Understanding Non Traditional Housing in the UK
Across the UK, builders constructed thousands of homes using alternative methods instead of the standard brick and block cavity wall construction common today. Experts often classify theseproperties as non-traditional housing. While many of them have stood for decades and continue to perform well, others come with unique risks, quirks, and considerations that buyers, owners, and […]
Trees Near Buildings: Understanding the Risks and Managing Them Safely
Trees can add enormous value to a property. They bring shade, character, and a sense of established landscape that many homeowners love. But trees close to buildings can also present real risks, some obvious and some much harder to spot. For homeowners, landlords, and developers, understanding how trees interact with buildings is essential for keeping […]
Cracks in Buildings: What They Mean and When You Should Worry
Cracks are one of the most common concerns for homeowners. They can appear suddenly or develop slowly over time, and they often raise the same questions: what caused them, are they serious, and what should be done about them? Although cracks can look alarming, they are not always evidence of structural issues. Many cracks are […]
A Beginner’s Guide to Building Disputes
Unfortunately, one of the most common issues we see in the construction industry today is disputes over building work. Disagreements between the different parties involved in the project, from contractors and subcontractors, clients, architects and engineers. The disputes that come up during building work can be complex and can be about fairly important things. Delays, […]
Expert Determination in Construction Disputes Using Building Surveyors
In this video, we’re going to explore expert determination—a specialist form of alternative dispute resolution used widely in construction and property. We’ll look specifically at the role of the building surveyor as the appointed expert, how the process works, and the advantages and disadvantages compared to other ADR methods like mediation, adjudication, and arbitration. What […]
What Every Homeowner Should Know About Subsidence
You notice a hairline crack running across the wall. Then a door that used to close smoothly suddenly sticks. A few weeks later, the gap’s grown wider. At first, it feels like a small issue — maybe just an old house settling. But sometimes, those subtle shifts tell a bigger story. One that starts not […]
What Are the Rules for Outbuildings in the UK?
Adding an outbuilding to your property can be a great way to add extra space, and get some extra functionality too. Especially when more people are working from home than ever before, and looking for better spaces to work in. As surveyors, we’ve seen some truly great outbuildings. We’ve also seen some not-so-great, and some […]
Building Regulations: Here’s What The Law Says You Can (And Can’t) Do
If you’re building a new property, renovating, or planning a home improvement, it’s important to know the legal elements. In the UK, building regulations ensure that structures are safe, sustainable, and suitable for the people who use them. They come from the Building Act 1984, and cover everything from fire safety to energy efficiency. If […]
Wall Tie Failure: What It Means for Your Property
If you have an older property with masonry walls, it’s likely that a surveyor will recommend a wall tie survey. They do this for a very good reason – wall tie failure is a common issue in older homes and can cause serious structural problems if left untreated. But it can be a bit confusing […]
Can Woodworm Damage Your Home?
In the UK we have a huge variety of native wildlife, from the biggest (which is a red deer) to the smallest insects. It’s part of what makes our country so beautiful. But some of the native species we aren’t too fond of are woodboring beetles – also known as woodworm. There are a number […]