When should gallows brackets be used?
When do I need to use Gallows Brackets?
You may have read our article about removing a chimney breast and the requirements by law to ensure you have the correct agreements in place with your neighbour if the chimney breast is on a party wall, never mind a decent builder who understands structural concerns. What we don’t talk about much in that article are chimney support brackets, or gallow brackets, which you might need to consider once you have removed … Read more...
Extensions: maximising space with eccentric foundations
Eccentric Foundations – a guide
If you live in a semi-detached or terraced property you have a right to build up to the boundary, and ‘if necessary’, a right to put foundations on your neighbour’s land, however, you will almost certainly need party wall agreement. So, for example, if you want to extend to the back or side of your house you must get a party wall agreement. Your neighbours can say no to you putting foundations on their … Read more...
Taking out a chimney breast – Party Wall Agreements
Removing a chimney breast and why you need a party wall agreement
Taking out a chimney breast. It can look like an easy way to make a room bigger in an older house. At first glance it seems easy, knock it out with a sledgehammer, bag up the rubble, plaster the wall, decorate and hey presto a few extra square metres of living space.
But… it isn’t that easy. And you also need to do a fair bit of paperwork. … Read more...
“Help! My house is subsiding!”
Is my house subsiding?
We can’t tell you how many times in a month we get a call from a homeowner expressing concern about cracks in their walls. In fact, people often tell us their house has cracked over the weekend. It hasn’t. What has happened is that you suddenly start noticing cracks because you’re looking for them and assume that they are all new.
Here we explain what subsidence is and how you can identify if you should worry … Read more...
Getting accessibility right
Paving and parking
Making sure that access to the built environment works for disabled people can be a minefield for building companies or contractors who have not had the relevant training and are simply completing works according to architect’s drawings or to their own design. In our experience it is always a problem when final, detailed, design is left to a contractor to sort out and they very often get it wrong.
As a firm of Chartered Surveyor experienced in … Read more...
How do homebuyers know which survey to have and how do you find the right surveyor?
For a home buyer it can be difficult to know where to start in the property market, and if you’re a first-time buyer it can be a minefield. Buying a new home is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make, yet one thing that isn’t always top of the agenda is making sure you get a house that’s worth the investment. Excitement can sometimes override realism, especially if you’re a first-time buyer, but even for those on their third … Read more...
What problems do surveyors find with stairs?
How often have you considered the staircase in your home? Or if you’re looking to buy, do you really take note of the condition of the stairs?
Unless you own, or wish to buy a bungalow, the stairs are in fact one of the most crucial things to look at. There are so many things to consider – their placement, how steep they are, whether they have banisters, what material they are, if they have carpet, do they have a … Read more...
Advice for students undertaking questionnaires for their dissertations
As final year construction and surveying students begin research for their dissertations, building professionals are inundated with unsolicited email requests to complete surveys or questionnaires. Like many other surveyors, architects and other construction professionals, I am happy to give up a couple of moments to assist the next generation.
However, more often than not, the standard of the introductory emails and the surveys or questionnaires is terrible. More than 70% of those I receive have basic errors. And that makes … Read more...
The importance of a building survey or homebuyer report
For many people, buying a home is one of the biggest decisions they will ever make so it makes sense to have the property inspected by an independent expert. Unless you are totally confident in the condition and construction of your intended purchase, failing to commission a building survey or homebuyer report means you could risk potential bills running into thousands of pounds. Think for a minute – when you viewed, did you lift the inspection chamber lids to check … Read more...
Hythe and the risk of flooding
Last winter (2019/20) saw some terrible rainfall and flooding across the UK.
Along the coast in Folkestone and Hythe (near to our Kent office), we had some fairly high tides too. It’s eight years since I wrote the original version of this article about Hythe and the risk of flooding in the area, so I thought it was probably about time it was updated.
ABI flooding report 2012
Without wishing to underestimate the heartache and damage that comes with flooding, … Read more...
Can I add a basement to my property?
Homeowners continue to add basements to their property, often because it is a cost-effective alternative to buying a bigger house, and options for building higher or outward might be limited.
