A party wall surveyor protects your property and your legal position whenever building work happens on or near a shared boundary. The framework is set by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, which gives owners the right to carry out certain works while protecting their neighbours from damage. Whether you are planning the work yourself or a notice has just …
By Dan Knowles FRICS, Managing Director and Registered Valuer, Websters Surveyors Your survey has come back, it isn’t all clean, and you’re staring at a list of issues wondering whether to renegotiate, fix things, or walk away. First, don’t panic. Almost no home is perfect, and a survey full of observations is normal, not a disaster. The job now is …
By Dan Knowles FRICS, Managing Director and Registered Valuer, Websters Surveyors The government wants to overhaul how we buy and sell homes in England and Wales, and one idea keeps coming back to the table: surveys paid for by the seller, prepared before a buyer has even made an offer. As a residential surveyor, the prospect of more instructions should …
On 26th November 2025, the Chancellor of the Exchequer stood at the dispatch box to reveal the budget, only an hour and a half before the Office for Budget Responsibility did the irresponsible thing of accidentally publishing budget detail on their website. They may have been first in line to publish the exact detail but a series of leaks and …
By Dan Knowles FRICS, Managing Director and Registered Valuer, Websters Surveyors A home survey is an independent inspection of a property’s condition, carried out by a qualified surveyor before you’re legally committed to buying. If you’ve never had one, the process can feel a little opaque: who turns up, what they actually do, how long it takes, and what lands …
Damp and condensation can look identical on a wall — the same peeling paint, the same black mould, the same musty smell — but they are two different problems with two different fixes. Condensation is moisture from inside the home settling on cold surfaces, usually solved by better ventilation. Damp is water getting in from outside or the ground, which …
The landscape of leasehold reform is shifting rapidly, with significant legal challenges currently affecting key proposals—particularly the abolition of marriage value and the government’s plans to set capitalisation and deferment rates. For flat owners, freeholders, and professionals alike, understanding these developments is vital for making informed decisions. What’s at Stake? Current Legal Challenges Both proposals are facing legal challenges in …
Choosing a surveyor is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when buying, selling, or managing a property. A good surveyor doesn’t just provide a report—they offer peace of mind, confidence, and guidance through what can be a complex process. Here are eight essential questions to ask before you instruct a surveyor, plus why Websters Surveyors stands out in …
A growing number of home surveys now include a drone inspection of the roof and other high-level areas, and at the better end of the profession it’s becoming standard rather than a gimmick. A drone lets a surveyor see the parts of a property that matter most and are hardest to reach: the roof slopes, chimney, gutters, flat roofs and …
Dealing with the loss of a loved one is never easy. Alongside the emotional challenges, executors are often faced with the complex responsibility of managing the estate, including the crucial task of inheritance tax (IHT) reporting. One of the most significant steps in this process is obtaining an accurate, high-quality valuation report for any property within the estate. Why Does …
Most buyers of a conventional, reasonably modern home in good order need a RICS Level 2 survey. If the property is older, has been extended or altered, is built in an unusual way, or shows visible signs of problems, you need a RICS Level 3 survey. Those two sentences cover roughly 90% of decisions. The rest of this guide explains …
It’s the 25th of May 2024 and my head is spinning. Like a well known blonde mopped, scruffy politician, I sometimes like to write articles before and against a proposition. It helps me decide which way to campaign and eventually get Brexit (or in this case, Leasehold reform) done. However, unlike Mr B de Pfeffel Johnson, the architect here of …