The attached recommendation for my services comes from a client couple who were at their wits end. Their home had flooded and was liable to do so again if “the Authorities” would not let them drain ground and surface water into a foul sewer in the public road outside their home. After a very long time of negotiation that had got them nowhere I was called in to help.

It is with great pride and satisfaction that I report my services engineered a structured solution after fighting tooth-and-nail for common sense to override Regulations. My clients were delighted.

This case revolved around the urbanisation of land that then floods due to the water table having risen due to so much house building closeby. This scenario will no doubt repeat itself all across our green and pleasant land as climate change bites. Homeowners are recommended to not be fobbed off by officialdom.

TESTIMONIAL FOR DRAINAGE & RELATED WORK BY STUART PARRETT FRICS

I recommend that you use Stuart Parrett to provide professional services for securing permission to install or improve drainage in residential properties.

 

Work carried out by Stuart in 2010 and 2011 advised us on the improvements needed to prevent our property getting flooded. This was in 2 phases. Firstly, he persuaded the local authorities who were responsible for drainage (principally Hampshire CC, but also Winchester CC and Swanmore Parish Council) to agree to connecting our pipes into their drainage systems. Initially they were highly resistant to doing this.

 

Secondly he drew up the development of drainage improvements, selected a very good contractor (Metro Rod) and oversaw their work, acting as an advocate for us.

 

Key features of Stuart’s work are:

 

• It is highly professional. Stuart has wide experience of taking action to promote high professional standards including through the courts
• Innovative – Stuart makes extensive use of IT systems to manage projects & for researching the best solutions
• Rapid learner: Stuart developed an understanding of council policies and systems very quickly
• Good at getting professionals from different organisations to align their policies and understanding where they are coming from
• Empathetic, understanding how stressful it can be for clients to have to cope with threats of flooding of their property
• Understanding of the ways that problems can interact e.g. seeing how work to improve drainage can have unexpected impacts on ground stability of nearby buildings
• Good at explaining complex aspects of civil engineering to clients and good at communicating
• Responsive and timely. Stuart is very good at ensuring projects keep on schedule
• Hard working: Stuart is willing to put in extra hours to deliver work on time.
• Good value for money.

 

April 2011

Let me grab your attention……….

Which of these is the most astonishing statistic or comment (all are true)?

• Only about 1-in-10 home buyers get a private survey completed.
• Only 28% of Listed Buildings are insured: 55% are under-insured.
• 25% of all land is not “registered” despite registration starting in 1925.
• UK Housing stock is the oldest in the developed world.
• Only 1% of our housing stock is EPC Rated “A” or “B”.
• In 2001 new house building fell to its lowest level since the war.
• Social demographics reveal that although one-person-homes made up 19% of total housing stock in 1971, this stat increased to 31% last year (2010).
• Houses (NOT flats) represent 82% of the dwelling stock in England.

To me, two statistics leap out of the screen and shout at me:-

As a Surveyor I just do not comprehend why 9 out of 10 homebuyers do not get unbiased, independent Survey opinion. Surveys have proved to save buyers money (typically a x5 saving in relation to fee costs, perhaps a great deal more).

As a home owner and residential Surveyor I also find it staggering that only 1% of our total housing stock is reasonably good in saving energy or reducing carbon emissions.

It may surprise some readers that the trends towards desktop valuations, as opposed to visit-the-home-and-produce-a-real-valuation, is rapidly gathering pace such that soon buyers will not have anyone look at their purchases unless they can be educated NOW and elect to pay for independent opinion (always separate the loan/mortgage valuation from the private survey – these are two separate matters and only one is a “survey”; the survey should be completed after the Loan Valuation and loan offer is received, in writing ).

At any one time the forces and influences that combine to determine value or worth of an asset are shifting. Today we are entering a period of years whereby carbon footprint and energy performance profile will assert themselves and create a valuation premium.

Like it or not we will all need to far better understand the process of home buying and just what actually creates value.

All the usual candidates remain: a “top five” may look something like this–
1. Location
2. Condition
3. Size
4. Features
5. Modernity (in some cases)

However, word is out NOW that two new candidates are in the top five listing. These are:-
• Carbon footprint to build, plus
• Carbon and Energy footprint to live in.

These factors create “sustainability” and that state may help save our planet and help us save money (energy costs) into the long term future.

Fit-in-Tariffs and RHI (Renewable Heating Initiative) are just two examples of current schemes whereby the Government will underwrite an annual income to you if you change away from, or significantly reduce your consumption of, fossil fuels.