The process of constructing a basement is actually quite straightforward – underpin the existing walls (including any party walls shared with neighbours), dig out the hole, cast a floor slab and fit out the space (oh, and make sure it is properly waterproofed). But, a basement project also comes with … Read more...
Challenging a local authority service charge
We have dealt with several instructions to assess the reasonableness of service charges presented by both local authority and private freeholders to private leaseholders – the service charge demand can be very high and with the current cladding issues can be crippling.
Since August 2014 social landlords / freeholders are limited in the amounts that they can claim – £15,000 within London and £10,000 outside London (as at 2015). Social landlords also have the power to vary, waive or reduce … Read more...
Small repairs matter
Do you have a regular maintenance plan for your home? Do you fix problems when they arise? Perhaps you should.
We’ve seen some significant problems caused by the homeowner putting off small maintenance jobs or fixes. We know there’s always something more fun to do on your day off, but sometimes the jobs just need doing, or there could be trouble ahead.
Put off a cheap job now, expensive repair later
Here are some classic examples of how homeowners put … Read more...
Do I need a party wall agreement for…
Dealing with party walls and neighbours are often not considered by homeowners when they are planning works, renovating or have a project on the go. Most people know they will need planning permission and building regs/control, but many haven’t heard of party wall notices and agreements, never mind when they are required.
This article explains some common examples where party wall agreements are usually needed.
First, what is a party wall?
A party wall can be defined as one … Read more...
Identifying cavity wall insulation problems
Poorly installed cavity wall insulation can cause problems. In July 2020 the Chancellor announced a Green Homes Grant to give up to £5,000 in vouchers for insulation (BBC News, July 2020)
A few years ago, we wrote this article about the problems (usually damp) associated with cavity wall insulation. At the time it was thought the issue could be widespread as numerous news articles demonstrated. One newspaper reported: : “1.5 million homes are blighted by damp after cowboy … Read more...
What if I don’t receive a reply to my party wall notice?
It happens all the time. You serve a party wall notice, wait and then… nothing.
So, what do you do? Well, as far as the Party Wall etc Act is concerned there are 14 days to reply (in writing), after which your neighbour is deemed to have dissented from the notice. Strictly speaking that means that if they come back on the 16th day wanting to consent, they can’t because they are time barred, but very often common sense will … Read more...
Do I need a Party Wall Surveyor to get a party wall agreement?
A large proportion of Collier Stevens’ work is serving party wall notices, agreeing awards and resolving disputes. We have a dedicated section in our Advice Hub that may help you answer any other party wall related queries. We’re often asked what we actually do, so this article aims to help you understand why a surveyor is needed and what the parameters of the role are.
Who can be a party wall surveyor?
There is no restriction on anybody calling themselves … Read more...
How do you serve a party wall notice correctly?
The Party Wall Act sets out what information a properly served party wall notice must contain. There is no standard format, but many party wall surveyors use standard templates to ensure that the notice provides the required information. It is essential that your party wall notices are properly drafted and valid, any error can make them invalid and set back your work.
It is essential that Party wall notices are always be in writing – avoid the temptation to have … Read more...
What are the rules and regulations for loft conversions?
We’re seeing an increasing number of homeowners considering home improvements rather than moving. People want to increase the size of their current home rather than taking the next step on the property ladder, or they might want to push up the value of their property.
A loft conversion is a great way to add a bedroom to your property without increasing the footprint or losing garden space with an extension. Generally, in the South East and London, you might be … Read more...
How long does a building survey or homebuyer report take?
One of the most common questions we are asked is: “How long does a building survey or Homebuyer report take?”
The answer is usually: “It depends.” It can take anything from 1.5 to 6 or more hours, depending on the property, then our report is usually back to you within five working dates, quicker if you have an urgent requirement.
The time taken always varies based on the size and type of the house, the age of the property, the … Read more...
Advising neighbours of building work
We are often called by homeowners asking what they can do when their neighbour starts building work without telling them. Quite often your neighbour doesn’t have to notify you, but here are some situations where they are obliged to. This article tries to answer a few of the more common queries we receive.
Does my neighbour have to notify me of building work?
Unless the work that is being done falls within the notification requirements of the Party Wall Act… Read more...
