We will be pleased to provide free telephone advice to ascertain whether the works fall under the legislation and if so the appropriate action to take.  If necessary we can then proceed to act for you whether a building owner or adjoining owner and if both parties are in agreement we can act as joint surveyor thereby saving time and costs.

All Party Wall Surveyors at Martin Ralph are RICS Chartered Building Surveyors and members of the Pyramus and Thisbe club the organisation for professionals specialising in Party Wall Matters.

It is a law designed to end discrimination against disabled people. It also meets the needs of small to medium sized businesses because it is flexible enough to take account of your business’s individual circumstances.

Martin Ralph Chartered Surveyors who are based in Portsmouth, have extensive experience in undertaking DDA access audits on a wide range of properties, in order to assist clients in making informed decisions about work necessary to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

The audit report will make it easier for your organisation to cost out the implications of meeting the legal, and to the same extent, moral obligations to your customers and employees. It is an invaluable tool for organisations who wish to keep an eye on budgets whilst meeting the legal obligations of the DDA legislation.

Our DDA audit reports cover an extensive range of possible works that may be required, both internally and externally. Everything from internal finishes, doors, kitchens, access aids, alarms and communications, to car parks, stairs, entrances and much more besides.

Should your organisation require a DDA audit or are simply seeking advice on the DDA please feel free to contact Jason Ralph on 02392257711 or visit our website at www.martinralph.co.uk.Â

Rics spokesman Ian Perry said: “Surveyors are generally confident that sales will continue to pick up over the summer months.

“The increase in supply as a result of the abolition of Hips is helping to support this optimism despite continuing concerns about mortgage finance. A higher level of instructions should, meanwhile, also lead to a flatter trend in house prices in the latter part of the year.”

The picture on house prices was mixed across the country, however, with surveyors reporting price falls in Wales, Yorkshire and Humberside, and the West Midlands. London led the rises, with 60% more surveyors reporting price increases rather than decreases over the past three months.

Other house price reports this month have presented a mixed picture of the market. Halifax said house prices fell by 0.4% in May, just a day after the Nationwide building society reported a 0.5% rise during the same month.

Hips, which were launched in 2007, were one of the first things to be abolished by the coalition government with communities secretary, Eric Pickles, describing them as “expensive and unnecessary”.

Martin Ralph Chartered Surveyors (Portsmouth) are of the view that the ill conceived (HIPS) did nothing to speed up property sales and indeed deterred some potential vendors entering the market. The abolition of HIPS can only help to improve the residential sales market.

Whilst Martin Ralph undertake large new build projects for the M.O.D but are able to apply the same skills to residential extensions and alterations at competitive rates.

They offer a range of services from design and planning through to full contract management depending on the client’s requirements. Martin Ralph have an excellent relationship with the Local Planning Authority and Building Control Departments in the Portsmouth, Gosport and Fareham areas which assists in ensuring minimum delays in the development process.

For free informal advice on house extensions or alterations contact Martin Ralph on 02392 257711

Over the past two months, Martin Ralph Chartered Surveyors have experienced a steady, gradual increase in requests for Building Surveys and Homebuyer Reports, on the back of what could be an upturn in residential sales within the Portsmouth Gosport and Fareham areas. This seems to buck the national trend.

This local upturn could be linked to a number of possibilities, including Ministry of Defence establishments relocating to this area, which also seems ever popular with those seeking an early, leisurely, south coast retirement.

Jim Lyness a principal surveyor at Martin Ralph stated ‘This upturn could be at the cost of the local letting market, which is less active than the national trend, if one is to believe media reports. High rental sector demand is apparently linked to prospective buyers being unable to raise mortgage finance at reasonable lending rates - London residential letting agents are reporting up to six applicants chasing each available ‘To Let’ property. Compare this to letting agents in Portsmouth reporting a steady rental sector, equalled by an unusually strong residential sales market.

Possibly, the Portsmouth area is actually ahead of the national market; a high demand for houses to rent is likely to increase income as rents rise. In turn, this would eventually increase demand for buy- to-let properties, by speculative purchasers able to secure funding.’    Â

The Legal Boundary:
A legal boundary deals with the precise separation of ownership of land.  It is an invisible line dividing one person’s land from another’s.  It does not have thickness or width and usually, but not always, falls somewhere in or along a physical boundary feature such as a wall, fence or hedge.  The exact positions of the legal boundaries are almost never shown on registered title plans and are not shown on Ordnance Survey maps.

General Boundaries:
England and Wales operates a ‘general boundaries’ system of land registration.  A title plan with ‘general boundaries’ shows the boundary of a property in relation to a given physical feature on the ground such as a wall or hedge as identified on the Ordnance Survey map.

The red edging on a Land Registry title plan is therefore not definitive as to the precise position of the boundaries.  For this reason official copies of title plans carry the following warning.

This title plan shows the general position of the boundaries: it does not show the exact line of the boundaries. Measurements scaled from this plan may not match measurements between the same points on the ground.

This is a clear statement that Land Registry is unable to tell you precisely where a property boundary is located.

Potential Disputes:
Far more boundary disputes occur between the owners of two adjacent residential properties than between commercial neighbours. Residential landowners tend to tackle their disputes emotionally seeking perceived justice rather than rationally evaluating the situation considering amicable solutions to the dispute. Boundary Disputes can be the cause of untold misery, inconvenience, bad relationships between neighbours and ultimately the loss in value of your land, all of which are less than desirable results whatever your circumstances.

