​Cavity walls have been common place in construction and have been since the late 1800s. Their implementation in Britain became the go-to method of post-war era construction and continue to be widely used. Although timber frame systems are often used in twenty first century home building due to their cost and time saving benefits they bring generating improved profits for the developers.

​The method of construction grew in application due to the walls superior characteristics. The cavity (air gap) is good at keeping heat in and stopping issues like condensation caused by thermal bridging often observed on traditional solid wall construction. The gap between the internal and external layers of the wall acts as a thermal barrier/break, helping to keep homes warm and dry. According to the BRE Report 262: Thermal Insulation—Avoiding Risks, a well-maintained cavity reduces damp and mould inside the house. Early cavity walls up to the late 1975s were not generally insulated. This upon reflection has left them vulnerable to moisture and overtime may be a hidden pandemic.

Typically the internal leaf of a cavity wall structure is load bearing and the outer portion play a more stability and aesthetic purpose. The two leafs are held together by metal ties ensuring a sturdy structure. Cavity wall ties are metal pieces/clips installed, spanning the cavity, to hold the inner and outer walls together. This in effect should be the only breach in the structure and have been knows to create a potential weak spot. Modern ties are generally stainless steel and designed to hold their integrity far better than their earlier ancestors; however, most ties made in the mid-20th century used galvanised steel. Unfortunately the galvanised coating and manufacturing practices wasn’t always up to scratch, as noted in the BRE Good Repair Guide 59: Understanding Cavity Wall Construction. Over time, exposure to moisture has caused some ties to corrode behind their protective coatings. The occurrence of tie deterioration in a lot of properties has been leading to serious issues and it may be getting worse. 

As observed the front of your house could just fall off which it isn’t suppose to do.


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A couple of years ago, I made the move from a suburban London borough to the countryside in a Home County, seeking a better quality of life while still maintaining proximity to transport links for work. The move opened my eyes to rural life. I’ve become increasingly aware that 70% of the country’s land area is used for farming, with a significant portion protected under agricultural designations. These protections make it challenging and almost near impossible to repurpose land for development, even amidst a housing crisis that demands innovative solutions. (Message from Labour “watch that space”.

With substantial economic and housing demands and an eager new government, the perspective many take is to target rich “Tory” farmers suggesting they turn farmland into housing and are taxed more. Whilst my expertise is property and building I personally feel that in a world of uncertainty, being an island is a blessing, and self-sufficiency offers great benefits—it allows control over food quality and cost. Basic supply and demand principles suggest that losing supply will drive costs. Farmland may be vast, but its value, particularly for farmers, is limited and doesn’t always equate to money in the pocket. The land may be worth a lot (to some), but ultimately, it needs to be worked by farmers—an occupation that is in gradual decline. 

I believe it is never beneficial to encourage farmers to sell or develop their land or, worse, to convert lush green fields into the red-brick developments of Taylor Wimpey new-builds but there may be more modest opportunities to make an extra buck and support regional economies. Yet maintain the farming culture.

What opportunities currently exist for farmers to diversify their land, ensures financial stability, yet avoid the temptation to turn to new-build developments, which seem to be the most obvious solution to the housing crisis?

This blog has been written in light of recent changes in inheritance exemptions for farmers, which may create significant challenges for those who feed the nation.

Personal note:
I recently become interested in the topic of the farming industry when I watched a TV series which opened my eyes and may have even been a factor into where I moved to. The series Clarkson’s Farm saw former Top Gear host (and public disappointment) Jeremy Clarkson attempt to show the difficulties of running a farm. Of course, there were plenty of innuendos and a few instances of tractors reversing into hedgerows, but the show did open the nation’s eyes to some of the difficulties. In particular the challenges of securing planning permission for developments that would enhance a farm’s financial stability. I found this aspect of the show to be sensationalising town planning, but it made me realise there is some merit in assisting farmers, as we’ve started to see. It’s put farming in the public eye and may even be a substantial contributing factor in why recent taxation announcements and protests have made the 6 o’clock news. It is important to note that Clarkson did buy the land to avoid tax and as a result there may be some merit in better executed tax changes with further exemptions.  Furthermore most farmers do not have millions of followers who would happily turned a portion of the Cotswolds in to a weird kind of motor enthusiast Mecca or queue in the rain for a pint of “cow juice”.

