Latest blog posts

We're all having to adapt to a new way of working and we've been endeavouring to keep things ticking over while observing Government guidance. Surveyors are in a slightly unusual position in that much of our work, such as report writing etc., can easily be done from home whereas property inspections obviously cannot. We've been practising ... Read more >>

Here at Peter Barry, we have been very aware of our obligations to our clients, staff and the Country given that our job involves visiting people's homes and properties. Our Managing Director Justin Burns outlined our procedures and introduced Risk Management Plans for all work types on 16th March.  By the end of that week, we were able to ... Read more >>

This time last week the UK was forging its own course of action through the COVID-19 crisis leaving many to question whether we were doing enough.  Then came Monday 16th and Boris's announcement of mass postponement of sporting events, curtailment of social gatherings and for employees to work from home. Peter Barry, along with the rest of the ... Read more >>

The Bank of England has cut its base rate from 0.75% to 0.25%. The last time there was a cut was back in 2016 but rates have been at a very low level since the financial crash of 2008. Some mortgages will get cheaper but not all: Fixed-Rate: as the name suggests, your rate cannot change during the fixed period but you can generally start ... Read more >>

Until recently it was a general rule of thumb that the owner benefiting from the works that are the subject of party wall procedures paid the surveyors' fees but a case from 2018 has highlighted a potential exception to that rule. To understand the exception it is first necessary to briefly recap the process by which surveyors are appointed. ... Read more >>

The next step in the party wall process after surveyors (or an Agreed Surveyor) have been appointed is the recording of the condition of the adjoining owner’s property; referred to as a schedule of condition. This is not part of the formal process, as in it’s not referred to anywhere within the Act, but it is routinely done and could prove ... Read more >>

Where an adjoining owner dissents to a party wall notice they have two choices; appoint a surveyor of their choice or concur with the building owner in the appointment of a single Agreed Surveyor. In terms of cost, the appointment of an agreed surveyor will generally be cheaper than having two separate surveyors (I say ‘generally’ as the ... Read more >>