Our Property Articles
When Should You Get a Defect Analysis Report?
Not every crack, damp patch or building defect requires a specialist survey. However, there are circumstances where a more focused investigation is appropriate. A Defect Analysis Report can be particularly useful when a defect is persistent, unexplained or potentially...
Can Building Work Start Before a Party Wall Award?
A Party Wall Award is often required where an adjoining owner has dissented to a Party Wall Notice and surveyors have therefore been appointed. A common question is whether the building owner can begin the works while the surveyors are still discussing the Award. What...
Does a Rear Extension Need a Party Wall Notice?
Planning a rear extension often involves work close to, or directly against, a neighbouring property. Depending on the construction proposed, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply. When might a Party Wall Notice be required? A rear extension may involve one or more...
Should You Buy a Property With Structural Movement?
Finding evidence of cracking or movement during a property survey does not automatically mean that the property should be rejected. The important question is what is causing the movement, whether it is ongoing and what further investigation or remedial work may be...
When Do I Need an Expert Witness Surveyor?
Property disputes sometimes involve technical questions that cannot be resolved simply through correspondence between the parties. An Expert Witness Surveyor can provide independent professional opinion on matters falling within their area of expertise. What can a...
Why Is My Mortgage Valuation Different From a RICS Valuation?
It is not unusual for a mortgage valuation and an independent RICS valuation to produce different figures. This does not necessarily mean that one valuation is incorrect. The two valuations may have different purposes, scopes and assumptions. What is a mortgage...
Probate Property Valuation Guidance
A probate property valuation is an assessment of a property's value for the purposes associated with administering an estate. The appropriate valuation basis and date depend upon the circumstances and the requirements of the relevant authority. Why is a valuation...
What Is a Commercial Property Condition Survey?
A commercial property condition survey provides an assessment of the physical condition of a commercial building at a particular point in time. It can be useful to landlords, tenants, purchasers and investors who need to understand the condition and potential...
Can a Tenant Negotiate a Dilapidations Claim?
Receiving a schedule of dilapidations does not necessarily mean that the amount initially claimed by a landlord is the final amount that the tenant will have to pay. Dilapidations claims can be negotiated where there is a genuine difference between the parties...
What Is a Retrospective Licence for Alterations?
A Retrospective Licence for Alterations may be required where works have already been carried out to a leasehold property without obtaining the freeholder's required consent. This situation is relatively common and can become apparent when a property is being sold or...
What Happens If an Adjoining Owner Refuses Access for a Schedule of Condition?
A Schedule of Condition is commonly undertaken before Party Wall works commence to record the existing condition of an adjoining property. But what happens if the adjoining owner does not allow the Party Wall surveyor access? Why is access important? The Schedule of...
Can a Party Wall Surveyor Request a Method Statement?
Method statements are frequently discussed during Party Wall procedures, particularly where the proposed works involve excavation, structural alterations or potentially disruptive construction. But what exactly can a Party Wall surveyor require? What is a method...