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 […]
The Decent Homes Standard: A Strategic Roadmap for Private Landlords
The landscape of the UK Private Rented Sector (PRS) is undergoing a fundamental transformation. With the full implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill, the Decent Homes Standard—long the benchmark for social housing—has been extended to the private sector. For individual landlords, this is a significant change. But for commercial portfolio landlords managing multiple assets, it […]
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 […]
