Commercial Surveys in London – Don’t Sign a Lease Without One
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 rent you can afford, what the rates bill will be, and the service charge. You know how much you’ll be spending on gas, electricity, and even how much you’ll be paying […]
Technical Due Diligence for Site Acquisition
When a new site is being developed, there are a lot of plates to keep spinning. While all of them are important, there is a critical part of the process that often doesn’t get the spotlight it deserves. It happens right at the start, during the site acquisition process, and it’s called technical due diligence. […]
Do I Really Need A Homebuyer’s Survey?
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 looking for ways to save money! There are a few ways you can do that when buying a property. For example, you could go directly to your bank for a mortgage, […]
The Difference Between Planning Permission & Building Control
Properties are a significant investment – probably the biggest you’ll make. And unlike other investments, they also offer the opportunity to increase their value by improving or expanding them. You can make internal improvements and improve the space. You can transform unused spaces by adding extensions or adjusting the internal layout. But if you don’t […]
What to Do If You Find Asbestos During Renovation (UK Guide)
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, or a contractor, are ready to work. You pull back a ceiling tile or start stripping out some walls, and you hear a question that no one really wants to hear; […]
How to Avoid Party Wall Issues During Building Work
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 1996. It’s one of those areas that can quietly derail your project if you’re not properly prepared. A lot of homeowners don’t realise just how long the party wall process can […]
Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM): Why It Matters
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 solution to all of them: a planned preventative maintenance survey, also known as a PPM survey. Today, we’ll be diving into what they are, why you need them, and how they […]
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 […]
The Most Overlooked Aspects of Building Survey Reports
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 be swayed by flashy marketing and low prices, thinking you’re getting a great deal. Unfortunately, , we see purchasers being burnt time and time again by poor quality and frankly inadequate […]
Fire Safety in Buildings – A Surveyor’s Perspective
As Chartered Building Surveyors, we often see firsthand just how much fire safety regulations impact homes and businesses, and we want to share that knowledge with you. From the history of fire safety in the UK and recent updates to regulations. As well as what you as a homeowner or a business owner need to […]