Buying a flat—whether in a Victorian conversion, purpose-built block, or a modern development—comes with its own set of challenges and responsibilities. These often far differ from owning a house which many fail to understand. One of the most common questions we’re asked by potential buyers, particularly in Greater London and other bustling areas like Birmingham, Oxford, and Worcester, is:
"Should I get a survey on a flat?" 
The short answer? Absolutely.
Obviously as with all large purchases in your life you to want to be sure upon purchase it is as expected and a flat is no difference.
But let’s dive into the details to understand why this is so important.

Every now and then, my team and I like to play a little game I call the "Surveyor’s Where’s Wally". The purpose of this is to  keeps the young ones out of trouble but also top up our skill of spotting defects (as the kids say IRL "in real Life"). We drop a random pin on a map—urban, suburban, or occasionally rural (if you fancy seeing something somber). We then Inspect the area virtually. It’s all in good fun, but what we find is anything but amusing. Drop a pin anywhere in cities like London, Manchester, Oxford, or Birmingham, and there’s a high chance you’ll land with some pivoting on a building that’s suffering from maintenance issues. Rotten windows, failing brickwork, leaking gutter and dodgy roofing are par for the course. Even worse on occasions, we do also witness deterioration such as Structural lintel failure.
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Recently, I realised that this isn’t in isolated cases either. A staggering 20% of England’s housing stock predates 1919, with over 35% built before 1945. That’s millions of homes—many privately rented or owned by social landlords—creaking under the weight of time and neglect. (Source: English Housing Survey, MHCLG).

I have never completed a survey or a building (other than spanking new builds) that have had zero defects to report!!

​As we barrel towards the festive season, the time for family dinners and holiday cheer also sparks a wave of reflection on how our homes serve us. January through February often sees a surge in inquiries about extensions and improvements. So, whether you're dreaming of a larger kitchen, brighter spaces, or a more functional layout, this guide will walk you through the DOs and DON’Ts of home improvement with a sprinkle of wit and practical advice.

​Imagine it’s a chilly Friday morning, and your builder just… vanishes. One moment they’re promising smooth sailing, and the next, they’re MIA. That’s exactly what happened to a client of mine not too long ago, and let me tell you, scrambling to track them down was not how I planned to spend my day. That chaotic experience taught me some valuable lessons about finding and working with builders—lessons you won’t find in any how-to guide. Here’s what I’ve learned (the hard way!) about picking the right builder.

​If you’re selling a property, chances are you’ve heard the phrase “building survey” thrown around by buyers eager to give your lovely home the once-over. You may be wondering what it all really entails—and whether it's something you should dread. Good news! Building surveys can actually work in your favour, and here’s why.

​The United Kingdom's planning system is like Marmite—you either hate it or really, really hate it. Yet, with a new Labour government under Keir Starmer in charge, the planning system is poised to undergo significant changes, or so the promises go. Starmer and his team have made ambitious commitments to reform the planning system and address the chronic housing shortage that has plagued the UK for years. But before we get too carried away, it’s worth pausing to consider what’s actually likely to happen when promises meet the reality of governing.
In this article, we'll delve into the Labour Party’s promises, compare them with past efforts at reform, and attempt to make an educated guess about what lies ahead for the UK’s planning system and home building sector. Spoiler alert: it's going to be a wild ride, but whether it will be a smooth one for us and our clients remains to be seen.

The UK Planning system plays a crucial role in encouraging economic growth, promoting affordable homes, and creating high-quality spaces. However, public trust in the system is low, with 58% of the UK population distrusting their local government (OECD, 2022). Craig McWilliam of City Monitor stated, “The British public have lost faith in the planning system.” One reason for this distrust is the failure to meet statutory homebuilding targets of 300,000 new homes per annum set in the 1950s (Watling and Breach, 2023). This under-delivery impacts home ownership, a sense of belonging, and family planning decisions (House of Lords, 2016).

In 2020 Joe wrote an article targeting his view on the changes to the planning system which occurred through the government. This can make an impact on people wanting to make improvements on their homes.

To read the full article: ​https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:0b6d97c5-629b-4063-977e-71359d6658e1 

​When embarking on a construction or renovation project understanding the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is crucial. Failing to comply could result in complicated and costly legal action from your neighbour even before starting the work.
A party wall survey and agreement ensures that certain works conducted to a shared structure or near the boundary is carried out with minimal disruption to both parties either side of the ‘fence’. This post delves into the importance of abiding to the Party Wal etc. Act 1996 the process involved, and the key benefits generated as a result.