Latest Blog Posts

Case Study - How Using a Professional can save you Money

Wednesday, 26th October 2011

Categories: Case Studies Leasehold Valuations Surveying
We’ve written quite a few posts over the last few months on how the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 works in principle, so we thought it was probably about time to look at a ‘Real World’ example and show how you can benefit from taking professional advice at an early stage...

The Surveying Team

Reach for the Sky? - Your Loft Conversion Guide

Friday, 21st October 2011

Categories: Surveying
What do you do these days if you live in London and need additional space?...One possible, and increasingly popular solution, is to extend upwards with a loft conversion...

The Surveying Team

An Overview of Section 12 of the PWA – Part 2

Thursday, 29th September 2011

Categories: Party Walls Surveying
In the first half of this post I looked at how Section 12 of the Act, relating to Security for Expenses, is administered. I explained how such a request is made and the logistics of setting up a fund. In this final part I will look at when it is appropriate to make a request and how the level of security should be determined...

Justin Burns

Case Study – Party Wall Award as Agreed Surveyor

Thursday, 22nd September 2011

Categories: Case Studies Party Walls Surveying
The Adjoining Owner to the side where the extension was to be constructed had themselves built a rear extension in recent years which included a party wall i.e. a wall built astride the boundary. Being a party wall it was available for the Building Owner’s use...

Justin Burns

Don't be Left Holding the Baby - Section 12 of The PWA

Friday, 16th September 2011

Categories: Party Walls Surveying
The Party Wall Act grants wide ranging rights to Building Owners, for example, an Adjoining Owner can be happily going about his business when a notice drops on the doormat informing him that in 2 months time his neighbour will demolish the wall that divides their properties; whether he likes it or not.

Justin Burns

Party Wall Questions #13

Saturday, 3rd September 2011

Categories: Party Wall Questions Party Walls Surveying
A pair of semi-detached houses have each been converted in to flats. The flats are each held on long leases with the Freeholds owned by investment companies. The owner of one of the top floor flats proposes to convert their roof space - the work requires 3 beams to be cut in to the party wall. Which Owners should be served with a notice?

Justin Burns

Party Wall Questions #12

Saturday, 3rd September 2011

Categories: Party Wall Questions Party Walls Surveying
Question Does the Adjoining Owner’s surveyor a) Have any responsibility to ensure that the design of the notified works is adequate? b) Have any power to insist that structural calculations etc. are checked by an engineer acting for the Adjoining Owner and that the Building Owner pays the cost of that engineer's fees?

Justin Burns

Party Wall Questions #11

Saturday, 3rd September 2011

Categories: Party Wall Questions Party Walls Surveying
In light of Kaye v Lawrence can the panel give some examples of the types of work to a residential property that would constitute a reasonable request for Security for Expenses in accordance with Section 12 of the Act?

Justin Burns

Party Wall Questions #10

Saturday, 3rd September 2011

Categories: Party Wall Questions Party Walls Surveying
A Building Owner’s basement conversion works damage the party wall to such an extent that the remedy is partial re-building. The Adjoining Owner elects to receive a payment in lieu of the repair as they don’t trust the Building Owner’s contractor to undertake the works. Prior to carrying out the repair does the Adjoining Owner (now Building Owner) need to serve notice on the Building Owner (now Adjoining Owner)?

Justin Burns

Party Wall Questions #9

Wednesday, 31st August 2011

Categories: Party Wall Questions Party Walls Surveying
If a Building Owner appoints a surveyor on behalf of an Adjoining Owner in accordance with Section 10(4) can that surveyor give consent for special foundations on behalf of the Adjoining Owner (or can they if it is in the best interests of both buildings)?

Justin Burns

Essential Guide to Property Surveys

Tuesday, 30th August 2011

Categories: Surveying
Chartered Surveyors can carry out several different types of surveys to residential properties. The purpose of this article is to give an insight into the different types of reports that are available and the circumstances in which one type of report may be more suitable than another...

The Surveying Team

Party Wall Questions #8

Thursday, 25th August 2011

Categories: Party Wall Questions Party Walls Surveying
An Adjoining Owner is served with a notice just days before they are due to exchange contracts on the sale of their property. Do they have a duty to make the incoming Owner aware of the notice and if they consent is the incoming Owner bound by that consent?

Justin Burns

Wind Turbines – A Blow’ming good idea?

Tuesday, 23rd August 2011

Categories: Surveying
Although one might assume wind turbines to be a relatively new technology, they are actually based on a simple and historic design with evidence indicating that they were used as early as 1,000 BC...

Bradley MacKenzie MSc MFPWS

Party Wall Questions #7

Wednesday, 17th August 2011

Categories: Party Wall Questions Party Walls Surveying
The Government Explanatory Booklet lists certain jobs as being so minor they do not warrant the serving of a notice...Which of the following works would you put in the same category?

