Investigating Subsidence for Insurance
Subsidence is where the ground caves or sinks, which is a huge problem for homes built on top of it. There are many different causes of subsidence, and many ways in which it can be prevented or halted. One thing is for certain: the cost of subsidence can often be
How Soil Samples Help Identify the Cause of Subsidence
Subsidence can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. It can cause incredible amounts of damage and cost thousands of pounds to fix – even more if it is identified too late. If you suspect the ground underneath your home is subsiding, you need to take action quickly. Before looking into the
Bats and Building Work
It may seem like bad news if you think that you have bats in your property and certainly in terms of the legislation afforded to the protection of bats, it is a veritable minefield. Penalties relating to infringement of these legislations include anything up to six months imprisonment and/or a
Don’t Rely on Mortgage Valuation Reports
Don’t rely on the mortgage valuation report you have to pay for when you buy a home. This is simply a confirmation to your lender that it will get its money back on your property if you can’t pay. However, the valuation isn’t a survey and won’t tell you if there are
New Partner
Allcott Associates LLP are pleased to welcome new partner Matthew Baker MRICS. His appointment signals expansion of our commercial division. Matthew is a Chartered Building Surveyor with a wide variety of experience, which has been in both Private Practice and Public Authority, developing significant experience in all aspects of commercial
Lenders Should Inform Borrowers that a Valuation is Not a Survey
The Council of the Residential Property Surveyors Association (RSPA) has written to Hector Sants, chief executive of the Financial Services Authority, calling for an investigation into the advice mortgage lenders give their borrowers regarding valuations and surveys. In the letter the RSPA asks that the FSA takes urgent action to
Why Choose an Independent Surveyor?
The valuation report obtained by the mortgage lender will often be from an in-house staff valuer, an associated firm of valuers, or a corporate organisation with whom they have reciprocal arrangements. These organisations may offer additional Home Buyer Survey Reports or, occasionally, Building Surveys. Are they, however, truly unbiased? It
Health & Safety
As Construction Professionals it is our moral and professional duty to address the issue of Health and Safety with a view to significantly reducing the number of fatalities, serious injuries and other related illnesses and diseases occurring within our industry. Each year the construction industry is responsible for a significant
Why Choose a Chartered Building Surveyor?
The title “Chartered Building Surveyor” is protected by law and only those who are competent and have earned membership into the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors have the right to use it. A Chartered Building Surveyor must have either a qualifying Degree or Post Graduate Diploma from an RICS approved
