It is surprisingly common for leaseholders to discover that alterations carried out to their property did not receive the freeholder’s formal consent. Sometimes the works were completed by a previous owner. In other cases, the leaseholder may simply not have realised...
Disputing Land? Do You Need a Boundary Survey? Property boundaries are often assumed to be obvious. A fence, wall or hedge may appear to show exactly where one property ends and another begins. Unfortunately, it is not always that simple. A boundary survey may be...
A Schedule of Condition can potentially save a commercial tenant significant expense when a lease comes to an end. The reason is straightforward: it provides evidence of the condition of the property when the tenant took occupation. What happens without one? Many...
A RICS Home Survey is a visual inspection of the property intended to provide the purchaser with an informed assessment of its condition. The precise scope depends on the level of survey instructed, but the inspection will generally consider the accessible parts of...
Buying a property is one of the biggest financial commitments most people will make. Yet many buyers rely solely on the estate agent's particulars or mortgage valuation before committing to the purchase. A RICS Home Survey, commonly recommended by competent legal...
A Schedule of Condition is most commonly prepared at the beginning of a commercial lease, but its importance can continue until the lease expires. When the tenancy comes to an end, the original Schedule can be used as evidence when considering the tenant's obligations...
If you are a commercial tenant approaching the end of your lease and your landlord has served a Schedule of Dilapidations, you are not necessarily required to accept every item or cost claimed. A tenant can challenge a dilapidations claim where there are reasonable...
A RICS Home Survey provides an important assessment of a property's condition, but it is not a guarantee that every defect within the building will be discovered. Understanding the limitations of the inspection is just as important as understanding what the survey...
A home survey is another expense when buying a property, but identifying defects before purchase can potentially save a buyer considerably more in the long term. At Stokemont, we provide both Level 2 and Level 3 Home Surveys, as well as comprehensive Commercial...
Cracks in walls are one of the most common concerns raised by homeowners and property buyers. In many cases, cracking is relatively minor and associated with normal building movement, drying shrinkage or deterioration of decorative finishes. However, some cracks can...
