The Party Wall Process: What You Need to Know
Have you received a ‘Party Wall’ letter through your door? Sadly, it’s not a party invite, and there’s no cake on offer. It’s a...
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Have you received a ‘Party Wall’ letter through your door? Sadly, it’s not a party invite, and there’s no cake on offer. It’s a bit more boring, but much more important.Whether you’re a homeowner planning to extend your kitchen or a neighbour worried about next door’s loft conversion, understanding the party wall process can save […]
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 […]
Do you get on with your neighbours? Do you talk to them regularly, or just nod and smile when you see them in the driveway? It doesn’t matter how well you know them or how friendly you are, it’s all too easy to end up in a heated dispute about bricks, boundaries and building works. […]
Whether you’re a commercial landlord or a tenant, a schedule of dilapidations is an absolute must. Landlords can use schedules of dilapidations to demand their tenants pay them tens, or even hundreds of thousands of pounds at the end of the lease. Unlike residential tenancies, commercial leases don’t have fair wear and tear clauses. This […]
Gather in folks, who’s ready for a story? Today, rather than tell you about an aspect of surveying, we thought we would share a client story with you, to show you just how important having a survey can be when you’re buying a home. This particular issue is something we come across a lot, and […]
Did you know that before we write a single word of your RICS Level 3 survey, the document already contains over 5,000 words of standard content? And when we do start writing, we can sometimes hit over 10,000 words on some properties? That means that your level 3 survey could be longer than many university […]
If you work in the construction industry, you must understand the tendering process. It’s a critical part of making sure you’re getting the best value for money and securing the best contracts. If you’re doing work on your own property then you need to understand it too, since it will give you the confidence that […]
As surveyors, we often get enquiries from building owners saying, ‘I need a party wall agreement, can you help?’ The answer to that is yes! But first, let’s clarify a few things. Surveyors are the ones who prepare that ‘agreement’, which is formally known as a Party Wall Award. A single surveyor can prepare it […]
There’s something that’s been on our mind a lot lately. Why is it that so many industries have been evolving at such a rapid pace, but construction is lagging behind? We’ve gone from landlines to smartphones, post to instant messaging, and taxis to ride sharing. But what about construction? In so many ways, it still […]
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, […]
You’re planning a building project, and it’s all going well. Or maybe your neighbour is sharing their extension plans with you, and you’re happily nodding along and asking questions. When the term ‘party wall surveyor’ is thrown into the mix. You pause. Do you actually need one? When should you hire one? And what does […]
If you’re a landlord or a tenant in a commercial lease arrangement, then the chances are you’ll need to deal with dilapidations. This is usually a result of the tenant’s failure to adhere to their lease clauses, and is used to protect the value of the landlord’s asset. Usually, a landlord will instruct their surveyor […]
Have you received a ‘Party Wall’ letter through your door? Sadly, it’s not a party invite, and there’s no cake on offer. It’s a...
You notice a hairline crack running across the wall. Then a door that used to close smoothly suddenly sticks. A few weeks later, the...
Do you get on with your neighbours? Do you talk to them regularly, or just nod and smile when you see them in the...
Whether you’re a commercial landlord or a tenant, a schedule of dilapidations is an absolute must. Landlords can use schedules of dilapidations to demand...
Gather in folks, who’s ready for a story? Today, rather than tell you about an aspect of surveying, we thought we would share a...
Did you know that before we write a single word of your RICS Level 3 survey, the document already contains over 5,000 words of...
If you work in the construction industry, you must understand the tendering process. It’s a critical part of making sure you’re getting the best...
As surveyors, we often get enquiries from building owners saying, ‘I need a party wall agreement, can you help?’ The answer to that is...
There’s something that’s been on our mind a lot lately. Why is it that so many industries have been evolving at such a rapid...
Unfortunately, one of the most common issues we see in the construction industry today is disputes over building work. Disagreements between the different parties...
You’re planning a building project, and it’s all going well. Or maybe your neighbour is sharing their extension plans with you, and you’re happily...
If you’re a landlord or a tenant in a commercial lease arrangement, then the chances are you’ll need to deal with dilapidations. This is...
Is your business about to enter into a new commercial lease? Let us ask you a question. Do you actually understand what your lease...
Renovations can be incredibly exciting projects. You get to take your home (or business property) and transform it into something new, adding value and...
Are you thinking about a commercial property? Or maybe you’re already in the middle of negotiations and feeling a bit lost in the terminology....
Before we built houses out of bricks and mortar, we built them out of timber. In fact, we still do! Timber frame buildings have...
Producing a home survey isn’t an easy task for a surveyor. It takes a lot of knowledge and skill, not to mention experience and...
If you’re looking to buy a new property in Southampton, it’s really important that you fully understand what you’re buying. And make sure you’re...
Are you buying your first property? Does it feel like you don’t really know what happens next, or what you’re supposed to do? Maybe...
Whether you’re a regular developer, investor or consultant stepping into the space, there are a lot of things to get your head around in...
Picture this. You’re a business owner looking to take on a new premises in London. You’ve done your research – you know how much...
When a new site is being developed, there are a lot of plates to keep spinning. While all of them are important, there is...
People often describe buying a home as the biggest purchase you’ll ever make in your life. So, it’s not surprising that many buyers are...
Properties are a significant investment – probably the biggest you’ll make. And unlike other investments, they also offer the opportunity to increase their value...
Let’s say you’re renovating a property. Maybe you own the home, manage the building, or you just bought it to fix it up. You,...
Whether you’re building an extension, converting your loft or doing structural alterations, you need to understand your obligations under the Party Wall etc Act...
Unexpected repairs. Costly downtime. Safety concerns. If you’re a property owner or manager, these are very familiar headaches for you! Luckily, there’s a simple...
Adding an outbuilding to your property can be a great way to add extra space, and get some extra functionality too. Especially when more...
When you’re about to buy a home, one of the big things you need to do is look for a surveyor. It’s easy to...
As Chartered Building Surveyors, we often see firsthand just how much fire safety regulations impact homes and businesses, and we want to share that...
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...
It’s a homeowner’s worst nightmare. You look at your walls one day and see cracks that weren’t there before. You tell yourself it’s the...
Buying a house can be a very expensive process. Most people need to save up a large amount for a deposit, and on top...
You’ve put an offer in on a flat, and you’ve just got the call to say it was accepted. Yay! Celebrations all round. You’ve...
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...