Richard Langley
Richard is a writer and editor for Top Rated Surveyors, covering house surveys and buying a home. When he's not writing guides, he plays the guitar badly but often.
Articles by Richard Langley
What Is the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors?
What the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors is, its Member, Fellow and Affiliate grades, the two day seminar and interview, Third Surveyors, how to search its directory and what it does not prove.
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Cavity Wall Insulation Problems and When Removal Is Needed
Why cavity wall insulation can go wrong, the signs that lead a surveyor to question it, how the cause is investigated and what removal involves, without the guarantee and certification detail.
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Buying a House With Solar Panels and What Your Surveyor Checks
What a surveyor can and cannot say about solar panels, how to tell owned panels from leased ones, and what your conveyancer should check on the lease, certificates and your lender.
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Mansion Tax Valuations and Whether You Need a Surveyor
What GOV.UK says about the High Value Council Tax Surcharge, how the Valuation Office will value homes, how to challenge a banding, and what a RICS valuation can and cannot do for you.
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Buying a Thatched Cottage and the Survey You Will Need
Which survey suits a thatched cottage, why a Level 3 report and a specialist thatcher both matter, how long thatch lasts and what to ask about insurance before you commit.
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How to Serve a Party Wall Notice on Your Neighbour
How to serve a party wall notice in England and Wales: which notice, how much warning, what to include, how to deliver it and what happens once your neighbour replies.
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What Subject to Survey Means and When to Book Your Survey
What subject to survey means in practice, when to book your survey after an offer is accepted, and why you are not bound until exchange of contracts.
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What a Level 2 Home Survey Covers and What It Leaves Out
What a RICS Level 2 home survey inspects, what it cannot see, how the condition ratings work and which homes it suits.
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Boundary Survey Cost and How Surveyors Settle Boundary Disputes
What a boundary survey costs, what a boundary surveyor can and cannot settle, and the cheaper routes of a neighbour talk, a boundary agreement, mediation or a determined boundary.
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What an EWS1 Form Is and When You Need One for a Flat
What an EWS1 form is, when a mortgage valuer may ask for one, what the ratings mean, who can sign it and what the new RICS standard from 1 November 2026 changes.
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Right to Light Explained and When You Need a Surveyor
How a right to light is gained, why it is separate from planning rules such as the 45 degree guideline, what you can do about a blocking extension and how a surveyor helps.
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Japanese Knotweed Surveys When Buying or Selling a Home
How surveyors grade Japanese knotweed, what the law says, what mortgage lenders usually ask for and what a specialist survey and treatment cost.
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House Survey Cost in the UK and What Affects the Price
What a house survey costs in the UK, what pushes the price up or down, and how to compare quotes from local surveyors fairly.
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How Long Does a House Survey Take From Booking to Report?
How long a house survey takes on the day, how long the report takes to arrive, and how to stop the survey holding up your purchase.
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