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Published: 28 March 2023

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Sometimes The Various Home Survey Options Can Be Confusing

If you’re purchasing a property, you’ll almost certainly have received a recommendation to carry out a survey on your desired new home. However, if you’re a first-time buyer, (or even if you haven’t purchased a home for some time), you may find the various survey options confusing. That’s why our knowledgeable team at Warren Powell-Richards have put together this expert guide to the most commonly performed home survey types.

What Are Home Surveys?

Residential surveys are detailed inspections that determine the condition of a property. Carried out by a professional surveyor, the survey reports any structural issues like subsidence or unstable walls, while also highlighting any significant alterations or repairs that are needed, like fixing the chimney or roof. The two residential survey types that are most frequently requested are the Building Survey and HomeBuyer Report.

What Are Building Surveys?

Building Surveys are a comprehensive form of survey. More costly than the HomeBuyer report, it’s mostly recommended for listed properties, older homes, or if you plan to carry out major refurbishment or rebuild projects. These reports include all the information supplied in the HomeBuyer Report, except a market valuation, however, it also includes an in-depth analysis of the condition of the property, including an evaluation of the loft and basement (where applicable), and checks behind the walls, ceilings, and floors.

These survey reports include advice about maintenance options, repairs, and defects, including estimated costs and timings, and the possible consequences if the recommended works aren’t completed.

What Are HomeBuyer Reports?

HomeBuyer Reports are detailed surveys which are performed by a surveyor with RICS qualifications. The surveyor attends the property and carries out a visual inspection in detail before showing you their report which uses a “traffic-light” key as well as comments so it’s easy to identify any worrying issues quickly.

Not only does the report include comments about the property’s overall condition, it also highlights any significant obvious problems like subsidence or rot. The surveyor also gives their market valuation of the property as well as the insurance rebuild cost and advice about any defects that could impact the property’s value.

What Are Mortgage Surveys?

If you’re buying your new home with a mortgage, your lender will require a mortgage survey, or valuation, to be carried out. Despite its name, it isn’t actually a survey. Rather, it’s a property overview that assesses its value to determine whether the property represents sufficient loan security.

Must I Arrange A Survey For My Chosen Property?

Property surveys are optional, but they help you to avoid unwanted and costly surprises while giving you complete peace of mind in your purchase. Since you’re spending a huge amount on your new home, spending a little more on getting a survey carried out is a good investment.

The team at Warren Powell-Richards especially recommend surveys to be performed if:

• You’ve got specific concerns about any element of your desired property.
• You’re unsure about the condition of the property.
• You’re keen to purchase a property that is unusual, old or a listed building.
• Your chosen property is timber-framed or has a thatched roof.

Our experienced team can help you determine the right kind of survey for you, so if you’re buying a home and need some expert advice, email us today at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or pop into one of our offices.

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Published: 30 January 2023

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First Time Buyers. First Things To Do When Moving Into Your New Home

Moving into your first home is one of the biggest and most exciting life events that you’ll go through, but with so much to take in it can be difficult knowing where to start.

This handy guide will take you through some of the key things you’ll need to do when you’re moving into your new home.

Before Moving Day

• Start Packing Early

You’ll be surprised at how quickly your moving date arrives, and you don’t want to be rushing around the night before only to find you don’t have enough boxes or bubble wrap. If you start boxing up your belongings early it will help completion day go that little bit smoother.

• Pack a Box of Essentials

It’s unlikely you’ll be unpacking everything on the day you move in, and even if you do, you’ll find that things are buried in certain places and you won’t remember where you’ve put everything. For that reason, it’s a good idea to have a box just for the essentials you’ll need on day one, such as a kettle, tea bags and coffee, cups, a phone charger, some cleaning products, and bin bags. Having a box of essentials to hand will save you rummaging around, while everything else can wait.

• Change Your Address and Redirect Your Post

Think of all the companies that you have regular contact with and let them know your new address in advance. Some of them aren’t particularly urgent, especially if most of your communication with them is online. However, things like your bank, mobile phone provider, and credit card companies should be top of the priority list. Make sure you get your post redirected by Royal Mail too. There are always one or two companies that slip the net so having this in place will make sure you cover all bases.

