Business Details
46 Years
experience
Chartered Surveyors in Godalming, Surrey
Established in 1980, Drake & Kannemeyer LLP has built a reputation as an independent firm of Chartered Surveyors, delivering multi-disciplinary consultancy services to public and private sector clients nationwide. Our expertise spans building and quantity surveying, project management, and design consultancy, underpinned by a commitment to innovation and precision. Over four decades, we have pioneered advanced survey methodologies, including the first computerised condition assessment systems for large estates, now widely adopted across the public sector. Our team of RICS-regulated professionals specialises in condition and statutory compliance surveys, fire safety audits, and project management for complex refurbishments and new builds.With a client-centric approach, we provide tailored solutions for healthcare, education, and heritage properties, including landmark projects at The Tower of London and Kew Gardens. Our systems for estate management software, developed since 1980, offer robust data analysis tools for long-term maintenance planning. We maintain regional expertise in the southeast while executing national survey commissions, ensuring every client benefits from our deep sector knowledge and dedication to quality.
Services
Building Condition Surveys
Statutory Compliance Surveys
Fire Safety Audits
Access Audits
Party Wall Awards
Estate Management Software
Project Management
Building Conservation
Functional Suitability Assessments
Energy Audits
Details
- Year established: 1980
Highlights and features
- We have 40 years of experience in public sector estate surveys, including 120+ hospitals and 25+ universities.
- Our proprietary survey software enables precise long-term maintenance forecasting for property portfolios.
- RICS-regulated services ensure adherence to the highest professional and ethical standards.
- Pioneers of risk-assessed condition survey methodologies adopted by NHS and higher education institutions.
- Specialist teams deliver tailored solutions for heritage buildings, healthcare facilities, and educational estates.
Associations and certifications
- Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Services
Building Condition Surveys
Our detailed condition surveys evaluate building defects using risk-assessed methodologies compliant with NHS standards. Tablet-based data collection captures elemental defects, remaining lifespans, and repair costs with photographic evidence. The relational database system enables long-term maintenance forecasting and compliance reporting for ERIC and HESA returns.
Statutory Compliance Surveys
Specialist compliance appraisals identify legislative breaches in healthcare and education estates. Our risk-assessed approach prioritises non-compliance issues according to statutory requirements, delivering actionable plans for regulatory adherence. The system produces budgeting tools for compliance works while excluding operational management issues.
Estate Management Software
Custom-developed software solutions enable comprehensive estate data analysis. Our systems integrate condition, compliance, and functional suitability data with space utilisation metrics. Clients receive free licensed access to analytical tools that generate HESA-compliant reports and DH-standard risk assessments for strategic property management.
Fire Safety Surveys
Collaborating with specialist partners, we conduct detailed fire stopping assessments to identify compartmentation weaknesses. Our surveys produce costed action plans for mitigating fire risks in existing buildings, recently completed for Brunel University and Rutherford Appleton Laboratories, ensuring compliance with current safety standards.
Access Audits
Our audits evaluate building accessibility beyond Part M regulations, addressing Equality Act 2010 requirements. We assess physical and mental disability access issues, providing practical solutions that balance organisational resources with reasonable adjustment obligations through comprehensive facility evaluations.
People
Brian Drake
Co-Founder
Co-founded Drake & Kannemeyer in 1980 after serving as Chief Quantity Surveyor at the Department of Health. Developed pioneering computerised estate survey systems now industry standards. Remained active in RICS committees until his passing in 2019 at age 88.
Ted Kannemeyer
Co-Founder
Active partner since 1980, previously project manager for London's St Catherine's Dock development. Brought extensive developer experience to the firm's project management services. Continues to shape the practice's strategic direction while maintaining hands-on involvement in key commissions.
Questions
What sectors do Drake & Kannemeyer specialise in?
We focus on healthcare, education, and public sector estates, with extensive experience in NHS properties, universities, and historic buildings.
How do your condition surveys benefit property owners?
Our surveys provide risk-assessed, costed maintenance plans with elemental analysis and 10-year programming to optimise estate management budgets.
Do you provide software for estate management?
Yes, we offer proprietary estate management software free of charge to clients, enabling comprehensive data analysis and HESA-compliant reporting.
Can you assist with party wall matters?
Our RICS-registered surveyors provide party wall awards and dispute resolution services under the Party Wall Etc. Act 1996 across England and Wales.
How do you ensure survey accuracy?
We use tablet-based data collection with photographic evidence, validated in-field by experienced chartered surveyors following NHS-compliant methodologies.
What geographic areas do you cover?
We operate nationwide for estate surveys and focus on the southeast region for project management and professional services.
