Licence to do what?!?!

Licence to do what?! Working as a building surveyor gives you some fascinating insights into how people live and what makes them tick. We’re often in and out of people’s homes, after all, and we’re trained to be observant! But perhaps there’s no aspect of a surveyor’s job more revealing than working on licence to … Read more

Don’t let Licence to Alter Drive you up the Wall

The number of leaseholders seeking permission to alter their apartments are on the rise. This has been driven by the need for more homeworking space, perhaps a children’s playroom, or simply to capitalise on the value created from an alteration.  Building surveyors and property managers are seeing more sophistication and ingenuity in effecting those changes, … Read more

LITTLE VENICE, BIG RULING

On 6 May 2020, the Supreme Court handed down judgment in the case of Duval v 11-13 Randolph Crescent Ltd [2020] UKSC 18, dismissing the Landlord’s appeal. The ruling states that a landlord is not entitled to grant a licence for alterations for works which would otherwise breach an absolute covenant where there was also … Read more

Want to make alterations to your flat? You may need a licence to alter

We have crafted a handy document which provides guidance for leaseholders on the Licence to Alter process. Click here to view. There are many ways in which a leaseholder could make alterations to their property to improve its condition, its size, its value, or to improve their own quality of life. However, it’s important to … Read more

Future Group Presents: A Christmas CPD event | 18 Dec 2019

Details: Delighted to be invited to  speak at this festive & valuable CPD afternoon session organised by Future Group. The afternoon includes a number of speakers from the block management sector, and Earl Kendrick Building Surveyors will be discussing ‘The 12 things a surveyor wants for Christmas’… DATE: 18 DECEMBER START: 13:30 DRINKS: 17:00 – … Read more

CPD Event: Leasehold Management Professionals, 3 Dec 2019

Details: Sponsored by Earl Kendrick Building Surveyors, this is a valuable CPD afternoon session organised by Leasehold Management Professionals. The afternoon includes a number of speakers from the block management sector, followed by festive drinks. EVENT TIMINGS: 12:00 to 13:00 – Lunch & Networking 13:00 to 15:30 – Speakers & Sessions 15:30 to 16:30 – Post-Event Drinks & … Read more

Licence to Alter: New builds

new build residential block

There is a widespread misconception that newly-built modern flats are entirely fit for purpose from the word go and will require only minimal maintenance. Home buyers and even many property professionals assume that beyond a bit of cosmetic upkeep, brand new flats won’t require any significant work until years into their life. This is a … Read more

Property Management Event: Multi-Skilling for Property Managers

Details: Earl Kendrick is a key sponsor of this inaugural conference at Oxford University’s St Hugh’s College. Full details are on the organiser’s website, www.pmlegalconferences.com. Join us there for Earl Kendrick sessions on Getting the most out of your building surveyor, Planned Maintenance Programmes and Licence to Alter.  

Licence to Alter: getting the balance right

Jonathan is a leaseholder in a lovely two-bedroom apartment in a stunning residential block. He had lived there for three years and one day he had a vision! This involved knocking down a partition wall between his kitchen and sitting room, and installing a hard-wood floor throughout the newly created, open-plan space. He knocked on the wall … Read more

Licence to Alter: Retrospective consent

While any competent surveyor will advise when licence to alter is required, it is ultimately the responsibility of the leaseholder to obtain a licence when necessary before undertaking alterations. A contractor is unlikely to ask for the relevant consent paperwork before beginning work, so in purely practical terms, it is perfectly possible to carry out … Read more