Hallas & Co. Chartered Surveyors
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We've compiled this selection of helpful links and downloads to hopefully answer any questions you may have about the services we offer.
Building Regulations Explained
This booklet provides an introduction to the Building Regulations in England and Wales and is intended for anyone proposing to carry out building projects.
Planning Applications Explained
Find out when you have to apply for planning permission or need building regulations approval, and the application and appeal processes involved.
Listed Building Consent Explained
Information for anyone who wishes to demolish a listed building, or alter or extend it in a way that will affect its overall character or appearance.
The Party Wall Act Explained
How this act may affect someone who wishes to carry out work covered by the Act, or who receives notification under the Act of proposed adjacent work.
Meet the Team
Jon Hallas
MSc MRICS
Jon Hallas
Jon is the Founder and Managing Director at Hallas & Co. The company is a growing business with an appetite for setting new standards.
Jon’s passion for providing the highest possible service in surveying standards is evident throughout the company. His ethos is endorsed by all the surveyors at Hallas & Co.
Jon spent 6 years working as a surveyor in social housing which provided a fantastic base to develop his building and construction knowledge. Jon returned to University and achieved a Masters in Building Surveying in 2006. Jon became a Member of Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2007 and has been a consultant in the private sector since 2006.
Jon has developed Hallas & Co into a multi disciplinary practice specialising in providing independent services to the residential and commercial sectors.
Specialist Skills
Jon has in depth knowledge and expertise in building pathology and identifying defects. He has in excess of 15 years experience in project coordination, specification writing and contract administration. Jon specialises in providing Maintenance plans having developed his own bespoke capital expenditure plan, which is always well received by Hallas & Co’s clients. Jon has a wealth of experience providing pre acquisition building surveys, party wall surveying and he often undertakes witness expert reports. jon.hallas@hallasandco.co.ukChris Zacharias
BA (hons) MSc MRICS BNUC-s IRATA
Chris Zacharias
Joined Hallas and Co in 2015. Christopher has an MSc in Commercial Construction Management which was obtained at Westminster University. Christopher has over 12 years of experience working in the construction and property sector.
Christopher has a wealth of knowledge in construction technology gained during his time spent specifying, managing and administering refurbishment projects. Christopher’s tenacious attitude towards Client satisfaction and high standards makes him an invaluable part of the team. Christopher achieved full membership of the RICS in 2018 through the APC training program at Hallas &. Co.
Specialist Skills
Christopher has extensive knowledge on contract administration and coordinating projects. He specialises in writing specifications for Major Works projects for residential blocks and estate of flats. He also compiles capital expenditure plans, undertakes Insurance Reinstatement Cost Assessments, Party Wall Surveys. Christopher is committed to constant personal development in building pathology and specialises in defect reporting. Christopher is also a CAA approved drone pilot and rope access technician to assist with defect inspections at high level and difficult access areas. chris.zacharias@hallasandco.co.ukMichael Ryan-Morrow
Director (Hallas Design & Hallas Commercial)
Michael Ryan-Morrow
Mike Joined Hallas & Co in 2013. Mike has a BSc (Hons) in Building Surveying and achieved full membership of the RICS in 2018 through the APC training program at Hallas &. Co.
Mike has 10 years experience in architectural design. Mike has prepared CAD drawings, planning applications and Building Regulation drawings for a variety of building works and extensions. In the last 5 years Mike has developed his building surveying skills at Hallas & Co. Mike has been a member of the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors since 2015.
Specialist Skills
Mike is exceptionally good at preparing 2D and 3D drawings. He has a keen eye for interior design and has a unique ability to understand the clients requirements. Mike regularly delivers top quality extensions and refurbishments from concept design through planning to Contract Administration. Mike also specialises in Party Wall Surveying, Maintenance Plans and Insurance Assessments. michael.rm@hallasandco.co.ukJoe Victor
MSc MRICS CMaPS
Joe Victor
Joe joined the company in 2012 and provides Building Surveying services for the company. He is an assessor for the RICS Associate (AssocRICS) qualification. Joe achieved an MSc in Building Surveying in 2006 at London Southbank University and qualified as a RICS full member in 2008. He is also a certified member of the Association of Project Safety.
Joe has over 20 years of experience in the surveying and construction industry managing large and medium sized contracts and projects.
Prior to working at Hallas & Co. Joe was coordinating large scale estate renovation projects and Mechanical/Electrical engineering projects for a large social housing landlord.
