Guides, Advice and Tips from Chartered Surveyors

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.

How to Respond to a Schedule of Dilapidations as a Tenant

Congratulations! You’ve reached a level of success as a business owner that means you need to take on new premises and say goodbye to where you are now. During the whole process, a fat envelope drops onto your desk containing a schedule of dilapidations. You’re not surprised by it, but when you open it to […]

Top 5 Mistakes Commercial Tenants Make When Facing a Dilapidations Claim

Your business has grown. You are expanding into a new space, excited about fresh opportunities, new clients, and that first day in a bigger office. You are also juggling the financial pressure of deposits, fit-out costs, and moving logistics. Then, through the letterbox, comes a thick envelope. Inside is a document full of technical jargon, […]

Roof Cleaning in the UK: What Homeowners Need to Know

If you look up at your roof and see it covered in moss, lichen or generally a bit stained, then you might be considering having it cleaned. While a clean roof can look better and help with maintenance, using the wrong method can cause serious and expensive damage. So before you call anyone, make sure […]

How Homeowners Can Avoid Rogue Traders (A Building Surveyor’s Perspective)

As building surveyors working in the UK, our experts have inspected thousands of homes over the years. Some only have minor defects, and some have serious structural problems, but one of the more common and expensive issues we see isn’t caused by age, or by weather. It’s caused by rogue traders. People or companies who […]

When Is Statutory Testing Valid in a Dilapidations Claim?

Recently we dealt with a dilapidations claim that included over £10,000 for statutory testing in a warehouse. If this was your claim, would you be paying it? Or would you ask a specialist dilapidations surveyor for advice? Most people would ask for help, not least because statutory testing can’t always be used as a valid […]

External Wall Insulation: What Went Wrong and What Homeowners Need to Know

Did you know that there has been a lot of controversy around external wall insulation over the last few years? Millions of pounds spent, and on paper for great reasons – lower bills, warmer homes, and fewer carbon emissions. But in reality, it’s been a much more complicated journey, and one many people aren’t all […]

Selling Your House? What to Expect From a Building Survey

If you’re selling a property in the UK, the news that your buyer is getting a building survey done can feel a bit worrying. Why are they getting it done? Will it uncover problems you didn’t know about? Will the sale fall through? What will the surveyor do anyway? It can all cause a great […]

HMO Conversions and the Party Wall Act

Converting a standard house into a HMO can be a touchy subject. Developers see it as a lucrative opportunity, while neighbours often see them as a nightmare they’d rather not deal with. So it’s not surprising that, when party wall notices get served, tensions really start to show. At Harrison Clarke our surveyors have worked […]

What’s Actually Included in a Level 2 Survey?

If you’re about to make an offer on a property you think might be your dream home, you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t turn out to be a nightmare once you move in. You’ll want to know what sort of condition the property is really in, rather than just what was presented to you […]

How Surveyors Help Resolve Property Line Disputes

There are a lot of reasons for disputes between neighbours. But the one of the most common sources of neighbour conflict in the UK is boundary disputes. From garden fences to driveways and extensions, disagreements over where one property ends and other begins can quickly become stressful, expensive and emotionally charged. But why is that, […]

How Photographic Schedules of Condition Protect You

When construction work happens near a shared or neighbouring wall, everyone worries about damage. It’s perfectly natural. No one wants damage to happen, and many people want some form of security or protection in place before work starts. That’s where a photographic schedule of condition comes in. In this blog, we’re going to look into […]

Crane Oversail Licences: An Essential Guide

Construction projects in built-up areas often require cranes to oversail neighbouring land due to limited space on-site. In these situations, it is often necessary for a tower crane or mobile crane to pass over neighbouring land in order to carry out the works safely and efficiently. You cannot oversail without the adjoining owner’s consent, which […]