Bretton Medical Practice have upgraded their reception area and made improvements to their telephone system after GP Surveyors achieved an 18% increase on their Notional Rent above the District Valuer’s initial offer.

The Bretton Medical Practice is located near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. The purpose-built surgery has been extended over the last 30 years and now has a patient list size of 13,500.

“We felt that the initial valuation was well short of our expectations and that we should proceed with an alternative valuation”

Steve Robertson is the Practice Manager and first heard about GP Surveyors from another Practice Manager. He explains; “We felt that the initial valuation was well short of our expectations and that we should proceed with an alternative valuation. We hoped to achieve a higher, fairer valuation which reflected the building more accurately and wished to have a comparison figure, rather than just accept the one given to us initially.”

James Williams was the assigned Surveyor to this case. He explains; “Initial investigations indicated a significant variance between our own valuation and the opinion expressed by the District Valuer (DV) of £120,500. Shortly after entering into negotiations with the DV it became apparent that large areas of circulation space had been excluded incorrectly and the value adopted by the DV did not reflect the internal condition of the premises, based on the comparable evidence we identified.”

“The increase has helped with practice cash flow issues in a time when income into the practice is vital for any future investment in services, staff and patient needs”

“Through the course of negotiation we were able to increase the DVs offer from £120,500 to £142,500 meaning an increase of 18 per cent, which the Practice instructed us to accept on their behalf to conclude matters.”

Steve continues; “The increase has helped with practice cash flow issues in a time when income into the practice is vital for any future investment in services, staff and patient needs. We used the increase to upgrade our reception area and make improvements to our telephone system.”

Steve concludes; “Other GP practices should challenge their valuation as it is important to ensure they maximise their income and streamline their expenditure wherever possible. It is good business sense never to accept the first quote and strive to get the best possible price. We would be happy to encourage other practices to consider using GP Surveyors if they feel their practice has been undervalued.”

If you’d like GP Surveyors to carry out an assessment of your Notional Rent, please contact us on 0114 281 5850 or email [email protected]

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Blackwoods Medical Centre case study

Blackwoods Medical Centre located on the outskirts of Glasgow received an increase of 24 per cent above the District Valuer’s offer after GP Surveyors worked on their behalf to challenge their Notional Rent figure.

Blackwoods Medical Centre is a purpose built surgery with six Doctors. One of those, Dr Jamieson contacted GP Surveyors after seeing an advert for our services in the medical press.

He explains; “We decided to use GP Surveyors because my first contact with them was very positive and the fees quoted for the work they would undertake were realistic.”

“For years I have felt that the rental being generated did not adequately reflect the underlying value nor investment in our purpose built practice”

Through GP Surveyors skilled negation we obtained a 24 per cent increase in the Notional Rent for Blackwoods Medical Centre above the District Valuer’s offer, taking it from £24,250 to £30,000 per annum. This means the gross financial benefit to the practice will be £17,250 over the three year period.

Dr Jamieson continues; “For years I have felt that the rental being generated did not adequately reflect the underlying value nor investment in our purpose built practice premises and that nobody in their right mind would raise finance to generate such poor returns, even realising that a GP needs premises to operate from.”

“There is an opportunity to properly value GP premises”

“My advice to other Doctors who may be looking to challenge their current figure is to go for it as there is an opportunity to properly value GP premises. The previous system was hard to challenge.”
Paul Conlan was the assigned Surveyor on this case says; “Valuations in Scotland are more location specific than in other parts of the UK meaning other factors come into play when assessing the Current Market Rental for the premises. The reasons why surgeries are often underfunded include miscalculations of the reimbursable area and a cautious approach taken by the District Valuer as to the levels of the value”.

“We would actively encourage every practice to instruct a suitably qualified Surveyor to check the level of funding they receive.”

Dr Jamieson concludes; “We took a long time to get there, but we got a good result in the end.”

We hope you enjoyed reading our Blackwoods Medical Centre case study, to see our most recent case studies click here.