Asbestos in houses
Asbestos is identified in quite a few of the properties in which we undertake surveys. We particularly find it in those houses that were built between 1930 and 1980 and older flat conversions. Asbestos can appear in the most unlikely of places. Care needs to be taken if you have it, or suspect you have it, in your home.
Where is asbestos found in houses?
Generally speaking, we most often find asbestos in houses in the following locations:
- Roof soffits
Home Insurance and Building Work
Whether you have bought a property to ‘do up’, or you’re planning to do some renovation work on your home rather than moving, you should always make sure you have the right insurance in place. You will need to think about protecting your property and the public. There are so many potential issues that could crop up. It is important that you take the advice of your insurance broker as this can be a specialist area, especially if there are … Read more...
Solar panels – what lurks beneath?
Between 2012 and 2017 the UK and Europe saw a surge in the domestic use of power generation from solar panels (see this article for more information). It has tailed off a bit, but the chances of buying a property with solar panels is now a lot greater than it was a decade ago. You might also want to sell a property with solar panels. So, what do buyers and sellers of houses with light absorbing power generators need … Read more...
Surveying during Coronavirus
Are surveyors and valuers still doing surveys during the UK lockdown caused by COVID-19?
Yes. Government guidelines permit surveyors to carry on surveying and inspecting houses during the COVID-19 crisis.
What do the Government guidelines for surveyors say?
The guidance advises surveyors should not expect to carry out non-urgent surveys in homes where people are in residence, and no inspections should take place if any person in the property is showing symptoms, self-isolating or being shielded.
They say it may … Read more...
Do balconies present a fire risk?
If you own a property with balconies you must read the latest government report on fire safety in properties with balconies. It’s particularly important for owners of multi-storey, multi-occupied residential buildings. If you rent a flat with a balcony, you may want to take a look too.
The Grenfell Tower tragedy in June 2017 raised many questions about fire safety in multi-storey, apartments and flats. The first phase of an inquiry into the events has now concluded whilst a second … Read more...
Could you save money long term by buying property that has a more expensive commute to work?
“Buying outside London saves over £14k per mile of travel“. I saw this article and it led to quite a discussion in our London office. We know you could save a lot of money by buying property in Chislehurst or the surrounding area and commuting into the City rather than owning or renting there. However, we then got to thinking about the amount of money overall that can be saved buying further afield, like in Ashford, for example … Read more...
Buying and maintaining coastal properties
The Kent coast was once the mainstay of Victorian holiday makers and we think it’s experiencing a bit of a revival. If you saw our last article, you’ll know Folkestone is on the up and you’ll find some really good value for money property around there.
The towns and villages along the Kent coast near our Hythe offices offer something for everyone – foodies and creatives head for Folkestone, families head for Dymchurch and its amusements and arcades, there’s … Read more...
£1.5 million for a 2 bed-apartment, or a block of 38 flats?
Where would you rather invest £1.5million, or even £500k? And what can you get for your cash? Steve Way had a rare spare 10 minutes and played around on RightMove…
So today I thought I’d have a little fun with Right Move and see what my money could get me in Clapham, South West London.
What do you think? Have you ever thought about it? Well, here’s a brief snapshot…
- 2-bed flat (Brixton) – £525k
- 2-bed apartment (Clapham Junction)
uPVC windows problems and pitfalls
With new architectural trends we are seeing more and more glass on new buildings and renovations – the big bi-fold doors, roof lights, even goldfish-bowl style windows that wrap around corners.
People want light, they want a feeling of space, and as technology develops, glass is becoming more energy efficient.
However, windows can come with a whole host of problems, as we see in our every-day surveying work. And surprisingly, although it won’t warp or decay like wood, we see … Read more...
Conservatory planning, construction and problems
Conservatories are a relatively simple and cost effective way of extending your home. There are so many styles available to choose from, in different materials such as timber, aluminium or uPVC. The more luxurious your choice and size or conservatory, the more the price will vary and so will the range of problems that may occur.
We often receive calls from people asking for advice on their decision to build a conservatory. Do they need party wall agreement, or planning … Read more...