Justin Burns

Alternative Heating Solutions – Is it time you got Wood?

Wednesday, 3rd August 2011

Categories: Surveying
When thinking of heating and hot water in a domestic situation, generally speaking two options tend to spring to mind, electric and gas. However, despite not being familiar to most consumers there are alternatives on the market...

Bradley MacKenzie MSc MFPWS

Rainwater Management Systems – Taking Advantage of the Weather

Thursday, 21st July 2011

Categories: Surveying
The United Nations considers the supply of water to be a major ongoing issue for the 21st Century. With global temperatures and the size of the population both on the increase it will become progressively more expensive to meet demand; costs are likely to rise and in extreme case rationing may be necessary.

Bradley MacKenzie MSc MFPWS

Freehold Enfranchisement

Thursday, 14th July 2011

Categories: Surveying
The vast majority of flats in England and Wales are held on long leases, but many lessees will have the right to acquire the freehold interest in the building that contains their flat...

The Surveying Team

Found your Perfect Property? – The Hidden Dangers you may have Missed!!

Friday, 17th June 2011

Categories: Sales Surveying
In the comparatively few visits you may make to the property you are about to purchase there may appear little in the way of work or defects to deal with, especially when it has been newly refurbished. The following blog details somewhat typical examples of what you may have missed...

Matthew Price

Space Travel Within the Building Sector

Friday, 10th June 2011

Categories: Surveying
Solar panels (photovoltaic panels) are used by millions of homeowners worldwide, allowing them to generate their own electricity...however, the technology was never designed for use within a domestic setting, nor a building setting for that matter.

Bradley MacKenzie MSc MFPWS

Building Defects - Dampness Part 1

Tuesday, 7th June 2011

Categories: Surveying
When we carry out either a Building Survey or a Homebuyer Report one of the first things that the client usually wants to know is whether or not there is any dampness in the property. The inspection of the property will focus quite heavily on this particular aspect...

The Surveying Team

When Insulating Inside the Box, Try Thinking Outside the Box!

Friday, 20th May 2011

Categories: Surveying
If you’re planning a loft conversion, rear or side extension or perhaps just want an easy way to save a bit a money and keep your home warmer, insulation will no doubt be something that you would have given thought to...

Bradley MacKenzie MSc MFPWS

The Leasehold Reform Act - The Concept of New for Old

Thursday, 31st March 2011

Categories: Leasehold Valuations Surveying
Many insurance companies offer ‘New for Old’ policies. The Leasehold Reform Act is similar; you can get a new lease in exchange for your old one, but, as usual, there is a price to be paid.

The Surveying Team

The Dangers of Asbestos

Tuesday, 29th March 2011

Categories: Surveying
On a recent Full Building Survey of a 1930’s semi detached house, we discovered that the garage roof covering consisted of asbestos tiles. The garage itself was in a poor state of repair and the client had already informed us that if the sale went through she would be demolishing it.

Bradley MacKenzie MSc MFPWS

Property Defects - Fireplaces, Chimney Breasts and Flues.

Monday, 28th March 2011

Categories: Surveying
Some time ago we wrote a post on chimney stacks, highlighting some of the common defects that we find when carrying out Building Surveys and Homebuyer Reports. We thought it was about time we dealt with the other end of the operation and talked about the fireplaces, flues and chimney breasts inside the building and how these are connected to the chimney stack above roof level.

The Surveying Team

Party Wall Questions #6

Thursday, 17th March 2011

Categories: Party Wall Questions Party Walls Surveying
A leasehold owner of a ground floor flat proposes to underpin the rear external walls (not party walls) of their property. What notice(s) should be served on the Freeholder and the leaseholder of the flat above and what part(s) of the Act apply?

Justin Burns

Party Wall Questions #5

Tuesday, 15th March 2011

Categories: Party Wall Questions Party Walls Surveying
What factors should a Surveyor consider when setting the hourly rate to use when calculating expenses for Adjoining Owner appointments? When a proposed fee appears excessive should a Building Owners’ surveyor ask the Adjoining Owner’s surveyor to justify their hourly rate as well as the number of hours on their time sheet?

Justin Burns

Leasehold Valuation Calculations - 2 Worked Examples

Saturday, 12th March 2011

Categories: Leasehold Valuations Surveying
We’ve looked at the various elements that have to be taken into account in calculating the premium that the lessee will have to pay to the freeholder and we thought that it was about time that we now looked at a worked example of a typical case.

