News and insight
Practice news and notes on the standards, legislation and decisions that affect the buildings we look after. For worked examples, see our case studies.
After COP26: What Energy Targets Mean for Existing Buildings
The COP26 climate conference in Glasgow in November 2021 put buildings at the centre of the net zero debate. For owners of existing commercial and residential property, the practical questions were about minimum energy standards, repairs and planned maintenance.
Commercial to Residential Under the New Permitted Development Right
From 1 August 2021, a new permitted development right allowed many commercial, business and service buildings to become homes without a full planning application. What owners needed to check, and why prior approval is not a formality.
Fixed Price or Not: Protecting a Contract Sum When Prices Move
With material prices still climbing in mid 2021, contractors were reluctant to commit to fixed prices. How JCT contracts deal with price movement, and how an employer can decide who carries the risk before the contract is signed.
Timber, Steel and Tender Prices: Budgeting for Major Works in a Shortage
Early 2021 brought shortages and sharp price rises for timber, steel and other building materials. What that meant for managing agents and freeholders consulting leaseholders on major works, and how to keep a Section 20 estimate credible.
The End of the Transition Period and What It Meant for Repair Budgets
The Brexit transition period ended on 31 December 2020. For building owners setting repair and maintenance budgets, the real effects showed up in material prices, lead times and labour. How we adjusted planned maintenance and tender advice.
Lease Ends, Breaks and Empty Offices: Dilapidations in a Pandemic
In 2020 many commercial tenants handed back premises earlier than planned. The Coronavirus Act paused forfeiture for unpaid rent, but repairing obligations did not go away. What landlords and tenants needed to know.
Surveying From the Air When Access Is Restricted
In 2020, getting onto roofs and up elevations became harder than ever. Drone inspection let surveys continue without scaffold or access equipment, and the new UK drone rules at the end of the year set out how it must be done.
Keeping Building Work Moving When the Country Stopped
When the first lockdown began in March 2020, construction was allowed to continue, but only if sites could work safely. What that meant for contracts already running, and what it taught us about contract administration under pressure.
The New RICS Party Wall Guidance Note
The seventh edition of the RICS guidance Party wall legislation and procedure took effect on 1 December 2019, the first update in more than eight years. Here is what building owners and neighbours can expect from their surveyors.
Net Zero by 2050: What It Means for Existing Buildings
On 27 June 2019 the UK became the first major economy to put a net zero target for 2050 into law. Most of the buildings that will need to meet it are already standing. Here is how owners can start planning.
Homes Fit for Human Habitation: What the New Act Means for Landlords
The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 came into force on 20 March 2019. Residential landlords in England must make sure their homes are fit to live in at the start of a tenancy and throughout it, and tenants can go to court if they are not.
Condensation and Mould in Flats: Diagnose Before You Treat
As the heating goes on each autumn, complaints of black mould in flats rise. Condensation is often blamed, sometimes wrongly. A proper diagnosis saves money and gets the right repair done first time.
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards: The E Rating for New Lettings
From 1 April 2018 landlords in England and Wales cannot grant a new lease or renew one on a privately rented property with an EPC rating of F or G, unless a valid exemption is registered. Here is what landlords and tenants need to check.
When a Major Contractor Collapses: Lessons From Carillion
Carillion went into compulsory liquidation on 15 January 2018. Most building owners never dealt with it directly, but the collapse is a reminder of how to protect a project if a contractor of any size fails.
Conflicts of Interest: What RICS Required of Surveyors From 2018
From 1 January 2018 every RICS member and every firm regulated by RICS had to follow a global professional statement on conflicts of interest. Here is what clients can expect when they instruct a surveyor.
Replacing Windows in a Conservation Area
Windows shape the character of a historic street, so the rules on changing them are stricter in conservation areas and for listed buildings. Here is what owners should check before ordering new windows.
Rainwater Goods: The Cheapest Repair That Prevents the Most Damage
Gutters, hoppers and downpipes cost little to maintain, yet when they fail they cause some of the most expensive damage we see. Autumn is the time to check them.
Asbestos Before Refurbishment: Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys
An asbestos register for day to day management is not enough before building work starts. Refurbishment and demolition work needs a more intrusive survey of the areas affected. Here is why, and how to plan for it.