|
Rena Your starting point to a future for the past Renaissance Design+Build services |
.
|
|
Benchmarks . Period-House Research & Report. 1.1 Uncovering the secrets of your period house or cottage can be fascinating. A report about the house and what's found in archive records can impress your friends. Attach it to a 'House-Sale Logbook' to attract value-added housebuyers. Send it with a regulations application form to speed up official processes. . Old-Building Survey. 1.2 We assess pre-works or pre-buying questions and if alteration ideas might work out. We walk-around your period property and give specialist advice there and then. Did you know that a mortgage condition, like costly damp treatment, is renegotiable? At no extra cost, we can check out any planning regulations issues. . Renovation Course. 1.3. A one-day seminar for owners, prospective purchasers, or professionals wanting some practical guidance into conservation methods. We look at security, insurance, or obtaining planning approvals, grants or tax reliefs. Regular courses in the UN World Heritage City of Bath, England (London; 80 minutes by train). |
..
 |
|
Heritage Laws & Benefits . VAT Reliefs Certification. 2.1. We
advise on VAT reliefs, of up to 95-100 % tax-back in the UK, on listed
building works. From information supplied we issue an eligible claim (sometimes
retrospectively if eligible) often without a site visit. We aim to recover
listed building owner's rights to offset expense. Or, there's over a billion
pounds a year in repair and lottery grants aimed at old property when
we can advise on application processes.
We balance our client instructions with regulations and apply for necessary
government approval required in Britain to improve land or buildings,
and extra consent to carry out any works to a protected building site.
We can also consult on potential impact of neighborhood schemes, how to
deal with enforcement proceedings against infractions of planning law,
and the conduct of an appeal process. We apply for local authority approval (additional to planning) of building works, which in Britain must comply with health and safety regulations. Involving several official inspections to satisfy certification (essential for property sale). Throughout, we act in the owner' s interests to mitigate possible official pressures on contractors who may take an opportunity to do more than is economically necessary. |
.
 |
|
Architectural Design . Architectural Design & Survey. 3.1. Whether a schedule of dilapidation, works defects or fire/flood damage analysis, or considering a small or large renovation project, then a measured survey; producing floor plans and elevations as found, records an existing structure as an essential first step. We look at structure, the nature of historic character, condition, initial ideas, then develop scheme sketches for; alteration, extension, conservation, or new build.
. Most
ideas will need to be drawn up in a series of drawn proposals, schedule
of works and specification of methods. These documents are used
to obtain government consent to proceed at all. And they form a basis
to pre-cost the works and instruct production on site. Our approach is
geared to maintaining valuable historic character using traditional materials
and skills mixed with some conventional methods. And to allow for variations
during a programme of works whilst keeping control of the budget. The fastest way to significantly improve property value and avoid costly structural alterations is to decorate. Colour can return original architectural proportions to interiors, exteriors, and other features. And colours can be changed without damage to historic character if the right type of paint is used that allows it to 'breath'. We can analyse historic authenticity of 'found' historic schemes and develop remedial solutions. |
.
 |
|
Production Management . Tendering Builder's Estimates. 4.1. Employ a friend of a friend you'll probably lose the friend. Or have a 'walk-through quote' then panic about spiraling costs. But historic building owners really want our measured test of candidate building contractors, including their own preferences, who can deliver traditional building methods with an excellent sub-contracting network in most local districts, and find the best price, then sign a contract they'll honor.
. Architectural supervision of a building contract programme with added practical experience of traditional methods. Checking valuation of finished stages and reporting variations to owners. This can reduce costs, secure full VAT reliefs, and control day-to-day production on site. In the past we have assisted hands-on owners, re-trained builders, and provided conservation advice to other surveyors and architects.
. Many conventional contractors use quantity-surveying methods incompatible with a conservation approach and waste money. By tailoring accounting methods to traditional projects we can control the budget task-by-task. This can cope flexibly with changes of mind and keep renovators regularly informed. |
.
 |
|
Design & Build . Design & Build. 5.1. This is a popular service because we take care of the whole renovation from obtaining planning approval to works completion. We report regularly with budget statements and due to a favorable tax scheme for design & build projects full VAT reliefs are returned; a saving that can cover our design fees. Our architectural designers, traditional builders and craftsmen, and décor teams, combine into a single service. This service is ideal for people at a distance from the project site and busy people who prefer to delegate to experts.
