by Howorth | Jan 28, 2026 | Articles
A Licence for Alterations (sometimes called a licence to alter) is a formal written permission from a freeholder/landlord that allows a leaseholder (or tenant) to carry out certain works that would otherwise breach the lease. It is most commonly needed for leasehold...
by Howorth | Jan 28, 2026 | Articles
When you’re buying a property, you’re not just buying square footage—you’re buying the building’s condition, its future maintenance burden, and the risks that come with its age, construction, and history. That’s exactly why many buyers choose a Level 3 Survey (often...
by Howorth | Jan 28, 2026 | Articles
For most home buyers, a “Full Building Survey” and a “Level 3 Survey” are the same thing in practical terms. RICS introduced the Home Survey Levels (1, 2 and 3) to standardise survey descriptions, and Level 3 is the most comprehensive option. RICS also explains that...
by Howorth | Jan 28, 2026 | Articles
Damp is one of the most common concerns raised in home surveys—because it can be expensive to fix, disruptive, and (when misunderstood) easy to treat the wrong way. A Level 3 Survey (Building Survey) includes a thorough, building-led assessment of moisture risk across...
by Howorth | Jan 28, 2026 | Articles
It’s very common for a surveyor to be unable to inspect something during a Level 2 or Level 3 Survey—lofts packed with storage, flat roofs with no safe access, drains with sealed covers, locked outbuildings, or rooms full of furniture. When that happens, it doesn’t...
by Howorth | Jan 28, 2026 | Articles
A Licence for Alterations agreement can be quick and painless — or it can become slow, expensive and frustrating. The difference usually isn’t the works themselves. It’s how well the process is managed, how clearly the risk is addressed, and how professionally...
