LATEST BLOG POSTS: Architecture
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 ...
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 ...
Labour’s Plan for Higher Roof Extensions
Thursday, 22nd August 2024 | by: Matthew Price
The new Labour Government have revealed proposals that will encourage home owners to extend their property upwards by making ...
Types of License to Alter Enquiry
Friday, 15th March 2024 | by: Matthew Price
Here at Peter Barry Surveyors, we receive enquiries for varying types of work that will require a license to alter ranging ...
Houses of Non-Traditional Construction – Common Property Defects #6
Wednesday, 15th February 2023 | by: Steve Hobbs
Over the years, the Peter Barry team has carried out numerous pre-purchase property surveys for clients intending to buy ...
What are my options for my loft extension?
Friday, 18th June 2021 | by: Matthew Price
Of all the types of property extension the conversion of a loft space is one of the more affordable in comparison to side ...
Additional Storeys and The Party Wall Act
Sunday, 7th March 2021 | by: Peter Barry
An amendment to the General Permitted Development Order which allows property owners to add up to 2 further storeys to their property without planning consent came in to force on 30th December 2020. So does this mean we’re going to see houses all over London being extended upwards despite how incongruous such an extension may look? A scan through the conditions suggests not. The most ...
An amendment to the General Permitted Development Order which allows property owners to add up to 2 further storeys to their ...
Selling a Flat with a Short Lease
Monday, 6th July 2020 | by: Matthew Price
One of the most common reasons for leaseholders wanting to extend their leases is the need to sell. A property's value ...
Planning Permission – an on-going consideration
Wednesday, 1st January 2020 | by: Peter Barry
Soon after thoughts about carrying out some building work to a property have been formed, thoughts will often turn to ...
Guest Post – What does an Architect do?
Tuesday, 3rd December 2019 | by: Jason Harris | 2 minute read
The common stereotype is that architects ‘draw pretty pictures’ of buildings. That may be true – the presentation of ...
