Advice Hub

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, … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out more →

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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out more →

Taking out a chimney breast – Party Wall Agreements

Quite often what appears to be an easy way to make a room bigger in an older house is to think about removing the chimney breast – at first thought it seems easy, knock it out with a sledgehammer, bag … Find out 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 … Find out 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? … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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. … Find out 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, … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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. … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out 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 … Find out more →

Textured ceilings – the asbestos risk