The Surveying Team

Party Wall Questions #4

Saturday, 12th March 2011

Categories: Party Wall Questions Party Walls Surveying
I recently arranged to meet a Building Owner’s surveyor on site to prepare a schedule of condition only to find that the foundations to the proposed rear extension had already been excavated and cast. In light of recent case law were we within our rights to produce an Award authorising the excavation work retrospectively.

Justin Burns

How to Calculate the Diminution in Value of the Freeholder’s Interest

Tuesday, 15th February 2011

Categories: Leasehold Valuations Surveying
Generally there will be two elements to take into account. This will be the loss of the income from the ground rent and the loss of the potential reversion at the end of the original lease term.

The Surveying Team

Plus ça change

Wednesday, 9th February 2011

Categories: Surveying
We wrote a few weeks ago about how things haven’t changed that much in the residential property field in the last few decades. Just recently we carried out surveys of two flats in London which illustrate this point quite dramatically.

The Surveying Team

Party Wall Questions #3

Tuesday, 1st February 2011

Categories: Party Wall Questions Party Walls Surveying
Can a Building Owner cast a new mass concrete foundation above and alongside the projecting concrete foundation to an existing party wall and connect the two foundations with a dowel (known as ‘overpinning’) without serving notice?

Justin Burns

Party Wall Questions #2

Wednesday, 26th January 2011

Categories: Party Wall Questions Party Walls Surveying
An Owner of a terraced house wishes to convert his original first floor balcony to an additional room. The balcony is built against an original party wall which is enclosed on the Adjoining Owner’s side - the balconies were built on the same side of each house in the terrace. Would Section 11(11) expenses be payable to the Adjoining Owner?

Justin Burns

Party Wall Questions #1

Saturday, 22nd January 2011

Categories: Party Wall Questions Party Walls Surveying
An Owner plans to add an additional floor to the back addition of his late Victorian terraced house by raising a studwork wall against the existing party parapet wall – does he have a right of access on to the roof of the Adjoining Owner’s property to apply hanging tiles/flashings?

Justin Burns

Property Defects - Chimneys and Flues

Saturday, 22nd January 2011

Categories: Surveying
When carrying out a building survey we usually start by looking at the exterior of the building and work my way down from the top to the bottom of the structure. One of the first things that we usually see are the chimney stacks.

The Surveying Team

How Marriage Value is Calculated

Wednesday, 19th January 2011

Categories: Leasehold Valuations Surveying
We will concentrate in this post on explaining how the landlord’s share of the marriage value is calculated and leave the other areas for a later post.

The Surveying Team

What is Marriage Value?

Tuesday, 11th January 2011

Categories: Leasehold Valuations Surveying
Marriage Value may be described as ‘the additional value generated when an enfranchising leaseholder owns both the leasehold and freehold estates.

The Surveying Team

Diary of an APC candidate - Part 3

Sunday, 19th December 2010

Categories: Surveying
What was a little unusual about this particular property was the style in which it had been built, in terms of design it was as far from conventional as it could be, the footprint of the property was essentially a figure eight, with the main living quarters divided between the two circles. The property was also built partially below ground whereby the kitchen and reception rooms were situated on the lower levels.

Bradley MacKenzie MSc MFPWS

Diary of an APC candidate: The Story So Far

Tuesday, 30th November 2010

Categories: Party Walls Surveying
During the first 6 months of my APC the 'hands on' experience that I have gained has been broadly split between 2 areas of work; Party Wall Matters and Pre Purchase Surveys.

Bradley MacKenzie MSc MFPWS

Leasehold Reform

Friday, 26th November 2010

Categories: Leasehold Valuations Surveying
We get quite a few enquiries each week on the subject of Leasehold Reform. The conversion often starts as follows:- ‘I’m thinking about extending the lease on my flat….can you tell me how much it will cost and how do I go about it?

Ian Burden

Some Things Never Change

Wednesday, 24th November 2010

Categories: Surveying
I have been working as a Building Surveyor in London and the South East since 1972 and much of this time has been spent carrying out surveys and valuations of residential property.

Ian Burden

Diary of an APC Candidate – Bradley Mackenzie

Thursday, 11th November 2010

Categories: Surveying
I joined Peter Barry Surveyors in June this year following the completion of a Masters degree in Real Estate Development at the University of Westminster.

Bradley MacKenzie MSc MFPWS

Using the Party Wall Act to Delay a Neighbour's Works

Wednesday, 27th October 2010

Categories: Party Walls Surveying
I received an email earlier this week from a lady who was concerned that her neighbour was going to use The Party Wall Act to delay the building of her rear extension.

