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

In short both. A Level 3 Survey (often referred to as a “Building Survey”) can be carried out on houses and flats. The key difference isn’t the property type—it’s the level of detail and the type of risk you want the survey to address. RICS describes a Level 3 survey...

When a Party Wall Notice is dissented to (or there’s no response), the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 gives two routes for resolving the matter: One Agreed Surveyor (a single surveyor acting for the matter), or Two Surveyors (one appointed by each owner), who must also...

In most cases, you can’t require your neighbour to pay their surveyor’s fees simply because they chose to appoint one. The general rule (most common situation) If you are the building owner (the person carrying out notifiable works), you should normally expect to pay...

Party wall matters are often associated with regulating building works—setting out how an extension, loft conversion, or excavation should be carried out and what protections must be in place for the neighbour. However, the party wall process also involves...

Yes — snags are very common on new build properties, even on well-managed developments and even when the home looks immaculate at first glance. New homes are assembled quickly by multiple trades working to tight deadlines, and the final stages of a build involve a...

Yes — sometimes — but it depends far less on “how many snags there are” and far more on where you are in the buying process, how serious the issues are, and what your developer (and lender) will accept. In most new-build purchases, developers will prefer to fix snags...

Yes — in many cases you can obtain a retrospective Licence for Alterations (sometimes called retrospective consent), but it’s rarely as simple as “pay a fee and get a letter.” A landlord/freeholder is being asked to approve works after they have been completed,...

Sometimes yes, but not in the simple “I demand it and they must comply” sense. In the UK, your ability to make a contractor return and fix snagging items depends on: what your contract says (written quotation, scope, payment terms, retention, defects period) whether...

Choosing between a Level 2 and Level 3 survey isn’t about paying for “more pages” — it’s about selecting the right level of investigation for the risk profile of the property you’re buying. RICS sets out three home survey levels, and the right choice will usually...