Description
Mr Matthew Wood
Chartered Building Surveyor and Expert Witness
Qualifications: BSc (Hons), MRICS, MCIOB, MEWI, ACIArb, BDMA
Area of work: Yorkshire and nationwide
Expert instructions: Claimant, Defendant, Single Joint Expert and advisory appointments
Building Surveying Expert Witness Services
Mr Matthew Wood is an experienced Chartered Building Surveyor and construction expert witness with 25 years’ professional experience. He provides independent, evidence-based expert opinion in building-related disputes, housing condition claims, construction defects, professional negligence matters and insurance claims.
Regularly instructed on behalf of both Claimants and Defendants, Mr Wood also accepts appointments as a Single Joint Expert. He has prepared approximately 600 expert reports covering a broad range of residential, commercial and construction-related matters.
His extensive surveying experience enables him to investigate the cause, extent and consequences of building defects, assess the standard of completed work and provide an informed opinion on appropriate remedial measures and associated quantum.
Areas of Expertise
Mr Wood accepts expert witness instructions involving:
- Housing condition and housing disrepair claims
- Fitness for human habitation
- Damp, condensation and mould
- Building defects and building pathology
- Structural defects and movement
- Roof, wall and floor defects
- Defective building work and poor workmanship
- Building standards and regulatory compliance
- Construction and workmanship disputes
- Assessment of remedial works and quantum
- Failed cavity wall insulation
- Building insurance and warranty claims
- Fire and flood damage
- Subsidence and structural movement
- Professional negligence involving building surveyors
- Professional negligence involving architectural designers
- Forensic examination of building surveys and professional reports
- Building accessibility and reasonable adjustment matters
- Building-related personal injury claims
Housing Conditions and Fitness for Human Habitation
Mr Wood provides expert assessment in housing condition and disrepair cases involving damp, mould, condensation, water ingress, defective roofs, inadequate ventilation, structural movement, insulation failures and other conditions that may affect the safety or habitability of residential premises.
His reports can address the nature and cause of the alleged defects, the landlord’s potential repairing responsibilities, the extent of necessary remedial works and the reasonable cost of those works.
Building Defects, Workmanship and Quantum
Mr Wood investigates allegations of defective workmanship and non-compliant construction. He can assess whether work meets the standards reasonably expected of a competent contractor or construction professional and whether it complies with relevant contractual requirements, technical guidance and accepted industry practice.
Where required, he can provide an opinion on the scope, necessity and reasonable cost of remedial work.
Professional Negligence
Instructions are accepted in matters concerning the professional competence and conduct of building surveyors and architectural designers. This includes the forensic analysis of surveys, inspection records, reports, specifications and other technical documentation.
Mr Wood can provide an independent opinion on whether the work fell below the standard reasonably expected of an appropriately qualified and competent professional.
Insurance and Warranty Claims
Expert opinion is available in connection with building insurance and warranty disputes, including claims arising from:
- Fire and smoke damage
- Flood and escape-of-water damage
- Subsidence
- Structural movement
- Defective construction
- Warranty coverage disputes
- Disagreement over the extent or cost of reinstatement works
Advanced Inspection Technology
Depending on the issues under investigation, Mr Wood uses specialist surveying and diagnostic equipment, including:
- Borescopes
- Access and inspection cameras
- High-level cameras
- Thermal-imaging equipment
- Surface-temperature readers
- Electronic moisture and damp meters
- Calcium carbide moisture-testing equipment
He also has access to respected specialist laboratories capable of undertaking relevant materials analysis and testing. This combination of professional judgment, diagnostic technology and laboratory support assists in providing robust, technically informed conclusions.
Expert Witness Training and Memberships
Mr Wood has completed formal expert witness training through the Cardiff University Bond Solon Expert Witness Programme, including training in:
- Expert report writing
- Civil law and procedure
- Courtroom skills
- Giving oral evidence
- Cross-examination
He is a member of the:
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
- Chartered Institute of Building
- Expert Witness Institute
- National Register of University Certificated Expert Witnesses
He undertakes regular continuing professional development to maintain his surveying, construction and expert witness knowledge.
Geographic Coverage
Based in West Yorkshire, Mr Wood accepts expert witness instructions throughout Yorkshire and across the United Kingdom, subject to the requirements of the individual case.
Contact Mr Matthew Wood
Ovolo Building Consultancy
15th Floor
The Pinnacle
67 Albion Street
Leeds
LS1 5AA
Telephone: 0330 133 9470
Mobile: 07709 066969
Email: matthew@ovolobc.com
Alternative email: info@ovolobc.com
Website: www.ovolobc.com
