Latest blog posts

The roof is one of the most important parts of a building. It is responsible for protecting the structure beneath from weather, and its failure can have a serious effect on other elements of the building. The roof structure is responsible for supporting the weather-tight roof covering, and distributing its loads (which tend to be considerable) to ... Read more >>

Notices Once you have received a copy of your report you will need to pass a copy to your solicitor who will use our best case figure to serve a formal Notice. Technically this is a Section 42 for lease extensions and a Section 13 Notice for freehold enfranchisements. Once the notice is served the freeholder has a period of 2 months to respond ... Read more >>

I thought it might be helpful to owners planning a basement extension, and indeed to those living next door to a proposed basement extension, to provide an overview of party wall procedures with the emphasis on the special characteristics of this type of work. This article could have been two or three times longer but to prevent it from ... Read more >>

We have recently completed a number of pre-purchase surveys for clients intending to buy houses of non-traditional construction. Properties of non-traditional construction can often be a source of concern for buyers and mortgage lenders alike, as some suffer defects not found in the general housing stock, and might require expensive repairs. As ... Read more >>

During the course of our inspections we regularly encounter building materials which contain or may contain asbestos fibres. Asbestos, the name of which has its origin in the Greek word ‘ásvestos’, meaning inextinguishable, is a naturally occurring rock mineral which is both fire retardant and an excellent thermal and acoustic insulator. ... Read more >>

Most surveyors and solicitors practicing in the leasehold property sector will be familiar with the rights of lessees to obtain their freehold either by way of a collective enfranchisement under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993, or (in the event of a disposal by the landlord) by electing to the collective Right of First ... Read more >>

The Government’s Help to Buy Loan Scheme has been running since April 2013 and is open to first-time buyers and home movers of new-build homes in England up to a purchase price of £600,000. The purchaser is lent up to 20% of the cost of the home leaving just a 5% deposit and a lender willing to offer a 75% mortgage. This not only means that ... Read more >>