Topic
Surveyors, builders, contracts, quotes and managing the team.
The complete UK guide to resolving a dispute with your builder — complaints, withholding payment, mediation, adjudication, small claims court and expert reports for 2026.
The complete UK guide to building contracts for homeowners — JCT forms, deposits, staged payments, variations, delay clauses and cancellation rights for 2026.
The complete UK guide to construction law for homeowners — Consumer Rights Act 2015, Defective Premises Act, Building Safety Act, limitation periods and CDM 2015 explained for 2026.
The complete UK guide to working with builders and tradespeople — briefing, site etiquette, communication, payment habits and handling problems professionally in 2026.
When you can lawfully withhold payment from a builder for defective or incomplete work, how much to hold, the written notice to give and the mistakes that backfire.
How to write a letter before action to a builder — required contents, deadlines, tone, a copy-and-adapt template and what happens after you send it.
How to manage variations and extras on a UK building project — the written-instruction rule, pricing changes fairly, provisional sums and disputing surprise extras.
The 12 things every UK builder contract should include — scope, price, stage payments, programme, variations, insurance, defects and termination — with wording tips.
The exact escalation order for a dispute with your builder — evidence, informal complaint, formal letter, ADR and court — with timescales and costs at each step.
The communication habits that keep building projects on track — one channel, weekly walk-rounds, decision deadlines, site diaries and confirming decisions in writing.
When to commission an independent surveyor's or expert's report in a builder dispute, what it costs, what it must contain and how experts work in court.
How to set up staged payments for an extension, loft or renovation — milestone examples, percentages, valuation tips and the golden rule of paying in arrears.
Structural surveyors and structural engineers have different roles and qualifications — when you need which professional.
How to find a reliable builder in the UK: where to look, questions to ask, red flags to spot, and how to compare quotes properly. Practical 2026 guide.
A practical guide to getting accurate building quotes in the UK — what to include in your brief, how many quotes to get, and how to compare them fairly.
A planning consultant can reverse refusals and navigate complex applications. Fees run £1,500–£8,000+ depending on complexity — here's when to hire one.
What a party wall surveyor does, when the Party Wall Act requires one, and what you'll pay — typically £700–£2,000 per surveyor in 2026.
How to use a builder contract to protect your money and rights — including JCT minor works, what must be in any agreement, and common contract mistakes.
A quantity surveyor can save you thousands on a large renovation by checking costs, managing contracts, and spotting overcharges. Fees from £1,500 upwards.
How to self-manage a UK home renovation: planning the sequence, coordinating trades, controlling costs, and avoiding the most common project management mistakes.
RICS building surveys come in three levels. Learn what Level 1, 2 and 3 cover, what they cost in 2026, and which level you need before buying a property.
Learn how to create a thorough snagging list, enforce retention payments, and get builders to complete defects before final sign-off on your renovation.