A Home Valuer must nowadays consider and reflect upon whether your home was carbon neutral in its creation and also whether it has a zero-carbon in-use footprint. Did non-sustainable trees and resources need to be expended to produce the home AND/OR can the home produce energy savings (or even create an energy flow into the national grid – an income stream) by clever design, systems and gizmos?

From now onwards these latter mentioned matters will rise and rise and create a new slice of home value leaving your own existing outdated home on the floor as far as “worth” is concerned. This process will be slow but would be kick started if loan and mortgage rates were switched to be lower if your home actually sold energy to, rather than used energy from, the national grid. Differentiation in favour of green homes cannot now be too far away.

Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder. Buyers looking at identical homes, but where one has a Government backed 25 year income stream attached to it and will probably sell for a higher capital sum will be considered more valuable today. For buyers to see the worth of such new initiatives means they must understand what is happening around them and this can only start by education: reading this article marks the start of that process.

So: Read the EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) on the home you wish to buy (this remains a mandatory document on any sell or letting in England). Find out how, and at what costs and future benefits, you could improve the structure and its services to create income and higher value/worth. Plan how and when you could achieve this.

Take energy seriously and take extra value from it.

Why choose an independent House Surveyor? Why choose PROinspect?

To those who have experienced the reasons why a Surveyor can make a big difference to a housing transaction I apologise for wasting your time. For those who look for cheapness and do not care who acts for them may I suggest you slow down and study the advice given below.

Blue sky thinking shouldn't be rushed. Choose your Surveyor wisely.

 

All Home Condition Surveyors should be at least working to a basic level of competence, carry at least the minimum level of insurances and have kept themselves reasonably up-to-date professionally and technically: the latest buzz words being Technical Due Diligence, or TDD.

Therefore, on the face of any one particular housing deal all Surveyors are equal.

WRONG. Some are more equal than others and provide a truly exceptional level of service designed to aid you to a swift and knowledgeable exchange of contracts with you in full control. Some are stuck in one gear and no matter what you want and need you will get what they always do: often this type of Surveyor is difficult to contact and is “protected” from client calls by a host of secretaries and customer services people (try attempting to actually talk to such a beast and you will see what I mean).

If all Surveyors train and generally work to a similar standard why do I need a better standard? Credit Crunch should have taught you what Bankers think of customers and how they cannot even make loans and mortgages on terms that most of us could even dream of finding acceptable. Self-interest is what I am defining: interests of the Bank are more valuable than mere customers interests. The same can be said of a lot of Surveyors.

What you need is a professional adviser who understands you, why you need a survey, what is happening in the marketplace and “know” the home type you are buying. Somebody who understands how most purchasers will not appreciate the mechanics of the chain of things that could go wrong and what can be done to protect their interests.

So what do I do that is over-and-above what the average Surveyor does?

1. I never accept a survey instruction without first personally talking to the client to ensure the product they asked for is relevant to the property and their budget. Other survey product options may be applicable.
2. I visit every relevant web-site that may give free data on the home being purchased so I have more that a cursory knowledge of the building and its history even before I see it. This allows me to easily focus on key issues and so better manage my time on your behalf. I even personalise my Site Notes template to reflect that initial property and risk-management data.
3. Where possible I interview the seller so I obtain detailed information on alterations, service histories, problems and possible disputes. This level of service acts as the eyes of the Solicitor acting for our clients.
4. In preparing your Report I pitch the words I use to my assessment of each clients technical property understanding: in other words I design advice to suit each client, as all clients are different.
5. I make sure you know that once you have your Report I am available to explain things to you, if you need that re-assurance.
6. If you need advice on what courses of action you could take I will advise you of your options.
7. If you need advice upon what Contractors to use I will make recommendations.
8. If your Solicitors or loan source need additional advice or information I can provide it.
9. If you need robust opinion to help re-negotiate the purchased price, just ask.

In other words, for the price of a survey you get a full Consultancy Service thrown in. I will not leave you stranded.

Practical, good communication is just as important to us as it should be to you. Our high service level not only helps you but also the seller because our actions do make the difference between actually buying and dropping out because “it all got too complicated”.

To some, our high service level is difficult to appreciate or understand. To those we have helped by these service standards we have customers for life and we have proved to be life-savers in a world of doom-and-gloom.

House of Horrors OR Home Sweet Home? The choice starts with who you allow to act for you. Do not get misled into requesting a simultaneous loan valuation and private survey: this is not the route to take for several reasons. Call us and we will explain.

