Property Renovations That Add Value and Attract Tenants
Exceptional rental properties are a dime a dozen nowadays, and the industry is quickly becoming oversaturated and highly competitive. Nowadays, prospective tenants have plenty of options to choose from, so making your rental property stand out in functionality and aesthetic can be quite a challenge; that’s why renovating the interior and the exterior is one of the […]
What is a EPC and MEES?
What are Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)? An EPC is a certificate that rates how energy efficient a house or building is. By law, all sold, rented, or leased facilities must have an EPC, which will last for 10 years before it has to be renewed. It will tell you roughly how expensive property will […]
Common Flat Roofs Construction Types & Issues
Flat roofs are often found on extensions and outbuildings; however, they can sometimes be found on flats and commercial buildings. In general, they tend to be less effective than pitch roofs as they are less effective in shedding water, which can lead to more defects. Types of Flat Roofs Cold Roof A cold roof is […]
11 Common Defects in Older Homes
A large portion of older buildings, such as Georgian and Victorian houses, were designed to be breathable. Lime mortar and clay bricks were very popular in the Georgian and Victorian periods. These materials are permeable by nature, meaning when the water hits the external envelope can be absorbed and evaporated. Combined with the use of […]
Case Study: Edwardian Cottage Burst Pipe in Roof Space
One of the Surrey building surveyors carried out a building survey for an Edwardian cottage, in which there was an extensive amount of dampness. They tested for damp (which they do in all building surveys) assessed the repair property. There was also another significant defect in rotten timber windows in which there was evidence of […]
Property Market Legislation Changes
In the past few years, many changes to property legislation have come into force and, in many ways, affecting the UK property market. Some affected renters, others affected landlords, but in the grand scheme of things, some of them involve every side of the dice. Stamp Duty Changes to the stamp duty regulations meant that […]
New Property Management Laws Explained
At the Surrey Property Exchange meet, which we sponsored, we had the pleasure of meeting Peter Littlewood, from ‘iHowz‘ (formerly known as ‘The Southern Landlord Association’). Peter provided us with a refresher of the new laws that came in regarding landlords/tenants and a rundown on current government reviews, which could potentially translate into new laws within the […]
Tenant Fee Ban & Rental Guide
This guide is for tenants and landlords in the private rented sector to understand their rights and responsibilities. It provides a checklist and more detailed information on each stage of the process, including: what to look out for before renting living in a rented home what happens at the end of a tenancy what […]