Overhead power line compensation.

mobilejo

Its NOT the solicitors that take a commission, they just charge a fee to advise you but that fee is ALWAYS covered by the electric company. You would never be out of pocket for legal fees so long as you win, and it never gets to legal stage unless the electric co make a firm offer to settle.

Its the agency (basically a surveyor) that submit your claim and negotiate the value of your claim who take a commission. Solicitors are not qualified to VALUE the claim - they are not surveyors, they only get involved once the surveyor has got you a good amount of compo.

You don't need to appoint an agency/surveyor to negotiate for you - you are free to contact the network yourself, tell them you want compo and ask them what they will pay. They will make you an offer (usually below market value as they know that you have no basis on which to negotiate as you don't have professional advice, comparable evidence and aren't in any way 'qualified' to tell them what the claim is worth).

Or, you can just hire a surveyor to do it for you, and pay his fees upfront (usually around £600). He will not then be entitled to any commission.

Or you can take the no risk option but pay commission on what you get. No surveyor will offer no win no fee and also not receive any commission. They only offer a no win no fee approach because the wins payout more than normal due to the commission.

I know of agents that do it for 10% flat with no VAT, it is more than worth it for the no win no fee approach and the fact they always get more than unrepresented home owners who go it alone. Usually more than 10% more too

How do I know this - I am the guy at the law firm acting for one of the electric companies who handles the claims when they get to the legal stage.

If you want more info, feel free to PM me. Based on the value of your house I can tell you what sort of payout to expect and thus which option may be best for you.

mobilejo

Right, I've had a few PM's now asking for details of the best company to use IN MY OPINION for these power line claims.

I have been writing the same thing in each case so I may as well post it here - the cheapest firm I have seen submitting claims to my electricity company is Knighstbridge Property Consultancy who now offer their power line compensation services under the name "The Powerline Advisory Group". They charge 10% commission with no VAT. https://www.thepowerlinegroup.co.uk or www.knightsbridge-consulting.com.

The best 3 in terms of speed and efficiency are Knightsbridge - https://www.thepowerlinegroup.co.uk (10% inc VAT), Thomas Broadbent - https://www.broadbent.co.uk (15% + VAT) and PCC - https://www.propertycompensationconsultants.co.uk (20% + VAT).

With regards to amounts of compensation that each company obtain, hmmm, all much of a muchness. No company has any secret weapon or technique, much like solicitors they're all good at negotiating but the electric company has a max figure and nothing will get them above that. Most of the companies know what that figure will be and thats what they get basically.

Any other questions, feel free to PM me but that should cover the majority of what I normally get asked :rotfl:

PropertyChap

There's some really good advice here especially from mobilejo and after reading through I just couldn't resist contributing! I've been involved in property over the years and compensation matters to do with road schemes and the like and I would ALWAYS advise that you look for a specialist firm of surveyor's who are Regulated by the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) - it should say on their website. From Google it appears there are various companies processing a lot of these claims but you should only use a Regulated firm if you want quality advice specific to your property and claim, especially if your property is different or high value in some way. I wouldn't necessarily be tempted by the cheapest fee either as your work might only be bulk processed

PropertyChap

P.S. I also wouldn't just sign something and send it back. Ask the surveyor to see your property and the cables first and to give their advice, without obligation, and without having filled in forms/contracts before

tom5000

Hi all

I have been asked by a network to provide them with a figure for their consideration with regard to a permanent easement arrangement..
They have admitted that they have no legal right to be there, and said that if no agreement can be made it would have to be termination and moving of the lines. After speaking to one of their engineers I learned that to move them would not only cost not much short of £100,000, but that it would also be a 'logistical nightmare'.
I am looking for anyone that can advise of an amount I should be looking for.

Cheers

tom

[Deleted User]

This thread is from 2012, I'm not sure any of the participants of the thread are still active forum members...

tom5000

I realise that, I just thought it would be better to bump an old thread, rather than starting a new one?
Perhaps i should just start a new one?!

Cheers

tom

mobilejo

Erm, I'm still here.

And to Answer the question, it's very hard answer the question without more info....

No 2 cases are the same.

mobilejo

I would also add that since my last post, I was made redundant from the law firm that worked FOR the electric companies and have since started working on the other side of the fence! Its amazing what you can learn when you have worked for both sides...

Percy1983

I still haven't set anything in motion in my case, this thread bump has just reminded me to do something.