Finally, let me provide a few examples of professionals who have been negligent and who cost clients thousands of wasted pounds:-

• Surveyor could not tell if the loft excrement was from vermin or bats: it was the latter and this caused redevelopment to be delayed nearly two years – (= technical incompetence).
• Valuer who over-valued a home by 55% – (= lack of local knowledge and quality control).
• Surveyor who did not detect that a house had been structurally underpinned three times: the effect of this was the client bought at an inflated price and was then denied Insurance cover and cannot now find a buyer at all – (technical and professional incompetence).
• A flooring contractor who laid a solid floor topped with hardwood: both failed and required replacement – (technical incompetence).
• A Solicitor who negligently conveyed a home that the seller could not then dispose of – (technical and professional incompetence).
• A Surveyor who did not know the difference between traditional construction and a home now designated as defective under late 20^th century legislation and is only worth half of what was paid for it – (technical and professional incompetence).

PROinspect have acted as Experts in preparing Court cases or in preparing evidence for Insurers in these and many other such cases. We are as pleased to act for you, an individual, as for acting for a large Company. Our standards do not vary.

High fee cost? Well no; we hope we are not cheap but above all we plan to be the best value-for-money. Many say we are safe-pair-of-hands in a wicked world.

Why chose an independent Home Condition Surveyor? It pays to not take the chance that cheap may be beautiful. You need expertise and certainty. We provide professionalism and robust, practical help.

The fallout of Japan’s problems, UK soaring energy bills, Libya and oil supply problems etc…. If these events are not worrying you about future energy needs and sources then you are either misguided or already have an energy solution to benefit from.

UK domestic homes produce the majority of our carbon emissions: 50% for space heating, 20% for water heating, 22% for lighting and appliances plus 5% for cooking. 50% of our total carbon emissions are from energy used to produce heat.

We must wean ourselves off non-sustainable fossil fuels consumption and begin to use alternative energy supplies such as Biomass systems (woodchip, typically willow or poplar, or wood pellets, sawdust); Water, Air and Ground source Heat-Pumps; Solar Thermal systems (up to 200 kWth) etc….

Unfortunately Britain has not historically treated this subject particularly seriously and we are now a long way behind nearly all European Countries. As a result energy competition is less than fierce and therefore energy costs remain relatively high.

The whole subject of Feed-in-Tariffs (FiT) and Renewable-Heating-Incentives (RHI) is now raging and soon you may need to know where you intend to place yourself to lower your costs and emissions for the sake of both our own budgets and the future of our planet.

Note that many systems nowadays do not require Planning Permission because they are included within General Permitted Development Orders.

The Government have introduced new financial incentive schemes to make us think about energy use and the emphasis is now on Feed-in-Tariffs (FiT), the Green Deal and Renewable Heating Incentives (RHI) to help us use renewable systems. This reflects passing of the Energy Act 2010, section 100. RHI on domestic property will not be come effective until 2012 but in the meantime the Government PR machine will be bombarding us with examples of nil-capital-costs schemes for heating schemes that are “paid back” by the savings achieved on energy consumption.

All new UK social housing schemes, since 2007, are built to the Code for Sustainable Homes. This rates homes from 1 to 6. Code 1 is a grade just over current Building Regulations standards and note that since 2007 all Affordable Housing has had to achieve Code 3.

Government intends all new build Homes should be zero carbon rated by 2016 in England. This is a massive step change policy and means dramatic change is needed in our general attitude to energy usage, thermal insulation and lifestyle.

Private Home building from October 2010 has been required to improve 25% on Carbon Emissions against 2006 Building Regulations (Part L improvements). Further improvement of standards will be brought in during 2013 and then again in 2016 (bringing all homes up to Sustainable Homes Codes 4 & 6 at that time).

The effect of these new codes means that the cost of housing is increasing thus further emphasising the need to keep energy costs LOW (or flatten to “nil” by innovative designs of new energy systems).

CHECK OUT these website facilities:- www.checkrenewables.org.uk and then clink “interactive tool” AND/OR www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/renewableselector/start/
AND/OR www.cibse.org/index.cfm?go=page.view&item=658

.

Tips & Warnings

Solar thermal heating

These convert light (direct or indirect) into heated water.

Some “combination” boilers are not compatible.

Legionnaire’s disease is a risk unless water is taken to 60 degrees or more.

Southern orientation for roof Panels is essential.

PV Panels

These convert light into free power.