Specialist Skills
Joe undertakes Expert Witness reports and represents our clients in court/tribunals when required. He also has a wealth of experience providing quality pre-acquisition Building Surveys (RICS Level 3), RICS Homebuyer Reports (Level 2) and defect reports (RICS Level 1). Joe provides advice on Health and Safety Matters including CDM Principal Designer services, writing/assisting with policies and procedures. Joe also undertakes insurance rebuild assessments, Party Wall surveying and capital expenditure plans. joe.victor@hallasandco.co.ukAndrew Hentschel
Andrew Hentschel
Andy Joined the company in 2012 bringing with him a vast wealth of expertise in project coordination, specification writing and building pathology.
Hallas & Co benefits from Andy’s 35+ Years within the industry. Andy has spent much of his career working in large organisations maintaining their assets. Andy’s previous role at the award winning London & Quadrant as Asset Manager saw him in control of an annual budget of £20m. Andy coordinated major works projects on its 40,000 Housing units maintaining and improving their buildings to meet Decent Homes Standards by the deadline as set by the Housing Corporation and delivering an 18 million pound reinvestment programme on their Pimlico portfolio. Andy’s expertise in managing large contracts has proven to be invaluable for Hallas & Co.
Specialist Skills
Andy has meticulous knowledge on contract administration and coordinating projects. He specialises in writing specifications for Major Works projects for residential blocks and estate of flats. Andy has a wonderful ability to communicate with contractors and extract high standard of workmanship. He also regularly compiles maintenance plans, undertakes Insurance Reinstatement Cost Assessments, Party Wall Surveys and Building Defect Reports. andy.hentschel@hallasandco.co.ukRoger Cole
MSc. MRICS
Roger Cole
Roger joined the company in May 2021 as a building surveyor. He has many years’ experience working in the construction and surveying sectors, both as a rights of light/daylight and sunlight surveyor at a large private consultancy, principally working on tall tower blocks and prolific newbuild developments across London, and as a building surveyor at a large social landlord organisation, where he oversaw and managed complex building defect rectification works. During these years, he achieved a PGDip qualification in Building Surveying at London Southbank University, and most recently became a chartered member of the RICS in 2022. He also has many years’ prior experience working in the technology and mapping industries, giving him a unique blend of technical and surveying skills that perfectly complement the team at Hallas and Co.
Specialist skills
Roger is particularly experienced in neighbourly matters, and is very involved in the Party Wall and Licence to Alter work undertaken at Hallas and Co. He has extensive knowledge of building pathology, with a wealth of experience in inspecting and diagnosing building defects. He also regularly undertakes reinstatement cost assessments, capital expenditure plans, and project management of small and large-scale estate-wide block refurbishment and improvement works, acting as contract administrator.
Neil Hallett
BA (hons) MSc. MRICS
(Hallas & Co West)
Neil Hallett
Neil joined Hallas & Co in 2021 and achieved a MSc in Building Surveying which was obtained at Kingston University.
Neil’s background mainly comprises working in the insurance industry, acting as Contract Administrator and Principle Designer to deliver the reinstatement of residential dwellings that had previously suffered a loss. Neil has over 4 years’ experience in the surveying and construction industry managing large and medium projects.
Specialist Skills
Neil specialises in residential surveying, regularly undertaking Project Coordination, Building Pathology, Party Wall Surveying and Reinstatement Cost Assessments.
Neil Anderson
BSc. MSc. Assoc.RICS
Neil Anderson
Neil joined the company in November 2021. He brings with him over 10 years working in the property and construction sector. He has a BSc in Construction Project Management and a MSc in Building Surveying. He also has his Associate RICS accreditation and is working toward full RICS Membership.
Neil has worked for a number of highly regarded managing agents overseeing a portfolio of property. Neil made the transition to surveying in 2021. He has experience with contracts administration and managing projects. He has a sound understanding of building pathology and has diagnosed many building defects over the years. He enjoys being involved in the lifecycle maintenance of buildings and takes pride in helping people in their homes.
neil.anderson@hallasandco.co.ukRichard Foster
BSc (Hons) CertDEA AIFSM
Richard Foster
Richard is a Building Surveyor, BSc (Hons) 1st Class, and a qualified Fire Risk Assessor, Domestic Energy, and Retrofit Assessor based in the Hallas & Co Northern office. Following graduation from Liverpool John Moore University, Richard joined a national construction consultancy where he provided clients with a wide range of surveying services which included project management, condition surveys, defect analysis, feasibility studies, fire risk assessments and design & contract administration. Richard is skilled in establishing and understanding client requirements and advising clients on how to achieve project objectives. As a Contract Administrator, Richard has successfully managed several large-scale passive fire protection and cladding remediation projects nationwide. In addition to being a qualified Fire Risk Assessor, Richard has achieved an Associate grade with the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM) and demonstrates a well-rounded understanding and knowledge of fire safety legislation and is competent in providing professional advice and guidance on all fire-related matters. Most recently, Richard has worked within the residential and commercial sectors, providing a full range of Building Surveying services.
