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

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...

A Level 2 Survey is a mid-level property condition survey commonly used in the UK when buying (and sometimes selling) a home. It’s designed to give you a clear, practical overview of the property’s condition—more detailed than a basic overview survey, but not as...

A fully qualified Licence for Alterations covenant is a lease clause that restricts alterations unless the landlord gives prior written consent, and adds an important safeguard for the leaseholder: the landlord’s consent must not be unreasonably withheld (and often...

Damage is one of the main reasons the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 exists. The process is designed to make it clear what the condition was before works, whether damage was caused by the works, and how it will be put right—without it turning into a long, expensive...

Your neighbour’s right to object After you serve a Party Wall Notice, the adjoining owner has 14 days to reply. If they dissent (object) or raise concerns, this doesn’t necessarily stop your project—but it does trigger the Act’s formal dispute-resolution process. The...