Browse through our blog posts for the latest industry news, discover more about surveying, Chartered Surveying guides and find out what the Harrison Clarke team have been up to.
Let’s dive into the world of Building Regulations! If you work in any of these areas – construction, design, or building control. You’ll know first hand how important it is to keep up with these documents. This blog gives a simple overview of Approved Documents A-T, along with the often forgotten Regulation 7, and I […]
A lot of people think of buildings as a fixed, unchanging object that can last forever, never deteriorating as long as it’s in use. But when you own a building (or work as a building surveyor), you find that’s not quite the case. Buildings do, in fact, degrade over time, and with use. And if […]
Expert Witnesses play a crucial role in civil litigation in England and Wales by providing specialised, independent opinions to assist the court in understanding complex issues. Their use is strictly regulated under Part 35 of the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR35), to ensure fairness and objectivity. CPR35 sets strict guidelines that govern how expert evidence is […]
You’ve worked hard to save for a deposit, made sure your annual income is sufficient to satisfy a lender, and you’re ready to buy a property. Now you have to deal with a load of professionals you’ve never talked to before in your life. The solicitor wants to know your date of birth, your current […]
If you own a building, you will need to insure it. That’s just part and parcel of ownership unfortunately. And it means that your insurance company will want to know the value of the risk they’re insuring, so that they know what they might be expected to pay out if you claim. With some things […]
Trees do not always cause subsidence. In many cases, damaged drains, leaking pipes, or poor ground conditions are more likely to be responsible. Trees are often blamed when they are simply responding to existing moisture problems in the soil. Cracks appear. Someone mentions “subsidence”. Before long, a perfectly healthy tree is being blamed, and sometimes […]
Why Do Red Flags Appear in a Home Survey Report? You have found your dream home and had an offer accepted. The legal process is moving forward smoothly, the completion date is set, and everything seems on track until your survey report arrives covered in red flags. Those red condition ratings can be worrying, but […]
Moving home is something most people only do a handful of times in their lives, so it is entirely understandable that vendors can feel anxious about the process. One of the most common concerns is the buyer’s surveyor visiting the property and whether that inspection might affect the sale. In reality, the way a property […]
When people begin looking for a building surveyor, one of the first things they notice is that fees vary widely. Two surveyors might offer what appears to be the same service but at very different prices. For many clients, this creates uncertainty about what they are actually paying for and whether a higher or lower […]
Every property, whether newly built or more traditional, will show defects at some point in its life. Some are minor and cosmetic, while others signal deeper problems with structure, materials or moisture. Understanding why defects occur is the first step in managing them properly. Weather, structural movement, temperature changes, and daily use constantly wear down […]
First-time buyers often find leasehold ownership confusing, especially when they are familiar with freehold homes. With a leasehold property, you own the flat or unit inside the building, but you do not own the land it sits on. A freeholder owns the land and communal areas. This structure creates a shared responsibility between everyone who […]
Many landlords only begin thinking about dilapidations when a tenant is close to leaving. By that point, time is tight, opportunities have been missed, and misunderstandings are far more likely. Preparing early gives landlords a clear view of the property’s condition, the tenant’s obligations, and the steps needed to protect the long term value of […]
