Landlords: Is your “C” rating about to become a “D”?
For years, the EPC has been a “tick-box” exercise. That is about to change. We are currently seeing the most significant overhaul of energy reporting in a generation. The shift from RdSAP to the Home Energy Model (HEM) isn’t just a software update—it’s a fundamental change in how your property’s value and compliance are measured. If you […]
Are you a portfolio landlord navigating the complexities of both commercial and domestic assets?
Last week, we agreed a significant rent review for a client who owns a mixed portfolio across London. Their tenant was midway through a 20-year lease on a prominent restaurant property on a main road in South West London and were looking to exercise a rent review and wanted to understand the market rental value. […]
Major Shift in UK Property Law: The End of the “Feudal” Leasehold System?
January’s announcement by the UK Government marks one of the most significant overhauls of the leasehold system in England and Wales in a generation. With the introduction of the draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill, the government is taking direct aim at “spiralling” costs and outdated tenure structures. The Ground Rent Cap The headline change is […]
CPD Commitment and Year-End Update from Conway Chartered Surveyors
Earlier this month, our team at Conway Chartered Surveyors attended the ‘Current Residential Property Issues’ conference by Professional Conferences. This commitment to continuous professional development (CPD) ensures we maintain the highest standards of compliance across all divisions. Sharpening Our Compliance Edge The sessions led by industry expert Larry Russen on the Home Survey Standard were […]
The Deceleration of the ‘City Exodus’
The UK’s Internal Migration: Why the City Exodus Has Hit a Deceleration Wall For the past four years, the narrative of the ‘City Exodus’—the mass departure of residents from London and other major UK metropolises—has dominated property market discourse. However, recent data confirms a significant stabilization of this trend between 2022 and 2024. The rate […]
The Great Landlord Exodus: A Surveyor’s View on the Renters’ Rights Act
As an RICS Surveyor working across the residential and commercial sector, I fully support the spirit of the Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) to improve standards and security for residential tenants. However, the reality of recent legislation—including the RRA and previous tax changes—is creating a profound and damaging shift in the market. My most frequent conversations […]
Let’s Not Repeat the Mistakes of 2007: Have Your Say on Home Buying Reform
As an RICS Surveyor operating across London and the South East, I see the financial and emotional damage caused by transaction inefficiency every single week. We frequently reach the point of survey, only for a critical issue—structural, legal, or environmental—to emerge, causing the sale to collapse. The current system relies on late-stage due diligence, which […]
A Foundation of Quality: Celebrating UK Housing Standards This World Habitat Day.
This World Habitat Day, kicking off Urban October, Conway Chartered Surveyors is taking a moment to recognise a significant privilege: the inherent security and quality afforded by robust UK housing standards. In our work across London and the UK, we often take for granted the incredible benefits of our built environment. While no system is […]
Secure Your Future: How a RICS Surveyor Protects Landlords and Tenants During Rent Review
As a RICS surveyors we play a crucial role in commercial lease negotiations and rent reviews by providing expert, impartial advice and acting as a skilled negotiator. Their value comes from our deep understanding of market data, legal frameworks, and technical property issues. Lease Negotiations We add significant value to a new commercial lease negotiation […]
A new Housing Secretary, same old targets. But is 1.5 million new homes truly achievable?
As a RICS surveyor, I welcome Steve Reed MP to his new role as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. His appointment comes at a critical time for our built environment, and I hope it signals a new, pragmatic approach to the housing crisis. We’ve all heard the ambition: 1.5 million new […]
