Why an EPC Has Never Told the Whole Story
If you’ve ever bought a property, there’s a good chance you’ve looked at the Energy Performance Certificate before making a decision. Most people glance at the familiar A to G rating, compare it with similar properties and move on. The problem is that a single letter has never been able to tell the full story. […]
The Private Rental Market Is Changing – What Does That Mean for Landlords?
The private rental sector has been evolving for some time, but the pace of change over the last few years has been significant. Changes to taxation, rising borrowing costs, increasing compliance requirements, proposed EPC standards and, more recently, the Renters’ Rights Act have all contributed to landlords taking a fresh look at their property investments. […]
Why We’ve Invested in Our Own Drone
If you’ve had a survey carried out by us over the last few years, there’s a chance we’ve used a drone as part of the inspection. Until now, we’ve brought in specialist drone operators whenever a property needed a closer look at roofs or other areas that couldn’t be inspected easily or safely from the […]
Sustainability is no longer a specialist topic. It’s becoming part of everyday surveying.
Every so often a report comes out that feels less like guidance and more like a marker of where the profession is heading. The recent RICS publication on Sustainability Practice for Surveyors is one of those. For a long time sustainability has often sat in its own category. Something discussed separately from valuation, building surveying, […]
Don’t Leave Your Property Estate to HMRC: The Cost of Avoiding the Inheritance Tax Conversation
Earlier this week, I attended a red-book property valuation for a mixed-use commercial and residential asset, a shop with a flat above in West London. Immediately afterwards, I headed over to value a very similar property in East London. The valuations themselves were straightforward, but the context behind them was deeply poignant. The client had […]
Hidden Beneath the Surface: Why Modern Homes Aren’t Immune to Tree Root Damage in Extreme Weather
When most people buy a property that is less than five years old, they understandably assume that the foundations are rock solid and completely immune to structural movement. After all, modern building regulations are incredibly strict. However, as our team at Conway Chartered Surveyors frequently observes, nature has a way of testing even the most […]
Is Renting Broken? Navigating the Portfolio Pivot in the Age of the Renters’ Rights Act
The UK private rented sector (PRS) is currently navigating its most significant legislative shift in a generation. Between the findings of the recent ‘Is Renting Broken’’ report and the looming implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act, many portfolio landlords are asking a fundamental question: Is the current model still viable? At Conway Chartered Surveyors, we […]
As a Chartered Surveyor, I am closely monitoring the shifting landscape of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
For property owners and developers staying ahead of regulatory changes is the difference between a seamless build and a costly legal bottleneck. We are currently seeing a significant push towards modernisation within the industry, where there is a renewed focus on how Awards and agreements are handled—particularly concerning the speed of appointments and the clarity […]
Why the ‘Sellers Survey’ is the Secret to a 2026 Sale That Actually Sticks
As we move through the first half of 2026, the UK property market is showing remarkable resilience. With 1.20 million transactions predicted for the year, motivated buyers are clearly still active. However, beneath the surface of “Sales Agreed,” a persistent and costly issue remains: The Fall-Through. Early data for 2026 from Today’s Conveyancer and Estate […]
Navigating the 2026 Rental Market: Supply Shortages and the Case for Professional Portfolio Valuations
The UK private rental sector is currently facing a significant shift. Recent market snapshots, including the latest RICS sentiment survey, highlight a growing trend: landlord instructions are at a low as many choose to exit the Buy-to-Let market. This “sell-off” is creating a stark supply-demand imbalance that is reshaping the landscape for those who remain […]
