News & Insight - C7 Surveyors

20th May 2025

Pest Infestations in Housing Disrepair Claims: Key Considerations for Landlords and Tenants

A pest or vermin infestation can quickly turn a rental property from a comfortable home into an uninhabitable space. But whose responsibility is it to address these issues? Both landlords and tenants need to understand how property disrepair can contribute...

20th May 2025

Expert Disrepair Evidence & Drones

As a consultancy, we are always looking to develop our approach to expert witness inspections, ensuring that we are making use of any new technology. As part of this, we have invested in drones equipped with high-definition cameras for photo...

20th May 2025

An Expert Witness Perspective: Mould & Fitness for Human Habitation

Introduction With Housing Disrepair and Conditions cases on the rise, and in the wake of recent high-profile incidents such as the tragic death of Awaab Ishak, it is increasingly important to recognise that mould can cause serious issues if not...

20th May 2025

Repairs vs. Improvements: Understanding a Landlord’s Obligations Under Section 11

One of the key distinctions in the Housing Condition/Disrepair field is that of ‘Repairs’ and ‘Improvements’. We know from section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, that a landlord must: Keep in repair the structure and exterior of...

20th May 2025

Understanding the Usage and Limitations of Moisture Meters in Building Diagnostics

Moisture problems are a common concern in buildings, and identifying their source and extent is crucial to preventing long‑term damage. Moisture meters are popular tools among surveyors and building professionals, and while these instruments can be extremely helpful in diagnosing...

20th May 2025

Is the Absence of an Extractor Fan a Breach of Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985?

Effective ventilation is essential for maintaining a healthy living environment, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms where moisture levels are high. For surveyors and property professionals, understanding the legal implications of inadequate ventilation—especially under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985—is key....

11th April 2025

Should Surveyors Use Thermal Board When Replastering in Residential Properties?

In the context of residential properties undergoing full wall replastering, a common query arises: should a surveyor include the calculation and potential reboarding as part of their recommendations? This question becomes particularly relevant when dealing with external walls and the...

8th December 2021

Beyond the Dwelling-House

Under section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act (1985), the landlord is obliged to keep in good repair and working order: - the structure and exterior of the dwelling-house - the installations in the dwelling-house for the supply of...

15th October 2021

Repair Obligations in the Tenancy Agreement

Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 sets out the universal repairing obligations for landlords of all short lease tenancy agreements (with a few exceptions), namely, to keep in repair ‘the structure and exterior of the dwelling-house’, ‘the...

18th February 2020

Fitness for Human Habitation - Legal update

As a consultancy we have watched with interest as the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 has been introduced and have been exploring what it will mean in practical terms. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 amends...

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