What an expert witness does
They visit the building, measure, take photos and, if needed, open test holes or run tests. Then they write a report that answers specific questions: what the damage is, what caused it, since when, who may have caused it and what it costs to repair. They are chartered professionals and are accountable for what they state. Whoever does the survey never does the repair work on the same case.
When you need one
- Damp or leaks that the neighbour, the owners’ association or the insurer won’t accept.
- Defects that appear after buying a home (hidden defects): there are deadlines to claim from the seller, so don’t wait.
- Cracks, settlement or defects in recent building work.
- An insurance claim valued below what the repair costs.
- A claim or a defence that needs a technical report.
Court or party
You choose the party expert, whose report is filed with the claim or the defence; the court appoints the court expert. If both meet art. 335 LEC, the judge weighs both. See the differences.