• Take Final Meter Readings

If you’re currently renting, it’s important you let your utility providers know you’re leaving your rental property and on which day. After all, you don’t want to be paying for someone else’s electricity. Make sure to take meter readings just before you leave so you can get an accurate final bill.

• Have Your Insurance In Place

It’s likely that you’ll already have buildings insurance in place before you move as it’s usually a condition of lenders before granting you a mortgage.

However, contents insurance isn’t usually insisted on, but it’s just as important. Many movers wait until they’ve been in their new home for a few weeks before getting it, but with all the shifting of boxes and furniture on moving day, it’s not worth taking the risk of having all your valuables uninsured.

On Moving Day

• Locate Your Home’s Essentials

Some of the most important things you’ll need to find in your new home are the stopcock, thermostat, and gas and electricity meters. You may have a water meter too that you’ll need to locate. It’s important that you find these as soon as you can, as you’ll need to give meter readings to your utility suppliers, and you don’t want to wait until you have a leak before finding out where your stopcock is!

• Take Meter Readings

As soon as you’ve found your meters, make sure you make a note of the readings, ideally by taking a picture on your phone as you’re less likely to lose that than a piece of paper, and it’s timestamped.

You’ll need to submit these to your new energy suppliers to ensure you’re only paying for the energy you’ve used.

The previous homeowners will have submitted their final meter readings, in which case you should have letters waiting for you from the current energy suppliers. If this isn’t the case then you’ll need to do some digging online or by phone to find out who supplies the energy to your home, but whatever you do, make sure you’ve got those meter readings as soon as you can on moving day.

• Introduce Yourself to The Neighbours

Ok, this tip is not as vital as the others but it’s a good idea to knock next door and say hello sooner rather than later!

Meeting the neighbours will help you to settle in more quickly and it’s easier to meet them on moving day than a few weeks later when you need to collect a parcel from them.

They’ll also be able to give you some useful tips about the area, such as which restaurants, gyms or pubs to try out – and avoid – and what day the bins are collected if you don’t already know.

First time buyers often ask the question “what should I do first when moving into my new home?” and the team at Warren Powell-Richards know exactly how to answer! Call us or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out more.

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Published: 30 January 2023

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Do I Need To Take Out Tenant Insurance

There Is No Legal Requirement To Take Out Tenant Insurance

If I rent my home, do I need to take out tenant insurance? This is a question we hear all the time – and we have the answer!

You may think that there’s no need to take out any insurance. After all, the property is your landlord’s responsibility so if anything goes wrong, you won’t need to pay out. Unfortunately, though, accidents can happen, and in some cases, this may result in money being deducted from your deposit.

With this in mind, the team at Warren Powell-Richards would always advise tenants to ensure they not only have appropriate contents insurance to keep their personal belongings covered but also tenant liability cover so that their deposit is protected too.

Is It A Legal Requirement To Take Out Tenant Insurance?

No, there’s no legal requirement to take out tenant insurance. If you have any valuables like mobile phones, computers, jewellery, or bicycles within your property, it’s wise to take out cover for those possessions in case of damage or theft though.

It’s also important to bear in mind that while you’re a tenant in the property, you also have responsibility for any of the landlord’s contents including fittings, fixtures, and furnishings. It’s wise, then, to have an insurance policy that will cover all of those things too, since accidental damage to an expensive item could wipe out your deposit.

How Does Tenant Insurance Work For Flat Shares?

If you’re sharing a house or flat with others, it’s possible to either obtain a single common policy to insure everybody living in the property, or your own policy, covering only your room’s contents. Letting the insurer know that you live in a house share arrangement is sensible, though, since they may need to confirm that your room has a lock on its door.

Another point to note if you’re taking out one policy for multiple residents in a property is that if a single individual that you share with is making an insurance claim, your insurance could be affected too, leaving you paying a higher premium for as long as five years after the claim, even when you’re no longer sharing a home with that individual.

