Building Surveys and Health & Safety Compliance
When people think about building surveys, they often imagine a report focused on walls, roofs, and cracks. But a good building survey does far more than that. It plays a vital role in helping property owners, landlords, and businesses meet their health and safety obligations. Failing to understand how a building performs is not just […]
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. https://youtu.be/DY929GTGr-E […]
Why Get Professional Advice Before Starting Building Work
You’ve got a vision for your dream extension. Maybe it’s opening up your kitchen into the garden. Maybe it’s turning your loft into a new bedroom. You’ve planned it for months, saved the money, and even found a builder you trust. The excitement builds — until someone mentions planning permission, party wall notices, or build […]
What Type of Surveyor Is Right for Me?
If you’ve ever searched online for a surveyor, you’ll know how confusing it can be. One site talksabout valuations. Another talks about building surveys. Others mention party walls, development advice, or project management. At first glance, it can feel like every surveyor does something different — and, in truth, they do. Surveying is a broad […]
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Construction: What It Means and Why It Matters
Disputes in construction aren’t new. Before the 1990s, if two parties fell out over delays, payments, design changes or anything really that could be discussed and agreed, there were only two real options — go to court or head into arbitration. Both were expensive, time-consuming, and adversarial. Projects stalled. Cash flow dried up. Relationships broke […]
Consent or Dissent: What Happens After a Party Wall Notice?
When building work could affect a shared wall or a neighbour’s property, the law requires the building owner to serve a party wall notice. This formal document gives the neighbour a chance to agree or disagree with the proposed work, and their response determines what happens next. Whether they consent, dissent and use an agreed […]
Contingencies in Construction Projects
Every construction project starts with optimism. The plans look solid, the numbers add up, and the programme feels achievable. But somewhere between breaking ground and completion, something always shifts. Ground conditions surprise you. Regulations change. Prices move. That’s why every well-run project needs one thing above all else — a contingency. What Is a Contingency […]
Guide to Buying Victorian and Edwardian Homes
Buying a Victorian or Edwardian home can feel like stepping into history. These properties exude charm with their high ceilings, elegant fireplaces, detailed brickwork, and solid craftsmanship that outlasts most modern buildings. But behind the period features, there can be hidden problems that are costly to fix if you do not know what to look […]
Capping Dilapidations Claims with Section 18(1)
Imagine this. You crash a Fiat Punto. The garage takes a look and tells you the repairs will cost £12,000. Naturally, you think that sounds ridiculous, because the car is only worth £800. Even if it were fixed, you’d still only have a Fiat Punto worth £800 – not a nearly-new hatchback worth £12,000. That […]
Awaab’s Law: What It Means for Social Landlords and Tenants
In 2020, a two-year-old boy named Awaab sadly died in the social housing flat he shared with his family, following long-term exposure to damp and mould. The landlord ignored repeated reports about the issue, which caused serious illness and eventually led to his death. This tragedy led to the creation of a new set of […]