Our Property Articles
The £500 Report That Could Save You Thousands at the End of Your Lease
A Schedule of Condition can look like an unnecessary expense when a commercial property is being leased. After all, why spend money documenting defects that are already visible? Because those defects could become important when the lease ends. What is a Schedule of...
Is Your Property Really Worth What the Estate Agent Says?
An asking price is not the same thing as a professional valuation. Estate agents, buyers, lenders and surveyors can all have different reasons for placing a figure on a property. What is a RICS valuation? A professional valuation is undertaken for a defined purpose...
Found Cracks in Your House? Don’t Assume It’s Subsidence
Cracks are one of the most common causes of concern for homeowners. The immediate assumption is often subsidence, but cracking can arise for many different reasons. What can cause cracking? Possible causes include: Normal thermal or moisture-related movement....
Licence for Alterations: What Happens If You Skip It?
Commercial tenants often want to adapt premises to suit their business. Removing partitions, installing new services or changing the layout may appear straightforward, but the tenant's lease can restrict alterations. Ignoring those requirements can create problems...
Do I Need a Dilapidations Surveyor as a Tenant?
Many tenants only think about obtaining professional advice after receiving a substantial dilapidations claim. By that stage, the landlord may already have prepared a detailed schedule and started negotiations. An independent surveyor can help a tenant understand what...
Dilapidations Claim Too High? What Should You Do?
A large dilapidations claim can be difficult to assess, particularly when a schedule contains dozens of repair, redecoration and reinstatement items. The first mistake is often assuming that the figure at the bottom of the schedule is automatically the amount that...
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...