Latest blog posts

I’ve had to prepare a couple of valuations recently for owners that wanted to either buy or sell a roof space.The most common scenario is where a property has been converted but the roof space, or part of it, has been retained by the freeholder; often for the purpose of housing cold water storage tanks serving the flats below. As the flats ... Read more >>

3 Chartered Surveyors were set a challenge by their boss to increase fee income in the year ahead by 10%.The building surveyor spent time networking with solicitors and estate agents to generate recommendations and worked an extra half an hour each day. The valuation surveyor managed to get on to a couple of new lender panels and spent ... Read more >>

Following a public consultation and weeks of political wrangling temporary changes to the Permitted Development rules came in to force on 30th May 2013.Until 30th May 2016 homeowners have the right to build larger (i.e. deeper) single-storey rear extensions without having to apply for planning permission. The size limits will double from 4 ... Read more >>

You’ve probably read newspaper articles about warring neighbours who’ve spent tens of thousands of pounds going to court over a 6 inch strip of land.  Until now boundary disputes have been dealt with by the courts and the lack of a statutory framework means that costs often escalate to level well in excess of the value of the land that is ... Read more >>

The Subterranean Development Bill was originally an amendment to the Localism Bill sponsored by Lord Selsdon and drafted by members of the Pyramus & Thisbe Club.The driving force behind the bill appears to be resident associations in affluent areas of London such as Belgravia and Highgate where many members of the House of Lords have ... Read more >>

Many adjoining owners wrongly assume that a potential injury to their light is a matter that should be discussed by the appointed surveyors.I say ‘wrongly’ because Section 9 of The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 makes it clear that nothing in the Act shall ‘authorise any interference with an easement of light or other easements in or relating ... Read more >>

This is a guest post by our colleagues at Darlington Solicitors.As solicitors, we know that it’s hard enough for any business or individual to keep up with legal developments, but it’s also important to recognise the legal principle that ignorance of the law is no defence.The fact is that in statutory areas like the Party Wall etc. Act ... Read more >>

Some of the terminology around The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is confusing to the layperson so we thought it would be a good idea to draw them all together in this glossary. If there is anything that you think is missing drop us a line and we’ll update.The ‘Act’ The Party Wall etc. Act 1996.Owner  Defined by the Act as ... Read more >>

I recently received an email from an owner who wanted me to look at a party wall award he’d recently received from his appointed surveyor and tell him what my fee would be for producing an identical document.Now, assuming that he was not enquiring about photocopying services the request made no sense but being the curious type I dug a bit ... Read more >>

In the first half of this post I looked at how Section 12 of the Act, relating to Security for Expenses, is administered. I explained how such a request is made and the logistics of setting up a fund.In this final part I will look at when it is appropriate to make a request and how the level of security should be determined.The purpose of ... Read more >>