Under the FiTs scheme you can get free PV panels for free daytime electricity (non-used electricity is taken into the national grid but the Contractor/Supplier gets this income stream, not the home owner – unless the home owner is paying for the whole installation).

Ground Source Heat Pumps

These take heat from out of the ground.

Often used in tandem with off-peak electricity for hot water storage.

Trench or Borehole types (3 bed semi may need 2 x 35m trenches).

Alternatives are Air or Water sources systems can be used but coefficients of efficiency are lower than for earth/rock systems.

Air and Water systems can also be noisy and/or require higher maintenance costs.

Biomass

Replace your boiler with a Biomass Boiler/system.

These are usually associated with non-small house sizes.

Biomass means animal and plant material: sustainable woods are already common nowadays as a model biomass source.

Storage of materials and ease-of-use are factors to consider.

Ash collection and disposal are also issues.

50% of homes are within Smokeless Zones and so “exempt” boiler devices, or those with special particulates filters, will be required.

I was asked to advise, value and survey a large, prominent Building on the River Meon in Hampshire. The history of the building was diverse and complex and included Insurance Claim underpinning, Flooding and much alteration. This was not a job for an outsider or novice:-

My client kindly commented, after exchange of contracts, as follows:-

I am happy to recommend Stuart Parrett unequivocally. His professionalism and experience, diplomacy and tenacity really shone through on our difficult and complicated purchase.  He was spot on with his valuation and uncovered lots of issues with the property that a less thorough surveyor may have missed. We have purchased with our eyes open and at the right price… thanks to Stuart.

I will be brief:

Please study this web-site: I am a heavyweight Residential Property professional and I need help NOW. Can you help me?

My contacts and web-site generate a large number of requests for help. Often this is for free advice but I do not mind as the goodwill generated is massive and such people often then recommend me to others who do become clients of the fee earning type.

This volume of referrals means that have need a National Network of similar Surveyor/Valuers. Members of experience and professionalism who have very higher standards of customer care.

I am looking to one or two Surveyor/Valuers in each County and perhaps several in London and the bigger Cities.

Fairly minor start-up costs will be required (to be agreed, to agree service level standards and uniform documentation etc…) and then PROinspect would take a commission for anything you can take on (it would be your choice).

At this early stage I have no further written details.

If I am striking a cord with you and you can see the sense in what this opportunity offers then e-mail me in the first instance and I wil then call you to discuss.

Typical tasks would include —–

1. Seller and Purchaser Surveys
2. Market Valuations
3. Divorce Valuations
4. Specific Defect Reports
5. Expert Witness Reports
6. General Consultancy Services.

E-mail me at stuart@proinspect.co.uk

No, not a legal run-down on what to do or not to do. Instead, a few words of wisdom to help you ensure “your X, or other-half” does pull a fast-one on you as far your joint Home is concerned.

I often get calls along the lines “Mr Parrett? I saw your web-site and need some advice. Can you help me?” The following comments distill these calls for help into a few Rules to protect yourself :-

1. Never agree to anything you do not fully understand.
2. Always take legal opinion, if at all possible.
3. When the time comes to VALUE THE HOUSE the following may help you —
   • Do not panic when your “other half” starts quoting strange fictional things about the house eg: “you do know it has got subsidence and isn’t worth much?”. Rise above such tactics and do not respond.
   • If the Valuation is organised through Solicitors you may be asked to provide two names of valuers you would be happy to use. Find two local Chartered Surveyors who specialise in Valuations (call the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in London if you are stuck). I prefer smaller firms to the larger ones. The more local the better. Your legal team will negotiate with your partners legal guys until a mutually acceptable Valer is agreed.
   • If I was one of these Valuers I would pre-quote 150% of my normal Valuation fee rates and charge each party 75% of that rate (you each save 25% of a normal Valuation fee).
   • Payment would be expected “up front” as in any dispute situation.
   • If you can be on-site when the Valuer inspects this is to be preferred – in case questions arise.
   • If Solicitors are not involved then attempt to get written agreement from your partner that a particular Valuer can be instructed jointly. You would need to get fee quotes and do not forget to tell each Valuer the purpose of the Valuation (“Matrimonial Proceedings” is the terminology used and include in your instructions that it is a joint instruction and ask if two Invoices can be generated – one for each party).
   • Be friendly to the Valuer and have copies of any guarantees, plans, warranties, boiler service plan papers etc…. ready when he or she arrives.