There’s more to your home’s foundations – pt 2
In our last blog we saw how intriguing it can be to view maps, both old and new, to see what sort of land your home might have been built on, if it had suffered bomb damage during the war, particularly in London, or just to see how things had developed over time. We focused on a survey we did at Springbank Road in Hither Green, London SE13.
But there is much more that can be researched to get … Read more...
There’s more to your home’s foundations – pt 1
January is the one month of the year that seems to be endless. Christmas and New Year has been and gone and we’re looking forward to the days getting longer and maybe planning a summer break. I don’t know about you, but I find myself at a bit of a loose end this time of year. I wanted something to get my teeth into – which didn’t involve exercise or ‘Dry January’.
So I got to thinking. As a chartered … Read more...
The vendors reduced the price by £10k … best £500 I’ve spent!
We carried out at building survey on a small, late 19th century terraced house on the Kent coast. It needed some work as it had been lived in by an elderly occupant and hadn’t been well maintained. There was an extension that appeared to have been constructed in the 1950s and although not pretty, it provided space for a better kitchen and bathroom and what was apparent is that other work had been carried out at around that time.
During … Read more...
Would you ever have thought removing a chimney breast needed permission?
So, you have a lovely house, but the two alcoves in the living room and bedroom are beginning to drive you mad. You could do so much more with the space if the chimney breast wasn’t there: a nice little free standing stove, or maybe even just use the space for furniture. But could you just remove the chimney breast? Take a sledgehammer to it, slap a bit of plaster on to tidy up the wall and decorate – bish, … Read more...
Who can act as a Party Wall Surveyor?
An enquiry this week from a building owner who had appointed their builder to act as their party wall surveyor, having been told by the builder that it was easy and he could do it… no need to pay expensive Party Wall Surveyor’s fees.
The Party Wall etc Act makes no requirement to use an experienced or trained practitioner, just a “surveyor”. In section 20 of the Act a “surveyor” is defined as “any person not being a party to … Read more...
When is an independent survey, not a survey…
There are a couple of instances when you may be told you have had an independent survey – but that may not necessarily be a as independent as you think, or actually a survey. Here’s why…
- When it’s a mortgage valuation survey – The valuation only tells the mortgage company they can lend you the money. You might not actually even see the ‘survey’. An independent private building survey commissioned by you, for you, will tell you plenty and the
When garden walls lean, collapse and go bad
When was the last time you checked your garden walls or if you are buying had a look to see what the walls are like? The cost of repair or replacement of brick and masonry garden walls can be considerable – the most recent wall reconstruction that we managed on behalf of a client cost over £10,000 for a 14m run of brick and block retaining wall on new footings and it wasn’t that high! Sometimes the cost of repair … Read more...
When does a Party Wall Notice need to be served
There are precise time provisions within the Party Wall Act relating to when Party Wall Notices should be served and when a building owner can start work. These time provisions should in all normal circumstances be complied with although in the case of Section Three only they may be waived when “complying with any notice served under any statutory provisions relating to dangerous or neglected structures”. In other words unless the work is in urgent compliance of a dangerous structure … Read more...
What do we know about chancel repair liability?
That’s what we got asked this morning. So we scratched our heads and had to agree that we didn’t know much at all about chancel repair liability except that it can result in rather nasty surprise bills.
We then did what anyone else would do – Googled it. This turned up a very helpful guide from Clutton Cox Solicitors – Chancel Repair Liability – The Full Monty. Then, shortly after we discovered this, Clutton Cox advised that they had … Read more...
This week our building survey saved a client £80,000
Every now and then we can’t help but be a bit self-congratulatory. This email came in:
“Had a survey carried out last week in Kent on a semi-detached property and have decided to walk away from the purchase due to the costs and extensive repairs found to be necessary. The survey was very comprehensive and we feel the cost well worthwhile as it has probably saved us £70,000 to £80,000 in repairs and a long period waiting to move in. … Read more...
The power of roots and poor retaining walls
Here’s a garden retaining wall that garden wall we found on a single defect survey. A retaining wall is intended to hold back ground on one side of it that is higher than the ground on the other, the load of that supported land can be considerable and retaining walls do need careful design and construction. In this case the garden wall was apparently a well-built retaining structure, but on further examination we found it wasn’t quite as good … Read more...
