LATEST BLOG POSTS
Welcome to Peter Barry’s blog posts. You’ll find a range of topics focussing on issues that are important to our clients where we try to answer the questions that we regularly get asked.
Leasehold Reform Update January 2026: What the New Ground Rent Cap Means for Leaseholders
Tuesday, 27th January 2026 | by: Peter Barry
The government has now published its draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill, signalling a major shift in the way leasehold properties in England and Wales are structured. Central to the proposals is a cap on ground rents — set at £250 per year — alongside a wider package of reforms designed to give homeowners more control and improve fairness in the system. For many leaseholders, ...
The government has now published its draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill, signalling a major shift in the way ...
Practice Changing Party Wall Case Law – Lea Valley Development Limited v Derbyshire (2017)
Saturday, 15th November 2025 | by: Peter Barry
This is part of our series on court judgments that significantly changed the way that surveyors administer the Act. The ...
High Court Upholds Leasehold Reform: Landmark Ruling Clears the Way
Wednesday, 12th November 2025 | by: Matthew Price
Here at Peter Barry, we continue to handle a significant number of lease extension and freehold enfranchisement claims each ...
November 2025 Budget and Capital Gains Tax Valuations
Friday, 31st October 2025 | by: Steve Hobbs
Over recent weeks we’ve noticed a marked increase in the number of enquiries and instructions for Capital Gains Tax (CGT) ...
Should a Party Wall Award Always be Complete?
Monday, 27th October 2025 | by: Peter Barry
Works that are the subject of a dispute under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (the ‘Act’) should not commence until they ...
Video Schedules of Condition
Friday, 26th September 2025 | by: Peter Barry
Advances in technology often affect how we carry out our work and this is particularly true for recording schedules of ...
Practice Changing Party Wall Case Law – Power & Kyson v Shah [2023]
Saturday, 23rd August 2025 | by: Peter Barry
This is part of our series on court judgements that significantly changed the way that surveyors administer the Act. The Background The owner of 34 Bull Lane, Dagenham RM10 7HA, Mr Shah (the ‘building owner’), commenced work at his property and those works are alleged to have caused damage to the adjoining property, 36 Bull Lane. The owners of the adjoining property, Mr and Mrs ...
This is part of our series on court judgements that significantly changed the way that surveyors administer the Act. The ...
Are Foundations Getting Deeper? A Look at Modern Building Practice and Party Wall Implications
Monday, 28th July 2025 | by: Matthew Price
At Peter Barry Surveyors, we have to consider how the foundations of a client's kitchen extension interact with neighbouring ...
What the Public Really Thinks of Surveyors
Tuesday, 22nd July 2025 | by: Peter Barry
I recently stumbled across a discussion on social media about a man who bought a house in Melbourne and only found out that ...
License to Alter options for Share of Freeholders
Wednesday, 25th June 2025 | by: Matthew Price
At Peter Barry Surveyors, we regularly hear from flat owners looking to carry out works at their property—typically ...