Often when I am on-site, and usually when only one party is present (not both husband and wife), comments are made that could be construed as “attempting to get at me”. I am immune to such attempts and would say that at the human level they can easily go against the person making them. This shows that whoever you instruct must be of strong character and of robust constitution. This is yet another reason why it is vital for you to actually speak to the Valuer who is to inspect your home (and not a secretary or other such Agent or middleman).

The “good Valuer” will only include Report comment if he or she is convinced it is factual and important. However, where some doubt exists, and if the information is vital or may affect the tone of the Valuation, the information may be included but with a reference as to where it came from and why anybody reading the Report must strictly verify the information before any agreement is reached.

Valuations for Divorce or Matrimonial Proceedings are not for wimps: make sure you don’t use one.

Commenting on PROinspect Consultancy, and Stuart Parrett in particular, Dominic Beeton stated —-

On the professional side of things, I would strongly recommendStuart Parrett of ProInspect. Stuart runs a firm from Bishops Waltham. Check his web site here He is a residential surveyor who has a fervent passion for surveying and wants to share that passion with the world.  His web site is crammed full of useful articles.  If you need a surveyor who will produce a comprehensive survey report using the latest technology including thermal imaging, Stuart is your man.  He is also a really nice chap.

RL kindly sent (Oct 2010) the following to me after I advised her on her purchase —

I recently moved into my new home near Fareham after deciding to leave Surrey and settle near to the sea. After months of searching I found a house that suited my needs. The house was only 12 years old and I knew there were no serious problems but still wanted to ensure that I wasn’t buying myself a heap of problems.

I approached Stuart at PROinspect and asked if he could check the house over for me and report back verbally – I didn’t need a lengthy written report, just some reassurance and advice. I couldn’t have found anyone better to provide what I required, and more.

Stuart carried out the survey promptly and reported back to me as requested. He checked things I would never have expected, nor indeed have encountered on previous surveys. He reassured me not just about the house but also about the local environment, advising on the degree of seriousness and related appropriate action needed should I go ahead with the purchase.

All the advice and information was clear and precise and on the basis of Stuart’s assessment I was able to buy with confidence and am happily settled in my new home.

I really appreciated Stuart’s friendly manner and down-to-earth approach and felt totally confident that I was in safe hands.

I would not hesitate to recommend PROinspect to anybody requiring a survey or inspection on a residential property for whatever reason. Stuart has a wealth of knowledge and experience and is a pleasure to deal with.

RL

Dampness is caused by many factors and it is oft quoted that Surveyors mis-diagnose the causes of dampness. Personally I do not believe this but what I am convinced is true is that a home owners tend to either ignore damp and mould, a strange and self-defeating stance, or become paranoid and seek to completely eliminate all traces of moisture (which is not always a wise thing to do).

Nothing could be worse than ignoring the problems because they usually get worse. Our second reaction is often to get a specialist Damp Proofing contractor involved. Although this can be correct and proper it is my experience such salespersons often sell a solution that is not needed, and which costs you a small fortune. That solution usually means chemicals will be injected into the house walls and in this eco-world this cannot always be correct. Fortunately there are some Damp Specialists who do give good advice – we know who they are are work with them for mutual gain and to your benefit.

It is all subject to scale and degree but the wisest course of action is usually to get your local Chartered Surveyor in to inspect and advise you. I can be accused of profiteering here but I reject I am biased. Dampness can be caused by so many differing factors that a true analysis is absolutely essential to ensure the solution is sustainable. Where does damp occur, why and does a repair need to be completed?

The best way of preventing damp is to design an adequate barrier and to install it effectively during construction of the building. Otherwise a retrofitted system must be considered and such systems are often disruptive and costly.

Also one must consider a further serious problem in the industry of damp diagnosis – often the cause of the dampness problem is mis-diagnosed and this can lead to much unnecessary expense or, even worse, duplicated costs over a period of years as a second solution is then tried.

Condensation is often the actual problem and this can be associated with a lifestyle problem rather than a building defect: indeed, it is my experience that the large majority of dampness that as been rectified by chemical injection systems (see below) are, in fact, a combination of inadequate insulation and a lifestyle issue revolving around your own actions and methods of living in that particular building.

On top of these issues is the danger that historically the observed dampness may have brought with it minerals from the ground. These can migrate up and into wall-base plaster in your lower rooms. This contaminated plaster usually needs to be removed (but not always) and the affected rooms then replastered at high cost and disruption. The dampness may have also started the process of joinery or floor decay that may not manifest until many months later and so it usually pays to expose and lift floorboards before any works are specified – hense my assertion that it usually pays to get an experienced Home Surveyor to check out the home before works are started.