Tactile Paving – Guidance for improving disabled access
Ever wondered whether there was a reason for those texture paving surfaces you see in the pavement and near steps? The answer is, of course, yes. These tactile surfaces – typically corduroy or blisters are used to designate essential information about the built environment to those with visual impairments and to improve disabled access.
Used properly tactile paving provide lots of information about where to cross road, where hazards are and where the top and bottom of steps might be. … Read more...
Surveys of lofts and roofs – what we look for
Do surveyors inspect the loft? It’s a question we are often asked and yes, we do for both building surveys and homebuyer reports. But, what are we looking for in a loft survey and what should you expect to see? This post is primarily relevant to older buildings – say late Victorian to mid-60s – earlier than this and all sorts of interesting timbers are often added and after this roofs are very often of prefabricated timber trusses. (Oh, … Read more...
Stairs – missing handrails
We saw this staircase on a survey. Typical of its age – probably dating to the mid to late ‘60s. It looks good (to some eyes), is airy and open, but doesn’t comply with building regulations. The lack of a handrail and balustrade is the concern here.
Building regulations require a handrail and balustrade in dwellings where there is a drop of more than 600mm. The handrail should be at 900mm height. If there are openings in the balustrade … Read more...
Planning a loft conversion? – Party Wall Agreements
If you plan to do building works that may affect a party or structure (a ceiling for instance) between you and a neighbour then the provisions of the Party Wall etc Act may apply.
For a loft conversion this will almost certainly be the case if you live in a terraced or semi-detached house.
A typical loft conversion incorporates a dormer on the rear or side of the house and the insertion of some structural steelwork to support both the … Read more...
Party walls – your questions answered
You hear a lot from Collier Stevens about Party Wall Notices and Agreements. Here’s a basic summary of what you need to know about Party Walls – what they are, what the paperwork is all about, and when it’s needed.
Should I bother ?
Yes! The party wall process places a statutory obligation on a person doing building work to notify their neighbour if it affects a party wall. If so, they must enter into a party wall agreement. … Read more...
Party Wall Agreements for a wine cellar
An interesting party wall query this week involving a wine cellar.
Spiral Cellars manufacture a pre-fabricated, circular wine cellar that can be dropped to a pre-formed hole in the ground, typically 2300mm in diameter and at least that deep. So, what that means is that if any part of the excavations is within 3m of a party wall then the provisions of section 6 will apply. In the case of a Victorian terraced house this may mean that both sides … Read more...
Missing? Party wall problems
Occasionally a situation arises like one we dealt with this week where there is an absent freeholder. Their absence does not preclude the necessity to serve party wall notices (templates available here) or to follow party wall procedure even though the inevitable outcome will be that a surveyor will need to be appointed under section 10.4 of the act.
So what should you do? In the first instance we recommend proper enquiry at the Land Registry. This … Read more...
Surveying Homes in Dungeness
As local Chartered Surveyors we’ve done a number of building surveys and reports in Dungeness where most of the homes and properties are quite strange or unique as is the environment. Set in a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Bird Reserve it is no surprise that Dungeness is used as the location for Doctor Who and other out of this world programmes.
It is a special place and so are the properties, nothing ordinary there with buildings of … Read more...
Loft conversions – your responsibilities for health and safety
I was recently approached for advice by a friend who is considering converting their loft into a third bedroom. She had so many questions and it made me realise just how tricky it is for non-building professionals to understand all the ins and outs of this type of work. There’s a whole article on this part of it if you want to read more. The key thing from my point of view is that any work on a loft or … Read more...
Laing Easi-Form housing
This week we have been surveying a Laing Easi-Form house for a prospective purchaser. The Laing Easi-Form is one of a range of house types that are considered as ‘non-traditional construction’ and which were generally erected immediately post the first world war and up to the 1960s or so. As the name suggests it was a housing solution developed by John Laing, the well-known contracting firm.
They were intended to be cutting edge, fast and cost effective to build and … Read more...
How quickly can I get a Party Wall Award?