GP surgeries in East Sussex are losing out on up to five-figure sums on their premises rent according to GP Surveyors, read our East Sussex case study to see how we can assist your practice.

We have worked with over 20 practices in the County to increase their Notional Rent figures and have noticed a trend of underfunding for surgeries. After negotiating cases with the District Valuer (DV) we have agreed significant increases for our clients in the area.

The average increase for surgeries in East Sussex that GP Surveyors have worked with is 28 percent, which is above our national average of 15 percent that we have achieved for our 1500+ clients. One surgery in the area received an increase of £21,150 per annum above the District Valuer’s offer which equated to a 57 percent increase.

Churchwood Medical Practice in St Leonards-on-Sea is a purpose-built surgery with a patient list size of 5,800 and achieved an increase of 21 percent above the District Valuer’s offer taking their Notional Rent figure from £29,100 per annum to £35,075 per annum.

“We have long thought we were being underpaid in comparison to other local practices”

Julie Swaffer, Practice Manager at the surgery explains; “We heard about GP surveyors through me doing my Diploma in Primary Care Management; I had to do a LIFT & Notional Rent assignment. The increase achieved is great for us as we are refurbishing the practice and this will help with our costs.”

“We have long thought we were being underpaid for Notional Rent in comparison to other local practices; PCT’s seem to forget that local GPs have friendships and contact with each other out of work.”

“GP Surveyors were easy to deal with; we did not do anything really apart from sign a document and we received our uplift in our February income. Practices have nothing to lose by signing-up for GP Surveyors services due to their ‘no win no fee basis’.”

Sea Road Surgery in Bexhill-on-Sea is another example of where we have managed to agree a large settlement figure. With 6,000 patients, the surgery is located in a converted 2-storey townhouse. Their initial valuation came in at £27,400.

“In the current financial climate, with income for GP surgeries under threat from various sources, any increase is welcome”

Glenn Sully, Practice Manager explains; “GP Surveyors managed to obtain a 31 per cent increase for us, taking our rent to £36,000 per annum. I heard about GP Surveyors via another Practice Manager and decided to use their services because of the fact that if they don’t achieve an increase there is no fee payable. In the current financial climate, with income for GP surgeries under threat from various sources, any increase is welcomed and particularly one of this size!”

Malcolm Wright is the Practice Manager at the Silver Springs Medical Centre in St Leonards-on-Sea. GP Surveyors managed to achieve a 34 per cent increase on the surgery’s Notional Rent offer from the District Valuer equating to an increase of nearly £10,000 per annum.

He explains “We heard about GP Surveyors from another neighbouring practice; Beaconsfield Surgery. The increase was unexpected but nevertheless most welcome, particularly in these tough times. The money will be a welcome addition to our tight practice budget. From our experience, PCTs and the District Valuer are never forthcoming with the information necessary to debate rentals; practices tend to rely on these parties having the last say.”

“GP Surveyors have a high degree of technical expertise in the Health Care Sector and a natural aptitude for negotiation”

“It is good to know there are professional’s around who can fight your case. GP Surveyors were extremely helpful and knowledgeable. They knew the ropes and procedures to follow. Being kept informed and constantly updated was good and you felt comfortable with the proceedings. It was the right decision for us and good working with such a helpful firm of professionals was a bonus”.

Paul Conlan – Managing Chartered Surveyor at GP Surveyors, who has recently been involved in two of the cases in East Sussex, including the surgery which achieved a 57 per cent increase says: “GP Surveyors have a high degree of technical expertise within the Health Care Sector and a natural aptitude for negotiation. Combined with an extensive market transaction database, these attributes enable us to present a convincing case on behalf of our clients during Notional Rent discussions”.

“With a proven track record of successfully increasing the District Valuer’s notified figure in East Sussex, we feel that we are ideally placed to provide a high quality service to Doctors in this location.”

We hope you found our East Sussex case study useful. GP Surveyors carry out Notional Rent Reviews across the UK, if you would like us to assess your Notional Rent please contact the team today.

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