Category: Survey

Sometimes The Various Home Survey Options Can Be Confusing If you’re purchasing a property, you’ll almost certainly have received a recommendation to carry out a survey on your desired new home. However, if you’re a first-time buyer, (or even if you haven’t purchased a home for some time), you may find the various survey options confusing. That’s why our knowledgeable team at McCartneys have put together this expert guide to the most commonly performed home survey types.

What Are Home Surveys?

Residential surveys are detailed inspections that determine the condition of a property. Carried out by a professional surveyor, the survey reports any structural issues like subsidence or unstable walls, while also highlighting any significant alterations or repairs that are needed, like fixing the chimney or roof. The two residential survey types that are most frequently requested are the Building Survey and HomeBuyer Report.

What Are Building Surveys?

Building Surveys are a comprehensive form of survey. More costly than the HomeBuyer report, it’s mostly recommended for listed properties, older homes, or if you plan to carry out major refurbishment or rebuild projects. These reports include all the information supplied in the HomeBuyer Report, except a market valuation, however, it also includes an in-depth analysis of the condition of the property, including an evaluation of the loft and basement (where applicable), and checks behind the walls, ceilings, and floors. These survey reports include advice about maintenance options, repairs, and defects, including estimated costs and timings, and the possible consequences if the recommended works aren’t completed.

What Are HomeBuyer Reports?

HomeBuyer Reports are detailed surveys which are performed by a surveyor with RICS qualifications. The surveyor attends the property and carries out a visual inspection in detail before showing you their report which uses a “traffic-light” key as well as comments so it’s easy to identify any worrying issues quickly. Not only does the report include comments about the property’s overall condition, it also highlights any significant obvious problems like subsidence or rot. The surveyor also gives their market valuation of the property as well as the insurance rebuild cost and advice about any defects that could impact the property’s value.

What Are Mortgage Surveys?

If you’re buying your new home with a mortgage, your lender will require a mortgage survey, or valuation, to be carried out. Despite its name, it isn’t actually a survey. Rather, it’s a property overview that assesses its value to determine whether the property represents sufficient loan security.

Must I Arrange A Survey For My Chosen Property?

Property surveys are optional, but they help you to avoid unwanted and costly surprises while giving you complete peace of mind in your purchase. Since you’re spending a huge amount on your new home, spending a little more on getting a survey carried out is a good investment. The team at McCartneys especially recommend surveys to be performed if:

• You’ve got specific concerns about any element of your desired property.
• You’re unsure about the condition of the property.
• You’re keen to purchase a property that is unusual, old or a listed building.
• Your chosen property is timber-framed or has a thatched roof.

Our experienced team can help you determine the right kind of survey for you, so if you’re buying a home in Brecon and need some expert advice, email us today.

Do you have a premises in a Welsh Town Centre?

Do you have vacant upper floors of commercial space in a Welsh town centre? If so, this scheme may help you with some changes.

The Transforming Towns Placemaking Grant provides capital funding for local businesses, social enterprises, and public bodies to enable a broad and flexible programme of support for a wide range of projects that can help to rejuvenate town centres across mid-Wales.

The type of projects can include green infrastructure developments, public realm improvements, installing digital infrastructure in town centres, to internal and external commercial and residential property improvements and much more.

Potential projects will need to satisfy eligibility criteria which will include demonstrating clear links to a current Town Place Plan or Town Centre Strategy. Also, potential projects will need to satisfy the Transforming Towns Placemaking Grant Framework criteria.

One of which is the ‘Residential units in town centres’, this grant is aimed towards converting upper floors within the town centre into self-contained flats. Funding should be considered as a last resort and loans and private funding as a first option. Successful applicants will receive a funding contract from there local authority.

We have specialist advisors which can help with all grant needs and discuss matters further.

If you have any projects which you would like to discuss further, please contact your local McCartney’s office or through the details below:

Geraint – Geraint.jones@mccartneys.co.uk 07875 222 835 / 01686 623123

Megan – megan.davies@mccartneys.co.uk 01938 531000

Lewis – lewis.price@mccartneys.co.uk 01874 610990

We were delighted to recently receive confirmation that we have successfully won a planning appeal against the Local Planning Authorities decision to refuse a planning application for a single-storey front extension to an existing property, near Newtown, Powys. Having had two previous planning applications refused, the clients instructed McCartneys to submit an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate for the single-storey extension.

The Powys County Council Residential Design Guide Supplementary Planning Guidance offers the following guidance in relation to extensions to existing properties:

“As a general rule all extensions should be smaller than the original property, and with the exception of front porches they should be located to the rear or the side of the property, although the context and quality of the existing house and proposed extension will be taken into account”.

Front extensions to existing properties are normally difficult proposals to gain planning permission, however each proposal must be assessed on its own merits, and in this case the quality of the design and nature of the existing dwelling meant we were able to convince the Planning Inspectorate on the merits of the proposal. The guidance outlined above, provided by Powys County Council, was applied to this scheme and it was pleasing to see this work recognised by the Planning Inspectorate in granting this appeal.

We were confident in the proposal; however, it was great to see the hard work involved with a planning appeal pay off, resulting in the Planning Inspectorate allowing the appeal based upon our design, and planning permission has therefore been granted. Most importantly, this is a great result for our clients, who are now able to build the extension they wanted.

As always, if you have any planning needs you would like to discuss further, then please get in touch with the team who will be on hand to assist you:

Geraint: geraint.jones@mccartneys.co.uk | 01544 230316 / 07875 222 835

Lewis: lewis.price@mccartneys.co.uk | 01544 230316 / 01874 610990

Rhys: rhys.evans@mccartneys.co.uk | 01544 230316 / 01938 531000