The Dampness Diagnosis Industry is one that is driven by a Free Surveys by the Company competing for retrofit remedial work. Often conflicts of interest result in misdiagnosis and all for the sake of home buyers or owners saving a few pounds by not calling for paid opinion from a local, independent Chartered Surveyor.

So, what are the main types of remedial system if an actual rising damp issue has been correctly diagnosed? Here is a basic list —

Chemical retrofit injection systems: these place chemicals within a wall such that the micro-porous structure of the masonry cannot take in moisture and this solidity prevents capillary attraction and so damp cannot rise into your home. Small holes are drilled into wall bases (usually outside but an interior system can be designed in some cases) and a chemical solution is then systematically injected into masonry until saturation point is reached.

Electro-osmosis: if a small electrical current (equivalent to that used by a doorbell) is passed through a wall it affects the rate of potential capillary attraction that causes water to rise in a wall (like a tree sucking water out the ground). This system typically has a Control Unit (an adaptive power source), Anodes drilled and set into the outside wall-bases plus, finally, an Earth Rod. These are provided externally and are effective if the circuit(s) is not broken or the power supply interrupted.

Physical = the introduction of a new barrier such as bitumen felt, plastic (polypropylene, EPDM or re-cycled), dense (engineering grade) brick course & mortar, lead or natural slate. Any physical barrier will need to be linked to any flooring membrane and be at least 150mm above outside ground levels. The precise position of the barrier must also ensure that embedded, suspended floor joists ends are protected from damp and resultant decay.

Schrijver System: (a proprietary brand product used as an example to identify any such system – a specialist physical system) = this relies upon inserted special devices placed inside a wall (inserted from the outside by a drilling process) that create cold spots to which water is drawn. That moisture is then collected and drained away safely.

Palliative measures – in essence these work on the principal that the damp is not the problem; instead you tackle and neutralise the effects of dampness rather than prevent the source(s) of damp (provided no serious consequence results from such proposals) — 1. Create a new inner skin with damp-membrane and insulant but with a vented space between damp old and stud new inner walls. Possibly complete this work in tandem with outside land drainage works. 2. Changes in occupants’ lifestyle patterns. 3. Provide better insulation and/or improve heating and venting of the building environment (or simply improve the control of such factors).

Arguments exist for each type of theory of repair, or action to combat dampness and its effects (mould, decay, health problems….). Factors to decide the best solution for you may include:—

• The robustness of the correct diagnosis of damp. This factor cannot be overplayed in importance as the large majority of dampness cases are initially mis-diagnosed by Surveyors.

• Whether the degree of damp warrants any actions at all.

• How green you require your repair solution to be.

• The effectiveness and longevity of the various types of solution.

• The costs, direct and indirect, of your preferred repair solution.

• Whether guarantees are issued, and upon what terms (such as being Insurance backed?).

• Whether it is wise to repair damp at all – eg: Cob walled buildings must be damp to remain structurally safe: eg: flint walls cannot be injected: eg: usually slim wall forms of Period Buildings need to breath and this precludes most remedial work methods.

• The peripherals such as the degree of Repair Company expertise required, whether Building Control Approval is need, length of time needed to complete the repairs, what conditions are placed on each repair method, any adverse effect on saleability or mortgageability of each type of repair system, etc……

• Sometimes remedial works might effect an adjoining structure and so the cooperation (sometimes mandatory under the Party Wall Act) of the adjoining property owner is needed before anything can be done.

In seems that the Industry has lapsed into saying the solution is a chemical injection remedial treatment, now what is the problem? Until we can get a little more sophisticated we will continue to complete unnecessary works and/or use chemicals when often we shouldn’t.

The crux of the matter often revolves around two factors (1) whether wall plaster needs to be removed and replaced as this greatly increases costs and length of contract, plus (2) are you prepared to accept that the way you live within the dwelling has caused the damp and mould and you may have to make lifestyle changes: (the latter scenario is real and it is my experience occupiers often will not believe the problem is self-inflicted. This plays into the hands of the rogue specialist damp companies).

It really is quite simple – as every home and method of occupation are so variable no one-solution-fits-all exists and therefore you need good quality advice. So, will you take advice from an impartial Chartered Surveyor or rely upon Bob the Builder or a company salesperson from a Dampness Contractor? The choice is yours.