Help, I want to start work on Monday and my neighbour wants a party wall notice… how quickly can I get a Party Wall Award?
At first it depends on whether you get on with your neighbour, whether your neighbour is cooperative and whether you have a fully designed piece of work (architectural drawings, details and structural engineers details) and how efficient your party wall surveyor is.
Your neighbour can insist on the full two surveyor procedure and the specified … Read more...
Health, safety and the small builder
There is of course no reason why a jobbing builder working on houses and other small projects should be immune from Health & Safety legislation, and as far as the HSE is concerned, they’re not. The HSE is particularly concerned about accidents that involve working at height, noting that every year 4,000 people are injured in this way. In fact, if you are in the construction industry you cannot fail to be aware of this unless you have been hiding … Read more...
Have you checked your gutters lately?
Now the autumn leaves have begun to fall and the rain has returned in force, you might have noticed your gutters have become blocked or are overflowing. There may be some leaks from one or two of the gutter or pipe joints. They might not have been inspected since you had a survey.
Most of the time a blocked gutter is a quick and straightforward repair – if the roof is accessible you may be able to clear it yourself … Read more...
Do you have problems with your garden wall?
And if you do, or most likely will have at some point, who is responsible for fixing it if the wall divides two properties?
Who owns the wall?
It’s the age-old question – which neighbour owns which garden wall or fence? The owner to the left, or right? Facing East or facing West? There are so many conflicting versions of this. Well, it’s a myth.
There’s no rule, but you shouldn’t guess. In a perfect world, your title deeds will … Read more...
Finlock concrete gutters
Finlock gutters were commonly used during the 1960s and are very much of their time and in most cases are now past there time as well. We come across them every now and then when we do a building survey and rarely if ever are they in sound order.
The gutter system was manufactured by a company called Royston to a range of designs – all broadly similar, but with some changes to the detailing, intended to be a combined … Read more...
Don’t overlook Party Wall procedure
When you are thinking of undertaking building work, it is quite usual to obtain Building Regulation Approval and Planning Consent. What is often overlooked, however, is the statutory obligation under the Party Wall etc Act. to get party wall agreement and consent and this can often cause a problem.
Often tucked away on building regulation information and approvals or on a drawing, there is a note to say “party wall consent required”, but then what?
If you are undertaking … Read more...
Cost effective (not cheap!) Party Wall Awards
Our fixed fee party wall awards continue to be a popular choice confirming our view that there was a market for a cost effective solution to party wall agreements for householders carrying out works of a simple nature – things like extensions and loft conversions.
So, do you get a proper professional party wall service from us? Yes, our fee covers everything from the preparation and service of the party wall notices through to serving the party wall award or … Read more...
Condensation dispute calls for expert help
As surveyors providing expert witness advice in housing disrepair cases, we are often asked to advise on condensation issues.
We recently helped a client who was having problems with a tenant complaining of condensation with damp walls and mould growth. Our client, the landlord, thought this was unusual as his previous tenants had not complained and there was no sign of condensation when the previous tenants moved out and the new ones moved in. He asked us to investigate and … Read more...
Colour contrasts – designing for the visually impaired
One of the things that we look for when we are carrying out an access audit is the colour contrast between building elements – for instance walls and floors – which if done well can make a significant difference to the usability of a building by the visually impaired. It extends to other areas such as doors and you are probably familiar with a contrasted stair nosing – provided to make it clear where the edge of the step is. … Read more...
Choosing a Party Wall Surveyor
Did you know that anyone can be a party wall surveyor? The Party Wall etc Act defines a surveyor as “any person not being a party to the matter appointed or selected under Section 10 to determine disputes in accordance with the procedures set out in this Act.”
This means that you need no training and no experience to act as a Party Wall Surveyor.
I have seen dreadful notices and agreements prepared (by builders in particular) that, far from … Read more...
Surveyor or Chartered Surveyor?
Not all surveyors are equal – anyone can call themselves a surveyor. It’s not a protected title like architect or solicitor. And because anyone can call themselves a surveyor they can do so with no training at all, that means they may know nothing, something or everything about their specialist field but you won’t know that when you commission them.
