As you know, as the owner of a leasehold flat, somebody else – the freeholder or landlord – owns the building itself and the common areas like hallways. That’s why leaseholders have to pay service charges, insurance, ground rent and other charges. Can you buy the freehold, and enjoy the ‘right to manage’ things yourself?…(Read More)

The Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 sets out the valuation principles used to calculate the cost of lease extension on a leasehold property, usually a flat. The law sets out a complicated process designed to keep things fair for everyone concerned and specifies exactly how the price is arrived at. Here’s…(Read More)

As an experienced party wall surveyor in London, we come across some proper horrors. Over the years we’ve heard of plenty of incredibly dangerous building projects without party wall agreements and others that have gone wrong despite a perfectly good legal party wall agreement. Sometimes the house next door is so badly affected that…(Read More)

Basement extensions are a great way to add extra space to your home, often enough space that you don’t need to move house. You might want to add an extra living room, bedroom or guest annex, perhaps a games room or gym, even a pool. On the other hand a basement extension can be…(Read More)