For students who are sharing a property, a policy that is intended specifically for students is generally needed instead of a general insurance policy for tenants.

What Does Tenant Insurance Include?

There are two primary things included in a tenant insurance policy.

• Tenant liability
• Contents cover

With contents cover,  if any of your personal items are stolen, damaged, or lost, this will cover the expense of replacing or repairing them.

Tenant liability cover will pay for any repairs necessary to the landlord’s items like fixtures, fittings, and furniture, in the event of an accident. You may also be able to add extra cover for specific possessions that are especially valuable and to protect your items when they’re outside the property.

Must I Take Out Building Insurance As A Tenant?

Building insurance is the landlord’s responsibility, not the tenant’s, so there is no need to take out this type of cover when you are renting your home.

Is Anything Not Covered Under A Tenant’s Insurance Policy?

Wear and tear is never covered under an insurance policy and neither is an unforced entry. If you leave your window or door open, a burglar enters and steals your belongings, you won’t be protected. In some cases, cover lapses when the property remains unoccupied for a specified timeframe – typically 30 days.

When you make an insurance claim, you’ll usually need to pay an excess, but the amount will vary by policy. Make sure you check this before you agree to any policy so you’ll know how much you’ll be expected to pay towards your costs.

Looking For A Property To Rent?

If you’re looking for a rental property, make Warren Powell-Richards your first port of call. We’re experts in the local rental market, and we’re on hand to help you find the ideal home for you. Call our team today.

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Published: 30 January 2023

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What Are Title Deeds. A Buyer’s Guide

Title Deeds Are The Record Of A Property And Land’s Ownership

If you’re ready to buy a property, it’s important to be aware of the importance of title needs. While most prospective buyers have heard about title deeds, a surprising number of people that we work with here at Warren Powell-Richards aren’t sure what they are or where to find them.

That’s why we’re bringing you this article today, so you can gain a better understanding of what title deeds are, why they matter, and whether or not you should purchase a home without title deeds.

What Are Title Deeds – An Overview

First, let’s take a look at what title deeds are.

Essentially, a property’s title deeds are the record of a property and land’s ownership. While it may sound as if there is just a single document involved, in fact, any home’s title deeds may comprise several different documents to not only prove who is the current owner of the property but also to show the home’s entire ownership history.

Title deeds documentation may include any or all of the following:

• Leases
• Wills
• Mortgages
• Contracts for sale
• Conveyances

Is It Legal To Sell A Property That Has No Title Deeds?

There is no law to prevent a seller from selling their property without having the title deeds in place, but that doesn’t mean that the process will be a straightforward one.

Usually, sellers who don’t have title deeds for their property obtain possessory title deeds instead. These are given if there is no way to definitively prove the Absolute Title (an unequivocal right of ownership to the property), which is why it is also known as a perfect title. Buyers will have the peace of mind of knowing that the property they are purchasing is free of any legal weaknesses. in cases where the original title deeds have either been damaged or lost, for example, in a flood or fire. In some cases, sellers may provide a statutory declaration to the buyer (and the buyer’s mortgage lender).

Attempting to sell a property with no Absolute Title to hand may often result in the process being long and drawn out which may be inconvenient for the buyer, however, it’s possible that the property may be sold at a lower price due to this inconvenience and the potential risks that the buyer will be taking.

Should I Buy A Property That Has No Title Deeds?

Technically, although it’s possible to purchase a property that has no title deeds, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. If you buy a property that has no title deeds, you’re taking a significant risk. While every property purchase comes with some risky elements, if you purchase a property that has no title deeds, you must bear caveat emptor (buyer beware) in mind.

You must be completely certain that your conveyancer knows what they’re doing, and be willing to pay more for the additional work that they’ll need to do to make sure that everything is legal and above board before exchanging contracts. If you decide to go ahead with buying a property that has no title deeds, you should also ask that indemnity insurance is included to cover you for any restrictive covenants that may be unclear.

If you’re interested in buying a property that has no title deeds, it’s important to get expert advice. Contact our team at Warren Powell-Richards to find out more.