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

“Typical Licence for Alterations works” are the kinds of changes a leaseholder (or commercial tenant) commonly wants to make, but cannot legally proceed with under the lease without the landlord/freeholder’s written consent. These works are usually controlled because...

A Level 2 Survey (typically the RICS Home Survey – Level 2) is designed to give you a professional, objective overview of a property’s condition through a more extensive visual inspection—but it has clear boundaries. Understanding those boundaries helps you interpret...

The Licence for Alterations procedure is the formal process a leaseholder (or commercial tenant) follows to obtain the landlord/freeholder’s written permission to carry out works that are restricted by the lease. While the exact steps vary between landlords and...

A Level 2 Survey uses a simple set of condition ratings to help you quickly understand what needs attention, how urgent it is, and what you should do next. The ratings are designed to turn a long technical report into a clear, prioritised action plan—so you can decide...

A Level 3 Survey (often referred to as a Building Survey) isn’t just “a visit and a report”. Done properly, it delivers a clear set of practical outputs that help you make a confident buying decision, plan repairs, and manage risk before you become legally committed....

If you believe a Party Wall Award is wrong, unfair, or doesn’t properly protect your property, you do have options—but the key point is that the main legal remedy is time-critical. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, either party can appeal the Award to the County...

A Licence for Alterations covenant is a clause (most commonly found in a lease) that controls what changes you can make to a property and requires you to obtain the landlord’s written consent before carrying out certain works. In practice, this covenant is the reason...

A good Level 3 Survey (often called a Building Survey) is more than a report—it’s a way of taking control of one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make. At its best, it gives you clarity, reduces uncertainty, and helps you act with confidence whether you...

These are two different ways of challenging an Award, and they are based on different legal ideas: An appeal accepts that the Award is a valid Award, but argues it should be changed or cancelled because the surveyor(s) made an error (law, procedure, or...