#225

Do you know your bitumen from your Bressummer Beams? Your helical bars from your horizontal beds? Or your cavity walls from your crack monitoring studs?

This week, we fill one more gap in the back catalogue with a deep dive into all things structural.

Paul Fowler is a surveyor with 20 years experience and a particular interest in subsidence.

We discuss:

· Key Warning Signs Outside the Property:
Start your property viewing before leaving the car! Find out how cracks and distortions on surrounding buildings can indicate (or rule out) costly issues like subsidence.

· How Trees Affect UK Properties:
Learn why trees, especially on clay soils, cause 60–85% of UK subsidence claims—and when removing a tree might create a bigger problem called ‘heave.’

· Roof and Damp Risks:
Discover why replacing slate with concrete roof tiles can cause ‘roof spread,’ how to identify potential damp issues from outside, and what the damp proof course should look like.

· Crack Types (and When to Worry!):
Paul breaks down different cracks: harmless thermal movement and decoration cracks, versus those diagonal cracks (especially wider at the top around doors and windows) that could signal structural movement or subsidence.

· Inside Inspection:
Tips for checking the loft for spray foam insulation (a growing problem for mortgage lenders), identifying asbestos, and what cracks inside the house actually mean.

· Crack Monitoring & Insurance:
How surveyors track structural movement using crack-monitoring studs, when to involve insurers, and what coverage is typical for UK property owners—including excess amounts and exclusions.

· Renovation and Remediation Costs:
From simple repairs to advanced underpinning or resin injection, get a sense of what fixing serious structural problems might cost—and why these issues can represent a genuine opportunity for savvy investors.

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Keywords

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#224

Sometimes you’ve gotta zig while others zag. If you follow the herd, then you’ll get average results.

By going with the flow, you increase your competition.

So while the North West of England is hugely competitive right now, just a hop, skip and a jump across the Irish Sea in Belfast, you could pick up a two or three bed city centre house for just £140,000.

And a gross rental income north of £900 a month.

So if you’re looking for a location with a lower entry point AND a healthy dose of Capital Growth, this is the episode for you.

Eimear Gourley is is the go-to expert on Northern Ireland Property.

AKA NI Property Girl, Eimear discusses:

• why Northern Ireland is overlooked by property investors.
• the dual UK/Irish identity and its impact on property regulations and investing.
• Belfast property prices, rental yields, and capital growth opportunities.
• key legislative differences between Northern Ireland and mainland UK.
• the lack of easily accessible sold price data and how it shapes the market.
• the best areas to invest in Northern Ireland and local investment strategies.
• challenges for expat investors and typical deal structures in Belfast.

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Keywords:

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#223

EPC knowledge represents the ultimate difference between UK property survival or total business collapse.

Understanding the changes to Energy Performance Certificates is absolutely critical.

EPCs are actually a bigger deal than the renters rights bill.

Make sure you listen to the end of the show for the actions you need to take to make sure you’re not caught out.

And, for the opportunites that all of this could create.

This episode leans heavily on content from The Independent Landlord's website and YouTube

In this episode:

1. EPC Changes Looming: All rental properties to achieve a minimum C by 2030 (2028 for new tenancies).
2. Massive Financial Impact: The collective cost to landlords for meeting these new EPC requirements is estimated at £36 billion (upgrade costs capped at £15,000 per property)
3. Flaws in the Current EPC System: The present system criticized for its subjectivity and questionable accuracy, prompting a complete overhaul of assessment methodology from 2026.
4. Shift from Cost to Carbon: EPC assessments will transition from being based on energy cost to focusing on fabric performance, heating system efficiency, and “smart readiness,” aligned with the UK’s net zero emissions goal by 2050.
5. Shortage of Skilled Tradespeople: shortage estimated at 500,000 over the next 5 years, potentially rising retrofit costs.
6. Limited Exemptions and Grants: While listed buildings are exempt, grants like the Energy Company Obligation and Warmer Homes Scheme are available, subject to strict eligibility criteria.
7. Advice for Landlords: Landlords should get new EPCs for high Cs before 2026, focus on fabric upgrades (insulation / windows). Avoid major changes eg new boilers until regulations clearer.
8. Increasing Professionalisation: “Accidental” landlords encouraged to exit paving the way for larger or more professional investors.
9. Opportunities Amid Challenges: Professional, forward-thinking landlords who invest in compliance and improvements may benefit from less competition.
10. Practical Action Steps

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Keywords

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