon
Senior Associate
Housing and Social CareAlex Panayi
Solicitor
Property LitigationAndra Popoiag
Trainee Solicitor
Property LitigationEdward Taylor
Senior Associate
Housing and Social CareAnna Van-Haute
Paralegal
Property LitigationJoanne Wong
Associate Solicitor
Housing and Social CareView the
whole team