Our Property Articles
Can Your Neighbour Dig Under Your House?
Basement conversions, new foundations and other substantial excavations can raise serious Party Wall concerns. If your neighbour is excavating close to your building, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply even though the work is taking place entirely on their land....
Can You Be Charged for Alterations When Your Lease Ends?
Commercial tenants frequently carry out alterations during a lease. At the end of the tenancy, however, the landlord may require those alterations to be removed and the property reinstated. This can create a significant dilapidations liability if the tenant has not...
Can a Landlord Claim for Wear and Tear?
“Wear and tear” is often raised when a tenant receives a dilapidations claim. A tenant may believe that the condition of the property is simply the result of normal use. A landlord may consider that the tenant has failed to comply with its repairing or maintenance...
Can a Landlord Claim for Dilapidations If They Do Not Repair the Property?
One of the most common questions following a dilapidations claim is whether a landlord can recover money for repairs that they do not actually intend to carry out. The answer is not simply yes or no. Does the landlord have to carry out the works? A dilapidations claim...
Can a Landlord Charge You for Dilapidations You Never Agreed to?
Receiving a dilapidations claim can be alarming, particularly when the landlord is asking for payment for works you do not remember agreeing to. However, a dilapidations claim is not simply a list of works that the landlord would like carried out. The starting point...
Bought a Commercial Property? Here’s the Survey You May Regret Skipping
Commercial property can represent a significant investment, yet buyers sometimes rely on a basic valuation or limited inspection before committing to the purchase. That can leave expensive defects undiscovered until after completion. What does a commercial building...
The Difference Between an Agreed Surveyor and Two Surveyors in Party Wall Matters
One of the biggest decisions when planning Party Wall works is whether the building owner and adjoining owner appoint a single agreed surveyor, or each appoint their own surveyor under a two-surveyor appointment. While both arrangements are designed to ensure the...
Do I Need a Commercial Building Survey Before Buying?
Buying a commercial property is a substantial financial commitment, and the condition of the building can have a significant effect on its future costs and suitability. A commercial building survey provides an independent assessment before you become legally committed...
Schedule of Dilapidations Information
A Schedule of Dilapidations is a document identifying alleged breaches of a tenant's obligations under a commercial lease. It is commonly prepared towards the end of a tenancy and can identify repairs, redecoration, reinstatement or other works that the landlord...
Terminal Schedule of Dilapidations Guidance
A terminal schedule of dilapidations is prepared towards the end of a commercial lease to identify breaches of the tenant's repairing, reinstatement and other relevant lease obligations. It is commonly prepared by a building surveyor acting for the landlord. What does...
Pre Purchase Commercial Building Surveys Explained
A Pre-Purchase Commercial Building Survey is an independent assessment of a commercial property's physical condition before a purchaser completes the transaction. It is intended to help the purchaser understand the building they are acquiring and identify potential...
Defect Analysis Report Guidance
A Defect Analysis Report is a focused investigation into a particular problem affecting a property. Unlike a general building survey, the purpose is usually to establish what a defect is, what may have caused it and whether further investigation or specialist advice...