EXPERT PROPERTY SURVEYING SERVICES THAT SPECIFICALLY CATER TO SOUTH WEST LONDON

There are some works that should be covered by the Part Wall etc. Act 1996 but are not. A good example is where work is required to a wall that is wholly on an owner’s land but is built up to the boundary with another owner. If such as wall has to be demolished or raised there’s no requirement to notify the adjoining owner but also no right of access to facilitate the work.

This was the situation on a job in Fulham where our Director Justin Burns was acting for the adjoining owner. An adjacent commercial property was being developed and the works included raising and forming a window opening in a wall that overlooked the adjoining owner’s rear garden. After checking all the information available it was clear that the wall being altered was on the developer’s side of the boundary. The problem was overcome by Justin negotiating a scaffold licence on behalf of the adjoining owner and the works were recently completed but that was totally in the gift of the adjoining owner. If he’d objected to the works and refused access the proposals would have to have been changed.

It’s just one of a growing number of issues that should be addressed if they ever get around to amending the Act.

After being recommended by a friend, a client got in touch with our team to request a Level Homebuyer survey, that was carried out by our surveyor, David Breeze. The property in question was a four-bedroom house in Croydon, CR0. The roof had clay tiles that were dated, and David advised the client to consider replacing them with a more modern material. He also observed that the gutter was blocked and recommended it be cleared to prevent overspill during heavy rain. The report also highlighted minor cracking in the external render of the main exterior walls, suggesting that repairs might be needed in the future. David had a telephone conversation with the client to speak with the client about her concerns and explain the details of the report.

In a review, the client mentioned how the service she received was reliable and described the surveyor as “straightforward.”

One of our surveyors at Peter Barry carried out an RICS Level 2 Homebuyer inspection for a client who was considering the purchase of a two-bedroom flat in West Brompton, SW10. The surveyor noted that the flat was situated above a shop and opposite a petrol station. In the report, comments were made about potential impacts of the location, such as noise pollution and poor air quality, which the client was advised to consider before proceeding with the purchase. The flat itself was in a good condition, with no signs of damp and well-functioning ventilation systems. However, the timber decking on the balcony was beginning to show signs of rot, and the surveyor recommended repairs.

The client had discussions with the surveyor about her concerns with the property and later left a review, praising the “excellent” and “thorough” service she received.

We were asked by a client to undertake an inspection for an RICS Level 2 Homebuyer report on a one-bedroom studio flat in Maida Hill, W9. Our surveyor, who examined the property, made valuable observations in the report regarding the windows, which needed replacing due to their timber construction and high moisture levels, causing the frames to appear worn. The surveyor also recorded high damp levels in the bedroom, caused by a pipe discharging onto the flat roof, which required immediate attention and repair. The bathroom and kitchen fittings had worn mastic seals, and it was recommended that these be replaced.

The findings were presented in our easy-to-understand report, which uses a traffic light system to indicate the severity of each issue. In this system, green indicates elements in good condition, yellow highlights advisory concerns, and red signals issues requiring urgent attention.

The client had a positive experience with us, leaving a 5-star review and describing our service as “great.”