. Our
property revivals are imaginatively done applying conservation principles.
Mixed traditional and conventional methods produce sympathetic and appropriate
building adaptations. It also needs a special talent to help owners achieve
appropriate interiors within an old structure, and sympathetic landscaping
within a historic setting. Owners of landmark or listed buildings
have extra responsibilities and may need our kind of relevant experience
to maximise potential public money aimed at old-craft revival methods. Escalating timetable. Spiraling costs. Who are you going to call? For renovators, a nightmare is a dream home in the hands of 'cowboy' builders. Not sacking them can see a drift into further expense and delays because who else is going to finish the job? We can conduct a swift review then set up new management of the current contract, or replace them with others who can rectify what's gone wrong. |
.
 |
|
Property Consultation . Pre-Selling or Pre-Buying House Survey. 6.1. A traditional building opinion can be valuable to either side in a conventional property market. An on-site consultation for prospective purchasers can answer public money eligibility or planning consent questions and possible renovation expense. Or for prospective vendors, can help determine extra character-value and any maintenance expenses that are essential to achieve full marketability.
. We
work for a prospective purchaser looking for a period house or cottage.
We have a long-established reputation for introducing clients to a house
that matches their needs because our contacts involve many vendors as
well as agents. And then negotiate keen acquisition terms because we apply
our expert 'eye' to renovation potentialities. When things go wrong, clients have asked us to provide expert witness evidence in court, tell their story in media articles, talk to neighbours, stop adverse planning schemes, fight enforcement notices, or prevent a dispute with contractors. When things go right, clients have asked us to conduct a pre-renovation feasibility study, assess insurance risk, or act as owner's agent throughout a project. |
.
 |
|
. Old-House Surgery. 7.1. Although our training is the same as any number of building professionals we have relevant experience of listed buildings and conservation methods. We seem to get enquiries due to our 'question & answer' magazine columns; by fax and e-mail, by letter enclosing photos, but mostly we get telephone calls from people feeling their way around renovation. Your questions are welcome.
. Editors
and journalists research news stories with us because they say we know
our stuff. They say heritage bureaucrats are 'unfocussed' in comparison.
Our senior partners, Edwina Larner and Adrian Dobinson, write magazine
articles in the consumer and specialist press and appeared in TV and radio
programmes talking about renovation matters. They also lecture occasionally
in the UK and USA. Putting your case can save money listed buildings bring extra property responsibilities that can be expensive if you are unfamiliar with preservation principles. Insurance companies specially assess 'character value', bankers want a financial analysis, and heritage officials require a 'statement of need' often involving academic research. We conduct feasibility studies, or can renegotiate unnecessarily costly or insensitive conditions habitually imposed by mortgage, security or local planning paperwork. |
.
 |
|
Ask for a brochure We can send a copy of our colour printed brochure that outlines some case histories, details of services, fees plus VAT, terms of business; there is no added tax on information-only material. Alternatively, telephone us to Order a service of your choice. You will not be committing yourself to anything more than those services confirmed by either side in writing. If you are instructing with any payment; by cheque within UK or by international money order payable in £-sterling, your bank handles the exchange rate. Cheques payable to 'Renaissance'. We are unable to accept payment by credit card. (VAT Reg No 468 4619 07). Mail: Edwina Larner, Renaissance, 15 Gay St, Bath BA1 2PH, England. Please supply: name, address, telephone, fax, e-mail, address of property. |
[1 Home] [2 About Us] [3 Services] [4 News] Or click for Renovation Course, VAT reliefs, plus. |
|
"The Old-House Doctor himself, Adrian Dobinson, introduced the course. Passionate about listed buildings
and speaking eloquently about the difficulties faced by owners".
|
Architectural Conservation Design & Build Listed Building Planning Agents
Renaissance Architectural Ltd Regency House 2 Wood Street Bath BA1 2JQ England