An expert witness report is the document through which an expert gives opinion evidence to a court — and in England and Wales its content is prescribed by CPR Part 35 and Practice Direction 35. A brilliant opinion in a non-compliant report can be ruled inadmissible, so knowing what a proper report contains matters whether you are instructing one or facing one.
What a CPR 35 compliant report must include
- The expert’s qualifications and relevant experience
- All material instructions received — written and oral
- Facts and assumptions the opinions rest on, separating observed fact from opinion
- Literature, standards and case law relied upon
- The range of reasonable opinion where experts could differ — and why this expert lands where they do
- A summary of conclusions, the statement that the expert understands their duty to the court, and the statement of truth
Expert report vs advisory report
An advisory (or “shadow expert”) report is for your eyes and your solicitor’s: candid, tactical and privileged. A Part 35 report is for the court: independent, disclosable and binding on the expert’s conscience. Confusing the two is a classic and expensive mistake — decide which you need before instructing. See what an expert witness does.
What a surveyor’s expert report costs and how long it takes
For party wall, boundary and building disputes in London expect roughly £1,500–£5,000 and 2–4 weeks from inspection, depending on issues and documentation. Single joint expert instructions split the cost between parties.
Need a report that stands up?
Our RICS surveyors prepare CPR 35 compliant reports for party wall, boundary and construction matters — details on our expert witness service page, or call 0204 579 8270.
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