Reinstatement Cost Assessments – The What and Why
If you’re dealing with insurance, then you might have heard the term ‘Reinstatement Cost Assessment’ thrown around. It’s yet another bit of jargon from the insurance and the conveyancing world that means a lot to us, but not too much to our clients. But at Harrison Clarke we believe in transparency, and spend a lot […]
What Is An Expert Witness?
Disputes happen. In our industry, it’s usually about the quality of construction works, payments due under building contracts, dilapidations or claims of professional negligence. If legal action is taken to resolve the dispute, then you can ask to submit expert evidence to assist in a judgment. You have to ask permission to do this, but […]
An Introduction to Access Licences
Unfortunately, carrying out construction works on your property isn’t always as simple as it sounds. You may be aware that you could need planning permission to make changes to your property, but you might not realise that you sometimes need agreement with your neighbours too, particularly if you need to access your neighbour’s land to […]
Identifying Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete
RAAC is the much shorter way of saying Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete. RAAC has been making headlines in the last 6 months. But why? What’s so bad about it? And more importantly for people looking after public sector buildings, how do you identify it? What Is RAAC? RAAC was a commonly used building material in […]
Why is my Landlord Claiming Dilapidations?
“The property is in better condition than when I took it on!” This is a phrase we hear all the time from commercial tenants, in disbelief that their landlord is asking them to pay money to repair or refurbish a property when they leave – especially if the property is in better condition than it […]
When Is A Party Wall Not A Party Wall?
Party walls are a very confusing area of property law, and it’s probably one of the most common areas we get questions about. Both building owners and adjoining owners tend to be unsure about what a party wall is and when the party wall act applies. So in this article, we explain exactly what a […]
Spray Foam Insulation Open or Closed Cell?
Every property needs insulation. It’s what keeps our homes so warm and toasty even through the harsh bite of English winters, and it’s an important part of the building process. But while having insulation itself is a legal requirement, the type of insulation is up to the builder to choose. In this article we’re going […]
First Time Buyers, Listen Up!
Buying your first home is one of the most exciting things you can ever do. But it can also be a very confusing, expensive and sometimes terrifying experience. There’s a lot of jargon to deal with, and the whole process can seem a lot more complex than it needs to be. There can even be […]
What Is A House Survey?
Houses are incredibly complicated things. Much more than just bricks and mortar, they incorporate thousands of different parts and take dozens of tradespeople hundreds of hours to put together. There’s a lot that can go wrong, and sometimes that isn’t obvious until a lot further down the line. On top of that, older houses accumulate a lot of wear and tear over the years. If you’re looking to buy a house, you’ve probably heard that you should have a house survey done – but why?
Security for Expenses and Party Wall
At Harrison Clarke, our team of specialist party wall surveyors are often asked for advice around security for expenses, and how this relates to the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Under Section 12 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, adjoining owners can request that the building owner provides security prior to commencing their notifiable […]