Latest blog posts

With house prices in some areas of London having risen 10-fold over the last 20 years it is becoming increasingly more difficult for young people to get their foot on the property ladder. Initiatives that have increased in popularity since they were first introduced in 2013 are the Help to Buy and Shared Ownership schemes. The Help to Buy ... Read more >>

Leasehold properties: What you need to know before you purchase Written By Matthew Price of Peter Barry Surveyors & Matthew Barrett of Thirsk Winton LLP There are many things to consider when deciding whether to purchase leasehold property. Such properties are, by necessity, burdened by greater legal and valuation complexities and it ... Read more >>

Despite evidence of falling values in some areas on London, house prices in the capital remain amongst the most expensive in the world. If Stamp Duty is factored in, £20,000 would be payable on a £600,000 zone 4 mid-terraced 3 bedroom house, it is no surprise that many people choose to extend their property rather than move. This post ... Read more >>

In recent months we have, on more than one occasion, been asked to undertake reviews of valuations undertaken by other valuers following concerns raised by the clients as to their accuracy. In these circumstances it’s not unusual to find that the valuation under scrutiny leaves something to be desired. It is also not unusual to find that the ... Read more >>

Registered charities must obtain an RICS Red Book valuation from a suitably qualified Chartered Surveyor before entering into a transaction for disposal. This includes selling, letting and also the granting of new rights.  Sections 117 to 121 of the Charities Act 2011 outline the procedure that ensures the disposal is on the best terms reasonably ... Read more >>

Licenses covering access over adjoining owners' properties, whether they be for a scaffold, hoarding or crane over sail will include a number of common clauses relating to the principle of access with further clauses specific to the purpose of the access. A typical Licence should contain clauses relating to the following: The duration of ... Read more >>

Where access requires the express consent of an adjoining owner, such as to erect scaffolding and a hoarding as part of a demolition programme, there are no statutory timescales but there are many benefits to an early approach. In some cases, the scheme is simply not viable without access so if there’s an adjoining owner who will not allow it ... Read more >>