Low & Wyse Limited, The Building Practice

15/02/2022

A new build extension which is less than a year old, where the Contractor failed to vent the roof.

This shows how quick mould grows when a roof is not vented and how it can damage the structure.

28/01/2022

It’s not what you see, it’s how you see it.

Low & Wyse Limited, The Building Practice attended a property inspection this week where the homeowner believed an area of dampness was caused by a leak in the underfloor heating system.

Yes, there was a leak, but not from where they believed.

If you need a property defect diagnosed, we have the experience and equipment to find the answers.

01/12/2021

Have you just bought a new house? Is this a familiar story to you?

At Low & Wyse Limited, The Building Practice we work with homeowners to prepare snagging reports and work with their builder to resolve issues.

Get in touch if you need support.

Britain's new housing developments are often full of unhappy residents. Owners are complaining of soaring numbers of defects

26/10/2021

Interesting read, and completely misleading.

From the images in the article, the floor appears constructed correctly. The sight of the adhesive being applied around the hole is a concern as is the water staining along the wall. Difficult to see the Developer being responsible for this.

Option A: Post about it online and go to the press. Get nowhere.

Option B: Employ a Building Surveyor to determine the cause, and if and whom you may have a claim against.

Leaseholder Liam Spender lifted the carpet at his London flat to reveal the full extent of the damage - a hole that is around 40cm by 30cm.

01/08/2021

Interesting story from Germany, but I can re-assure you that this is not the way to deal with a construction dispute.

If you feel aggrieved as a contractor or client, feel free to get in touch and we can provide assistance on such matters.

Man is reportedly subcontractor for building’s developer

15/02/2021

Request for help

Please can you help Victoria complete the attached survey if you meet any of the requirements set out below.

Thanks in advance,

C.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=WNzgmUucIEiGFwTDhsJUxnvvzZrCpshDj8jcxu00tbFUNjZWWjhSWjZNMElXUkdUWTFXVVdRSklKQy4u

18/01/2021

Have you recently had some building works done on your property, or getting a new house built?

If you are, one great tip is take pictures of the progress at regular intervals.

I am asked on a regular basis to report on building disputes, and having this record can highlight both good and bad practices.

If all is good with the build, they are a good memory.

If things aren't good with the build, they can be a valuable record. Remember a picture is worth a thousand words.

Avoid getting yourself a 'Clatch'?

For local property advice, get in touch.

01/10/2020

Looking to purchase a commercial property? Needing a Building Survey? Call your local building surveyor for a quote.

04/07/2020

Looking for a builder, painter or tradesmen to undertake work for you? Some advice in case you missed it in the newsletter last month.

21/05/2020

25/02/2020

Interesting article in the March copy of the Kinross Newsletter. Make sure you remember to pick up your copy this weekend

01/01/2020

It’s the time of year when people start to think about moving, but should you?

Could your current home become your Forever Home?

Most homeowners look to move to achieve additional space, but sometimes this move can be made at the wrong time, with the result that you have the optimum space for a short period of time. This happens more so with families, who buy larger houses for a period of say ten years. Once the children are through their teenage years, you wonder what to do with the space once they’ve flown the nest.

Creating your Forever Home earlier has a significant number of benefits, rather than continual upsizing, then downsizing. It allows you to invest into your property to meet your foreseeable needs, as your life changes. Remember, every time you move you have the costs associated with it, such as estate agency and legal fees, moving costs and tax (Land and Buildings Transaction Tax), which for a typical four bedroom house could be over £10,000.

The Forever Home in essence, is a home where you can have children, giving them space to grow up and then for you to retire into.

The key to a Forever Home is flexibility. Think of rooms as spaces and how they can adapt to your changing needs. Can spaces be merged into one, or sub divided easily? Is the property in a locality which has all your needs? Is it possible to convert one of the downstairs rooms into a bedroom with shower room, if you have mobility problems later in life? With home working becoming more common, can a space be identified for an office?

If you are investing into a Forever Home, it can be made energy efficient. You can upgrade the thermal envelope, as it will likely pay for itself over your ownership. Areas can be zoned to reduce heating costs, when spaces are not used. This can be undertaken with intelligent heating solutions.

If you would you like local professional property advice on how to make your house your Forever Home, Low and Wyse Limited can provide advice on how to refurbish, maintain, alter and extend your property to meet your needs.