What you should do:
Unless you are experienced in this area it is prudent to engage a specialist to look at all aspects of the problem and advise you on whether you have a case or not.  A surveyor can survey the land, check deeds and the plans attached to them and refer to historical documents and aerial photographs

Accurately identifying the boundary between properties, needs specialist knowledge. A boundary can change over time for many reasons: a diverted water course, or a wooden fence that moves slightly each time it is replaced.  The reason for such changes is rarely recorded and can lead to disputes, especially if the owner has lost the right to move the boundary line back to its original position.

Dealing with disputes:
Before you engage an expert to work on your behalf check the following:

Are they experienced in mapping and land surveys, the latest civil procedure rules, preparing reports for court and acting as an expert witness in court?

The matter may ultimately be resolved before going to court or the court may define the boundary line and issue an order to that effect.  A chartered land surveyor can then mark out the boundary line.  They may supervise any fencing or building contractors to ensure there are no further arguments.  

Ensure that they prepare a new plan showing the agreed boundary line for the Land Registry.

Martin Ralph Chartered Surveyors:
Chartered surveyors at Martin Ralph are professional advisors with relevant knowledge of both property issues and the law.
As with most disputes we attempt in the initial stages to avoid litigation and liaise between the two parties to reach an amicable solution, we will also advise on alternative dispute resolution procedures, which would avoid the need to go to court
If however this does not result in a conclusion acceptable to our client then litigation is often the only solution.  We will prepare any technical data that may help solve the dispute and, provide a court with the appropriate advice and information needed to make a judgement.

Contact:     Jason Ralph 02392 257711
e-mail:       Jason@martinralph.co.uk

One way to do this is to reuse, reclaim or recycle materials, the major source of which is from demolitions.

In the past, building regulations were confusing. But providing the materials are suitable for their intended purpose, there is no reason why you can’t reclaim or recycle them in line with building regulations.

RICS is leading the way with supporting sustainable construction by giving guidance to promote the policy of reuse, reclamation and recycling of waste materials.

In most cases over 85% of demolition materials can be reduced, reused, reclaimed or recycled.

Over 80% of construction materials come from natural resources like aggregates, timber or clay.  The world’s natural resources are gradually running out and at the current rate, future generations won’t be able to use some of the natural resources we enjoy today.

Before starting demolition
Before starting any demolition or stripping work, a materials survey of the building should be undertaken to establish materials that can be:

• Reused in the present state
• Recycled after processing
• Recycled/reused through conservation

For example:

• Timber, bricks, roofing tiles and slates, paving slabs, top soil, etc
• Crushed bricks, crushed concrete, metal, glass
• Specialist masonry - carved stone, arches, dentil courses, period doors and windows, specialist rainwater gutters and downpipes

What do I do next?
Contact the Environment Agency or your local authority to find out where to send materials, such as your nearest crushing plant and recycling centre. Or look into how you can do these on site.  Your local council’s town planning and conservation department will be able to advise you on how to use conservation materials.

During demolition

• Plan your demolition to keep reusable materials in good condition
• Select reusable bricks and masonry and take them down by hand If possible clean the bricks and stack on pallets for easy handling
• Remove timber beams, doors, window frames, etc with care. Remove nails for safety and stack ready for supply
• Remove roof tiles, slates, etc carefully by hand. Where possible, and when the site conditions allow, crush hardcore on site to save on transport needs
• Reduce as much as possible the need for landfill

Where can I get help?

Should you require advice or assistance in assessing suitable recycling materials contact Richard Martin at Martin Ralph Chartered Surveyors. 02392 257711

In the last 12 months Martin Ralph Chartered Surveyors, based in Portsmouth, have experienced an increase in both workload from existing clients and a development of the client base.  Over the past three years the client base for the practice has been centred on defence projects for central government and this continues to be the case, with an increase in the number of bases being served by the practice. 

The practice has also moved into project work for both DEFRA and the Home Office providing services via facility management company Interserve Project Services.  These schemes are relatively large and our role in these projects is principally Building Surveying although the projects require extensive consultation with other professional practices.  Our client has secured a 15 year term contract to undertake this type of project and Martin Ralph are keen to continue providing the professional Building Surveying services.

In addition the practice has now moved into private development projects working with medium size developers both locally and further afield.  We are currently working on two prime local sites for residential projects of 30 and 35 units respectively and we are also undertaking feasibilities on two large residential developments and one commercial development around the Greater Manchester area for an international organisation.

Despite the recent recession and slowing down of the housing market, the practice continues to receive a steady flow of residential survey work especially in respect of the higher value properties which appear to be least affected by the current restrictions on borrowing.  Despite continuing difficulties in obtaining mortgage finance especially for first time buyers the indications are that 2010 will see a steady recovery as financial institutions seek to edge back into the residential housing market.

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We are particularly interested in appointing a surveyor who can operate between both our G.P section and B.S section to provide cover / support to either.

The successful applicant need not have extensive experience in both areas of work but would ideally have a working knowledge of condition surveys, fire risk assessments, DDA audits and an understanding of  B.S project work and G.P Building surveys and Homebuyer reports.

The successful applicant will be self motivated, a good team player and it is essential that they have good client management skills.

A large part of our work is for central government principally on Defence projects.  It is therefore essential that they must have a clean driving licence and clean record to be capable of being approved by the MOD in order to gain access onto the various defence bases.

Remuneration is negotiable and dependant on experience in this field of work.

Apply in writing to:

J.Ralph B.Sc (Hons) MRICS
11 Dragoon House
Hussar Court
Brambles Business Park
Waterlooville
Hampshire
PO7 7SF

Martin Ralph project surveyor, Paul Marples stated ‘this work is required to improve the quality of life for young children and adults which will attract grant funding.  The families will remain in occupancy whilst the works are undertaken, which is expected to commence in April 2010 with a contract period of approximately 12 weeks’.