Five things I found this week – 14 April
This week’s pages – general information, updates and informal CPD, are all relevant to Collier Steven’s work
(originally an in-house info page for our staff)
Surveys-
The cannabis farm scandal: how a rogue lettings agency destroyed countless homes
Imperial Property Group said it rented homes to NHS staff. In fact, they were torn apart to create drug factories, causing hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage. Why has the culprit not been brought to justice?
Surveyors need to be alert to former cannabis farms and unusual uses, the BBC had a useful pointer here –
Surveys –
Ten ways to spot a cannabis farm in your neighbourhood
Police forces share the main ways to spot a cannabis farm is being grown.
… and while we are at it some RICS information here –
Surveys-
The fire safety dangers of cannabis farms
Figures released by London Fire Brigade show there were 12 cannabis factory fires in the capital in the first four months of 2019 alone, approaching the total for the whole of 2018. Many of these fires are in residential premises posing a serious threat to those living nearby, but fires in cannabis factories in commercial premises are also becoming more prevalent. What's behind these increases?
(Photo by CRYSTALWEED cannabis on Unsplash
)
(Photo by CRYSTALWEED cannabis on Unsplash
)
Market-
March 2025 RICS Residential Market Survey.
The March 2025 RICS UK Residential Survey
results signal a further deterioration in sales
market conditions, with both domestic and global macroeconomic concerns seemingly starting to weigh more heavily on sentiment. In keeping with this, respondents have turned increasingly cautious on the near-term sales outlook, even if twelve-month expectations are still mildly positive for now.
Looking at new buyer demand, the headline net balance slipped to -32% in March, down from a reading of -16% last month. What’s more, the latest result marks the weakest return for this indicator since September 2023. When disaggregated, virtually all parts of the country are now seeing a
softer buyer demand picture coming through.
results signal a further deterioration in sales
market conditions, with both domestic and global macroeconomic concerns seemingly starting to weigh more heavily on sentiment. In keeping with this, respondents have turned increasingly cautious on the near-term sales outlook, even if twelve-month expectations are still mildly positive for now.
Looking at new buyer demand, the headline net balance slipped to -32% in March, down from a reading of -16% last month. What’s more, the latest result marks the weakest return for this indicator since September 2023. When disaggregated, virtually all parts of the country are now seeing a
softer buyer demand picture coming through.
A reminder that Health & Safety can extend to instructing dangerous work on your own home.
Legal –
Party wall injunctions: The risks of the Cross-Undertaking in Damages
A cross-undertaking in damages is a legal commitment required when seeking an interim injunction, such as to halt unauthorised party wall works. It obliges the applicant to compensate the respondent if the injunction is later deemed improper. Potential liabilities can be significant, especially where construction contracts include liquidated damages clauses. To mitigate risks, applicants should issue formal warnings and obtain expert reports before proceeding. Courts consider the applicant's conduct when assessing liability.