The chap who measures for your double glazing – the window company’s “surveyor” – probably can use a tape measure, … Read more...
Choosing a builder and building contract
Whilst taking a schedule of condition, I was asked “How do I choose a contractor?” We also ended up discussing best practice for minimising risk and helping to get a project finished on time and on budget. It made me think others would probably need to know the answers to this, so, here are our top tips for choosing a building contractor, using a building contract and setting up a small residential building project.
Finding a building contractor
Finding … Read more...
Careful with that party wall injunction
The Party Wall etc Act grants a building owner wishing to undertake building works a number of rights including a right to build on the line of junction, raise, repair and otherwise work upon a party wall or party structure and to excavate within a set distance of a neighbouring property. In order to exercise those rights, a building owner must serve notice on affected neighbours and give the neighbour an opportunity to consent to the work or otherwise to … Read more...
Buying a house with sash windows?
Double hung timber sash windows look great on older or period homes, but they can be draughty and offer poor thermal performance, assuming you want to keep them and not replace them with modern double glazed units (we wouldn’t unless they look the part!). Then there are a number of things to keep your eyes open for when you are viewing. There are many defects that will reduce the life and performance of the window and require expenditure to correct.… Read more...
Building surveys vs Specialist Damp Report
As a firm of professionally qualified surveyors, there’s nothing much that annoys us more than those who sit on the fence when they find damp and recommend a ‘specialist damp report’. These are usually poor quality surveyors intending solely to sell their own ‘specialist’ service or solution.
Only last month I carried out a timber damp inspection following a detailed and very damning report from a ‘specialist’. It had identified dry rot, timber decay in the floor and rampant rising
… Read more...
A guide to conservation areas
We did a building survey of a house in conservation area in Greenwich last week which prompted our client to state: “Conservation area? What’s that and so what?” or words to that effect. So, here’s a quick overview of Conservation Areas. As always check with your local planning office and conservation officers for local information – most of them don’t bite!
What are conservation areas?
Conservation areas are designated locally by local councils, they are usually designated by virtue of … Read more...
Textured ceilings – the asbestos risk
Although much less used now than once textured coatings such as those manufactured by Artex remain on many ceilings throughout the UK. We have also seen when carrying out our property surveys similar products applied to walls and then emulsion painted. In fact it is estimated that around 8 million homes have an Artex finish somewhere.
Until the early 1980s Artex type products contained very low volumes of asbestos, we usually advice clients that it may be present but needs … Read more...
Accessible parking spaces
Accessible parking spaces always seem to be the space that doesn’t get used the most, so often end up being the space that’s used by caretakers and property managers for all sorts of purposes. Like, for instance, this generator!
Unfortunately, there is no requirement to keep these spaces available after they have been provided and when we carry out an Access Audit, we often see them used for wheelie bins.
Not only should these spaces be left clear, but … Read more...
Buying a new build home – do I need a survey?
The last few years has seen a big increase in the number of new housing estates going up in the area surrounding Collier Stevens’ Hythe and Chislehurst offices. This isn’t just a localised phenomenon. It’s happening across the UK. We are often asked why a building survey of a new build home is worthwhile.
More often than not, when someone buys a new build home the idea of having a survey seems silly. After all, it’s brand new. What worries … Read more...
Don’t put off minor building repairs – 79p now or £1,000 then?
That pesky missing gutter end cap, you know the 79p part that push fits onto the gutter if only you could be bothered to go up the ladder. The one you remember every time it rains and the gutter just cascades. Hardly worth it really is it?
Well, this is what we found on a house we looked at last week with a missing end cap. The gutter water had dripped down the front elevation where it then landed on … Read more...
5 reasons you need a proper building survey
Let’s start with the biggest five reasons people don’t have their prospective new home properly surveyed:
- “The mortgage company did the survey.” No, they didn’t. They did a valuation report which confirms a property’s value, NOT its condition.
- “We can’t afford a survey.” If you can’t afford a survey then you can’t afford the unforeseen and essential repairs.
- “My mate’s a builder and he looked at it and said it’s OK.” Is he a qualified surveyor?
- “The purchase price is