Welcome to Cockrams Surveying Blog

What is an Expert Witness Report? An Expert Witness Report is a report produced by an ‘Expert’ providing their professional, unbiased, and uninfluenced opinion in relation to a dispute and matter surrounding the Expert’s area of expertise.  An Expert Witness Report is legally relied upon and may be used to assist in reaching a conclusion … Read More »

It will likely continue to be a topic of debate for a long time to come….should I have a survey on a new build property before commitment to purchase? and you are likely to be receive different opinions and answers to this question for many reasons.   Regardless of the age of a property and … Read More »

It has been several months now since the RICS new Home Survey Standards came into effect (1st March 2021). Many purchasers are still not aware of these new standards which were introduced to provide a clearer framework for residential pre-purchase surveys and the standards and minimum expectations required, as set out by the RICS for … Read More »

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a government energy efficiency scheme in Great Britain to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce carbon emissions. Cornwall is ranked as one of the top 10 areas in the UK for fuel poverty being a low income household with high heating costs. Around half of Cornish properties are not … Read More »

  New septic tank rules came into force on 1st January 2015. Regardless of age, the drainage system must meet The Environmental Agency General Binding Rules.  Two of the relevant British Standards currently in force are;   BS EN 12566 – 3:2016 Small wastewater treatment systems for up to 50 persons. Packaged and/or site assembled domestic … Read More »

Across the last 10 years we have seen phenomenal leaps in technology. We don’t have to look any further than companies we now use every day – Uber, Deliveroo, Tesla and so on. But, when it comes to moving home things have been relatively stagnant. Every time we move home it seems to be the … Read More »

Two types of domains and tenures of property law dominate the occupancy and homeownership in the UK, freehold, and leasehold. Though both look similar, the differences get revealed as you delve deeper into the laws, rules, and regulations surrounding them. The complexity of situations can be tricky. Hence, it is essential to know about them. … Read More »

What should you do? Should you try to find out the best mortgage deal or give a buzz to some mortgage advisor in the town? Every potential buyer has this question in mind. The decision is purely personal. If you find yourself confident in dealing with the mortgage agent, then there is no harm in … Read More »

When you are searching home in a new area, it is imperative to spend some time in research. Weigh up all available choices before making one property final. These essential aspects are for everyone, a citizen of the UK, or immigrant. Assess these aspects in every prospective location to make sure you feel at home … Read More »

After investing price into a property that was a bit steep, you want to recover the cost as soon as possible. The easiest thing that you do is start casting a net for the tenant. However, the real challenge is not in finding a suitable tenant (of course, it is also not a kid’s play). … Read More »