Justin Burns

The HMO Trap

Monday, 11th October 2010

Categories: Lettings Property Prices Surveying
One of the more minor changes that the new coalition Government have made is to partially reverse one of the Labour Government’s final pieces of housing legislature; a requirement for landlords to submit a planning application if they change the use of a property from a single-household home to a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

Justin Burns

Leaseholders and The Party Wall Act

Wednesday, 21st July 2010

Categories: Party Walls Surveying
Complying with the Party Wall Act can get really expensive if the adjoining properties are converted flats

Justin Burns

When is an Interim Injunction Justified to Stop Work to a Party Wall?

Thursday, 15th July 2010

Categories: Party Walls Surveying
It’s always difficult to advise people who call us up when a neighbour has started work which comes within the scope of the Party Wall Act but have not served the required notice.

Justin Burns

Flat Roof Coverings - Top 5 Defects

Friday, 2nd July 2010

Categories: Surveying
Poor workmanship - Installing flat roof coverings, be they felt, asphalt or sheet metal is a specialised job. Many of the problems associated with felt coverings to flat roofs stem from poor workmanship. DIY felt jobs are the biggest culprit and are simply storing up problems for the future.

Justin Burns

Pitched Roof Coverings - Top 5 Defects

Saturday, 29th May 2010

Categories: Surveying
Roof Spread - It was common throughout the 1970s & 80s for dilapidated slate roofs to be replaced with heavy interlocking concrete tiles. Large concrete tiles weigh considerably more than slates and unless additional supports are provided the rafters will bend under the weight and in extreme cases place additional pressure of the tops of the walls in a defect referred to by surveyors as ‘roof spread’.

Justin Burns

Why You Shouldn't Attend Your Survey

Sunday, 25th April 2010

Categories: Surveying
I'm asked by clients quite regularly if they can 'drop by' towards the end of a survey inspection to get a ‘quick run down’ - I always politely refuse. I have lost instructions in the past for taking this stance but the more surveys I do the more sure I am that it is correct.

Justin Burns

When Were Your Electrics Last Tested?

Monday, 15th March 2010

Categories: Selling Tips Surveying
I last wrote about the New RICS Homebuyer Report on the blog back in July last year. It becomes mandatory at the end of this month after which Chartered Surveyors will no longer be permitted to produce the old style printed version.

Justin Burns

The Condensation Season

Monday, 25th January 2010

Categories: Surveying
Being smack bang in the middle of the condensation season I thought it would be a good time to take an overview of what can be one of the most difficult of building defects to resolve.

Justin Burns

Property Defects caused by the Big Freeze

Saturday, 23rd January 2010

Categories: Surveying
Now that the ice has melted on the area’s roads you will have noticed the massive increase in the number of potholes. The problem is caused by water entering through minor defects in the surface of the tarmac, expanding as it freezes and de-laminating the surface.

Justin Burns

What to do when your Neighbour Ignores The Party Wall Act

Friday, 23rd October 2009

Categories: Party Walls Surveying
We get 2 or 3 calls most weeks from people that have a neighbour that has gone ahead with work which comes within the scope of the Party Wall Act without serving notice.

Justin Burns

Flat Roof Terraces

Thursday, 10th September 2009

Categories: Sales Surveying
Flat roofs to single storey rear extensions make such ideal terraces it is surprising that you don't see more of them. The problem is of course that it's very hard to get planning consent for them. If you live in close proximity to your neighbours any sort of raised platform will overlook them and for that reason permission is normally refused.

Justin Burns

The Party Wall Act – Common Misunderstandings

Wednesday, 5th August 2009

Categories: Party Walls Surveying
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 has been with us for thirteen years but it is still clear that the public has, at best, a tenuous grip on its details. I have outlined a few of the most common misunderstandings below.

Justin Burns

The New RICS Homebuyer Report

Wednesday, 22nd July 2009

Categories: Sales Surveying
Over the last few years I have prepared several hundred RICS Homebuyer Survey & Valuation Reports for our clients. For those that don’t know the ‘Homebuyer Report is what is known as a ‘level 2’ survey; far more comprehensive than a lender’s valuation but not quite as detailed as a Full Building Survey.

Justin Burns

Open for Business as Usual

Wednesday, 17th June 2009

Categories: Lettings Sales Surveying
You may have noticed that there are a few changes occuring to our office. Our old shopfront was removed this week and the temporary hoarding is now in place.

Justin Burns

Don't Leave it Too Late to Extend Your Lease

Thursday, 4th June 2009

Categories: Leasehold Valuations Surveying
If you live in or are considering buying a leasehold property you will want to ensure that the unexpired term of the lease will not have a detrimental affect on the future marketability of the property.

Justin Burns

Selling a Property with Unregulated Changes

Thursday, 30th April 2009

Categories: Sales Selling Tips Surveying
Right at the top of the list of things that can bite you on the arse when you come to sell a property is unregulated alterations.

Justin Burns

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