Latest Chartered Surveyors News and Advice

Building Survey Certainty in Cautious 2026 Markets: RICS Insights vs AVMs for Resilient Property Types

{"cover":"Professional landscape format (1536×1024) magazine cover hero image featuring bold text overlay 'Building Survey Certainty in Cautious 2026 Markets' in extra large 70pt white sans-serif font with dark gradient shadow, positioned in upper third center. Background shows split-screen composition: left side displays RICS-qualified surveyor with tablet examining Victorian brick property

April 17, 2026

Awaab’s Law 2026 Hazard Expansions in Expert Witness Reports: Protocols for Electrical, Fire, and Hygiene Disputes

A two-year-old child died from prolonged mould exposure in social housing—a tragedy that sparked legislative reform now reshaping how expert witnesses approach hazard assessments across the UK rental sector. The 2026 expansion of Awaab's Law introduces five new hazard categories that experts predict will generate a 40% increase in landlord-tenant

April 17, 2026

Renters’ Rights Act 2026 Impact on Valuation Surveys: Adapting Rental Property Assessments Post-Section 21 Abolition

The Renters' Rights Act received Royal Assent on October 27, 2025, and fundamentally reshapes how 11 million private renters and 2.3 million landlords interact across England [1]. With all provisions taking effect from May 1, 2026, property valuers face their most significant challenge in decades: recalibrating rental property assessments in

April 16, 2026

Whole Life Carbon Assessment in Building Surveys: RICS 2nd Edition Standard and Surveyor Implementation in 2026

Buildings account for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, yet most property assessments still ignore the carbon footprint embedded within walls, floors, and foundations. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has responded to this critical gap with their updated Whole Life Carbon Assessment standard, now in its 2nd Edition

April 16, 2026

Building Surveys for Damp and Mould Under Expanded Awaab’s Law: Assessment Frameworks for Private Rented Properties

Awaab's Law has fundamentally transformed how damp and mould hazards must be addressed in rental properties, introducing strict investigation timeframes that leave no room for delayed responses. Social landlords now face mandatory 14-day investigation deadlines and 24-hour emergency response requirements—and the private rented sector is next in line for these

April 16, 2026

Valuation Accuracy in Uncertain Markets: Using RICS Real-Time Insights vs. Automated Valuation Models in Spring 2026

The March 2026 RICS Residential Market Survey reveals a stark reality: house price net balances have plummeted to -15%, marking one of the sharpest declines in recent years.[5] As buyer enquiries weaken and geopolitical tensions continue to ripple through property markets, the question facing investors, lenders, and homeowners isn't whether

April 16, 2026

Party Wall Surveys in PRS Extensions: Navigating Awaab’s Law Compliance and Structural Hazard Mitigation

The number of party wall awards now flagging Awaab's Law-related hazards has increased by 340% since October 2025, with structural collapse risks, electrical failures, and moisture ingress dominating surveyor reports across Private Rented Sector (PRS) extension projects. As regulatory enforcement intensifies in 2026, landlords and property developers face a complex

April 16, 2026

Expert Witness Roles in Private Rented Sector Database Disputes: Valuations for Section 8 Compliance Challenges

The intersection of landlord registration requirements and housing assistance programs has created a new battleground where property valuations determine legal outcomes. As the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database becomes mandatory across England and Section 8 compliance challenges intensify, surveyors are increasingly called upon to provide expert testimony that can make

April 15, 2026

Party Wall Surveys for Pet-Friendly Rental Conversions Under Renters’ Rights Act 2026: Ensuring Compliance and Minimising Disputes

Despite the Renters' Rights Act 2026 aiming to expand pet-friendly housing, pet-friendly property listings have actually declined by 13% since implementation[1]. This counterintuitive trend reveals a critical gap: landlords fear structural modifications and neighbour disputes when converting properties for pet access. As 81% of rental operators report growth in pet

April 15, 2026

Level 3 Building Surveys for Excess Temperature Hazards in PRS: Awaab’s Law 2026 Protocols for Overheating Assessments

Excess temperature hazards in rental properties now carry the same enforcement weight as structural collapse and fire risks. Under Phase 2 of Awaab's Law regulations taking effect in 2026, private rental sector (PRS) landlords face strict 10-working-day investigation deadlines and mandatory remedial action for overheating issues that previously received minimal

April 15, 2026

Valuation Strategies for Institutional BTL in 2026 Recovery: Leveraging LRG Insights on Reformed Homebuying Processes

Institutional buy-to-let (BTL) portfolios across the UK are experiencing a 34% surge in survey volume requests compared to 2024 levels, signaling a fundamental shift in how professional landlords approach property acquisition during the 2026 market recovery. This dramatic uptick reflects not only renewed investor confidence but also the impact of

April 15, 2026

Expert Witness Valuations in Section 8 Eviction Disputes: Building Cases Post-Renters’ Rights Act Abolition of Section 21

The abolition of Section 21 "no-fault" evictions has fundamentally transformed the UK rental landscape, forcing landlords to rely exclusively on Section 8 grounds for possession. As of March 2026, RICS data reveals a 340% increase in expert witness instructions for eviction disputes, with surveyors now playing a critical role in

April 15, 2026

CONTACT

BLOGS

OUR LATEST ARTICLE

Building Survey Certainty in Cautious 2026 Markets: RICS Insights vs AVMs for Resilient Property Types

Awaab’s Law 2026 Hazard Expansions in Expert Witness Reports: Protocols for Electrical, Fire, and Hygiene Disputes

Renters’ Rights Act 2026 Impact on Valuation Surveys: Adapting Rental Property Assessments Post-Section 21 Abolition

Whole Life Carbon Assessment in Building Surveys: RICS 2nd Edition Standard and Surveyor Implementation in 2026

Building Surveys for Damp and Mould Under Expanded Awaab’s Law: Assessment Frameworks for Private Rented Properties

Valuation Accuracy in Uncertain Markets: Using RICS Real-Time Insights vs. Automated Valuation Models in Spring 2026

Party Wall Surveys in PRS Extensions: Navigating Awaab’s Law Compliance and Structural Hazard Mitigation

Expert Witness Roles in Private Rented Sector Database Disputes: Valuations for Section 8 Compliance Challenges

Party Wall Surveys for Pet-Friendly Rental Conversions Under Renters’ Rights Act 2026: Ensuring Compliance and Minimising Disputes

Level 3 Building Surveys for Excess Temperature Hazards in PRS: Awaab’s Law 2026 Protocols for Overheating Assessments

Valuation Strategies for Institutional BTL in 2026 Recovery: Leveraging LRG Insights on Reformed Homebuying Processes

Expert Witness Valuations in Section 8 Eviction Disputes: Building Cases Post-Renters’ Rights Act Abolition of Section 21

wimbledon Surveyors

important links

rics services

GET UPDATE BLOGS

Valuation Impacts of Pet Permissions Under Renters’ Rights Act 2026: Surveyor Assessments for PRS Properties

Party Wall Challenges in Bungalow Extensions: RICS Survey Protocols for Single-Storey Boundary Works in 2026

Flood Risk Valuations Post-Spring 2026 Events: Building Survey Integration with Environment Agency Data