Surveyors Guides

Here's a thing - there is no such thing as a "cement mixer" - it's a concrete mixer! To the lay-person, the terms cement or ...

Owners of older and period properties have a wide range of issues to consider when carrying out general maintenance. Among the issues that are less ...

The elderly owners of a property in Youghal, County Cork, Ireland are living next to a derelict house that is in imminent danger of collapse ...

Laminate flooring can be a beautiful addition to the home, providing a clean and mess-free alternative to traditional wooden floorboards, carpeting or other floor coverings ...

The presence of small cracks in block walls and brickwork is not usually something to be too concerned about. We look at the limits of ...

Many local councils have restrictions on the height of garden walls, although in most cases walls that do not form part of the house or ...

The Party Wall etc Act 1996 covers certain issues between property in England and Wales. The Party Wall Act provides a legal framework for preventing ...

Most home owners will be able to say that their property is also their most significant financial asset. So, whether you intend to continue living ...

Spray foam insulation has been in use for decades, and was included in the government’s Green Home Grant scheme, that closed in March 2022. Yet, ...

The government proposes to require landlords to upgrade the energy efficiency of their properties to a minimum standard of C by 2028, as part of ...

The break up of a personal relationship is one of the most stressful of life experiences, regardless of whether the situation is contentious or amicable ...

An open plan kitchen/living area in the home is often on the renovation 'wish list' for new homeowners. Although some buyers prefer separate rooms to ...

When you own or are considering the purchase or renovation of any property, it is essential to ensure you have the right level of insurance ...

Asbestos was a popular building material in homes and commercial buildings for many years. It was popular for a reason: it does not catch fire ...

If you've noticed the appearance of a dark patch forming in the bathroom, around a window or on a wall, don't ignore it. Mould is ...

The prospect of structural movement can be a cause of grave concern for homeowners. The structure of a building primarily comprises the roof carcass, walls, ...

Woodworm is the generic term that applies to the wood-eating larva of many species of beetle. It is also the description given to the infestation ...

Wet rot is the most commonly found type of rot in the home. Whilst easier to treat than its drier counterpart, it can still be ...

A domestic lift provides homeowners with the means to effortlessly travel between floors and are an alternative to the traditional stair lift, over which it ...

There are many reasons that you, Father Christmas or the Tooth Fairy might want to creep around your own home when everyone else has gone ...

Dry rot is something of a misnomer and you may easily be mistaken in thinking that it will only thrive in dry conditions, but ironically ...

Rising damp can be defined as the upwards flow of moisture through a permeable wall structure. Almost all building materials are, to a certain extent, ...

The types of work carried out by Chartered Surveyors is varied. Residential Chartered Surveyors inspect properties that are in the process of being bought or ...

The primary reason for building materials to deteriorate faster than they might otherwise is the influence of water. We look at water ingress - the ...

An independent Chartered Surveyor will always be happy to discuss and explain which type of survey you need, and give you the advice and explanation ...

One of the most common defects, found in almost every home in the country to a varying degree, is condensation. Condensation is the term for ...

Inheritance tax was introduced in March 1986. It is the tax paid on a person's estate when they die, and comprises the property, possessions and ...

Homeowners, management companies and managing agents of any type of property have the responsibility for ensuring that their property carries the correct level of insurance ...

As the summer evenings turn slightly chilly and damp with the approach of autumn, it's comforting to imagine a nice relaxing evening in front of ...

Suspended wooden floors are very often forgotten when it comes to insulating a house. People insulate the roof space, double glaze the windows but forget ...

The heating bills resulting from another cold winter are a vivid reminder of just how much it costs to keep your home warm. Check our ...

Most people will have a building survey carried out when buying older property and will be presented with a report detailing the defects within the ...

Power cuts are a fact of life in many areas of the UK, particularly during periods of inclement weather and often due to circumstances beyond ...

If your home has even one fuel-burning appliance or heater, or an attached garage or fireplace, you should have a carbon monoxide detector installed on ...

Have you been seduced by a charming old property that oozes character and appeal, perhaps ripe for development into an exceptional home or investment property? ...

As summer recedes and we begin to contemplate those long winter nights, it's worth taking a look at the way in which we heat the ...

Keeping your home's gutters, rainwater downpipes and drains clear and in good condition is by far the best way of ensuring your home stays free ...

A Chartered Surveyor acts for the buyer of a property and gives an honest professional opinion on the condition of the property. It is not ...

A Chartered Surveyor may seem a financial extravagance when you are just about to spend a fortune on the biggest investment you have ever made ...

The exceptionally dry, hot weather we experienced in the summer of 2018 may seem a long time ago now, but there are still signs of ...

We all have a checklist of requirements when searching for our dream property, but there will also be a list of definite viewing turn-offs that ...

Ammonia is commonly in use around our homes – but is it safe to use in the home? At a Carlsberg brewery in Northampton in ...

In May 2018, routine water sample taken by Shropshire Council and Public Health England identified another instance of Legionella at The Feathers Hotel in Ludlow ...

No amount of preparation in advance can prevent unexpected events during storms, but there are things you can do now that will make handling the ...

As the Beast from the East arrived in the UK from Siberia, many of us experienced temperatures as low as -8C or even colder. It's ...

Insurance companies use 'risk-based pricing' to determine how much you should pay for your home insurance premiums. It's worth learning what insurers look out for ...

Mortgage lenders don't insist that you commission a survey before they will lend you many of thousands of pounds to purchase your new home. But ...

For those of us lucky enough to own property, it can be easy to forget that the building you call home is also your largest ...

Drainage faults are a common source of water ingress, so keeping your drainage systems in good order is essential to maintaining a dry house. Potential ...

A chocolate box cottage with a thatched roof is the quintessential English home. To make sure your thatch roof doesn't turn your dream house into ...

Kent Fire and Rescue has published on its Twitter page another in its series of safety videos highlighting the importance of testing smoke alarms. The ...

We use 70 per cent more water now than we did 40 years ago. On average, we each use 150 litres per day but, when ...

House plants may be an attractive addition to the home and some have health benefits too, even having the ability to absorb chemicals released by ...

If you spot any of the problems listed below, and cannot find a reason for them, get specialist help as soon as possible. If it ...

It is estimated that there are now over 5.5 million properties in England and Wales at risk of flooding. Whether from rivers, the sea or ...

Purchasing at auction can be a risky business but it is also a really good way of securing a competitive property investment.  But there’s more ...

Most car owners would ensure their vehicle was well-maintained and had an up-to-date MOT, but how many home owners routinely check their houses for maintenance ...

Homeowners have a responsibility to ensure their home is in the best possible condition; this is especially true for Landlords of Buy-To-Let properties with tenants ...