INDEPENDENT ARTICLES, CLEAR INSIGHTS, STRAIGHTFORWARD ADVICE FOR INFORMED PROPERTY DECISIONS.

A good Schedule of Condition report is one you can rely on months later if a question arises: “Was this crack, stain, or defect already there?” The best reports are clear, methodical, and evidential—written in a way that makes disputes less likely and resolution...

The purpose of a Schedule of Condition report is to create a clear, objective record of a property’s visible condition at a specific point in time—most commonly before nearby building works, access arrangements, or other potentially disruptive activity begins. It...

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is law within England & Wales that sets out a practical, step-by-step process for carrying out certain types of building work close to, on, or affecting a shared wall or boundary. Its main purpose is to reduce the risk of neighbour...

An ex parte Party Wall Award is an Award made in the absence of one party’s participation—most commonly where the adjoining owner (or their surveyor) fails to engage with the statutory process. The phrase ex parte is a practical description used in the industry to...

An absolute Licence for Alterations covenant is the strictest form of alterations restriction you’ll find in a lease. It is a covenant that prohibits alterations outright — meaning the lease does not give the tenant/leaseholder a contractual right to carry out...

A snagging list is a detailed checklist of defects, incomplete items, and poor-quality finishes identified in a property—most commonly a new-build or newly renovated home. It’s used to record what needs correcting so the builder, developer, or contractor can put...

A qualified Licence for Alterations covenant is a clause (usually in a lease) that allows alterations—but only if you obtain the landlord’s prior written consent. In other words, alterations aren’t banned outright, but they are controlled. This is the most common type...

A party wall is a wall (or sometimes another structural element) that sits on the boundary line between two neighbouring properties and is used by both owners. It often forms part of the structure that separates the buildings and can provide support to one or both...

A post-work Schedule of Condition check-off is a follow-up inspection carried out after nearby works have finished (or after the notifiable stage has completed) to compare the current condition of the property against the original Schedule of Condition. Its purpose is...