richard.foster@hallasandco.co.ukSean Deans
AssocRICS
Sean Deans
Sean joined Hallas & Co. in 2025 as a Building Surveyor. Prior to working for Hallas & Co Sean was overseeing a portfolio of properties in London, Surrey, and Hertfordshire.
Sean progressed to a senior management level, leading teams of professionals and introducing best practices into the sector.
With experience in both the public and private sectors, he brings a wealth of expertise in building management, relationship management, Section 20 consultations, fire safety, and expert witness services which have helped him develop into a surveying role.
Seans knowledge extends to advising both landlords and residents throughout the property lifecycle. He has successfully managed major works projects for residential developments in London and Surrey.
Additionally, he has a strong understanding of building pathology and has diagnosed many building defects over the years.
More recently, he achieved a new qualification and designation ‘MFPWS’ from the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors, further enhancing his expertise.
sean.deans@hallasandco.co.ukRyan Norfolk
(Hallas Commercial)
Ryan Norfolk
Ryan Joined Hallas Commercial in 2024. Ryan obtained a BSc (Hons) in Building Surveying at The University of Reading and is working towards achieving full membership of the RICS through the APC training program at Hallas Commercial.
Ryan brings a fresh and passionate approach to the world of building surveying. With a strong educational background and hands-on experience gained through comprehensive training, Ryan is committed to delivering high-quality surveying service making him an asset across the commercial property sector.
Throughout Ryan’s studies at Reading University, they have developed a keen understanding of building regulations, 2D and 3D design and project management, as well as a deep appreciation for sustainability and modern building practices. Whether it’s advising clients on property conditions, managing renovations, or providing expert opinions on construction design, Ryan is dedicated to helping clients make informed decisions that align with their objectives.
ryan.norfolk@hallasandco.co.ukGeoffrey Pragnell
(Hallas & Co West)
Geoffrey Pragnell
Geoff joined Hallas & Co. West In 2024 as a Building Surveyor having come from Jones Lang LaSalle and AECOM, where he was a Building Surveyor working out of London within the commercial sector bringing a wealth of experience in a variety of projects, from Dilapidations & Negotiations to acting as Lead Consultant/Contract Administrator on industrial refurbishments and infrastructure works.
Geoff has worked with a diverse range of clients, including government, defence, healthcare, and education sectors. His expertise extends to advising both landlords and occupiers throughout the property lifecycle and lease negotiations. He has successfully managed large-scale projects, such as cloud-based PPM reporting for over 100 prisons, hospitals, and schools, as well as decarbonisation initiatives for local authorities.
Prior to his career as a Building Surveyor, he started off within Architecture, where he gained knowledge and experience with CAD/3D Rendering/BIM based software.
Geoff is keen on health, where he regularly trains to ensure no scaffold or flights of stairs are too big to climb.
geoffrey.pragnell@hallasandco.co.ukDamian O’Hara
FCIOB MRICS FIoD
Damian O’Hara
Damian has extensive experience working in the house building industry. Damian has procured and managed developments running into tens of millions. Damian provides consultancy services for Hallas & Co and Hallas & Co West.
Specialist skills – Damian has extensive experience in construction management, including defect analysis, project coordination, fire safety and building surveys.
damian@hallasandco.co.ukJulie Kerr
FdA, BA (Hons)
Julie Kerr
Starting my career as a make-up artist, I embraced the joys of family life before dedicating two decades to the field of education. In February 2019, I took a new direction by joining Hallas & Co, leveraging my extensive experience in teaching while drawing from my background in a family of builders.
My lifelong admiration for buildings and architecture informs my work, enabling me to merge educational principles with industry insights effectively. My journey is a testament to my adaptability and commitment to excellence in every endeavour.
info@hallasandco.co.ukHimali Hallas
Himali Hallas
Himali is a qualified secondary school teacher. She taught English for 12 years. Himali then joined Hallas & Co in 2011 to assist with the day to day running of the company.
Himali provides administration support and utilises her English qualification to proof read reports and publications. Himali has exceptional organisational skills which is a great benefit for the company. Himali enjoys developing the company website.