Taylor Mitchell Blog

In recent years, the RICS have tried make life easier for homebuyers by insisting that members benchmark their survey reports. Every report must be allocated a Level between 1 and 3. The RICS have produced a set of templates but members are also free to use their own as long as it is clear to clients which level of report they are ... Read more >>

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 sets out a framework to facilitate works that have the potential to affect shared structures or adjoining properties but seeks to ensure that such works are undertaken without adjoining owners and occupiers suffering unnecessary inconvenience. This balance is achieved by requiring the party intending to undertake ... Read more >>

Some building owners dislike the Party Wall Act intensely. They see it as an unnecessary layer of red tape they must navigate before improving their home or a gravy train for unscrupulous surveyors. This is despite the original purpose of the Act being to facilitate building works by providing a whole series of rights to owners that they would not ... Read more >>

This is where we summarise the typical defects affecting slate roof coverings. Nail rot (or nail sickness) Unlike tiles, which have nibs that hook over the tiling battens, slates rely entirely on their fixing nails to remain in place. These days, copper or galvanised steel nails are used to secure roof slates as they do not deteriorate, but ... Read more >>

This is where we summarise the typical defects affecting tiled roof coverings. Moss By far the most common issue with pitched roof coverings, and in particular tiled coverings, is the accumulation of moss. The most obvious issue with moss relates to another element, rainwater fittings, which become blocked as the moss builds up and ... Read more >>

This is where we summarise the typical defects affecting sarking felt. Deterioration where exposed A common defect, and one that can be difficult to see, is deterioration of the strip of felt which projects beyond the bottom row of tiles/slates and sits just over the edge of the gutter. A combination of direct sunlight, splashback from the ... Read more >>

There’s nothing more important than keeping a property dry and that starts with the roof covering. Pitched roof coverings broadly breakdown in to two categories; tiles and slates. Corrugated sheeting and felt is occasionally used but that tends to be on temporary buildings so won’t be covered in this post. Roof structures and weathering will ... Read more >>

This is the second part of a post from a couple of weeks ago in which I discussed the jurisdiction of Appointed Party Wall Surveyors. In this post I’ll look at whether a surveyor appointed by one of the owners to resolve a principal dispute (which is usually non-specific) remains appointed should further disputes arise either during or following ... Read more >>

Until 2008 it was widely accepted that when a party wall notice was consented to it brought procedures to an end and if a subsequent dispute arose it would have to be dealt with at common law rather than by appointed surveyors. I know the date because it was when the judgment in Onigbanjo V Pearson was handed down. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is ... Read more >>