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.
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 […]
When building work takes place close to a boundary, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 provides a clear framework to help neighbours manage the process fairly. At the heart of that framework is the role of the surveyor. Their job is to protect both parties and ensure the works proceed safely and lawfully. For this […]
Homeowners often face problems with building work near a boundary because they misunderstand the party wall agreement process, which clarifies and predicts construction near shared walls. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets out the rules, but when people rely on assumptions or informal conversations instead of the correct procedure, disputes can arise quickly. A […]
Dilapidations can feel complicated. B at their core they are simply the tenant’s obligations to repair, maintain, and return a commercial property in the condition required by the lease. When a tenant signs a commercial lease, they agree to look after the property in a specific way. If the tenant fails to meet those obligations. […]
Tenants often focus on dilapidations only at the end of their lease, typically in the last few weeks when time is tight and budgets are stretched. By this stage, landlords have already started preparing their schedules. Tensions increase, and tenants struggle to interpret obligations they have not reviewed for years. Preparing early removes that pressure […]
