Many homes in Bristol are built on clay-rich soils, which are particularly vulnerable to shrinking during long dry summers. This shrinkage can lead to ground movement, causing cracking in walls, ceilings, and foundations—especially in older buildings with shallow footings. The issue is made worse by nearby trees or vegetation drawing moisture from the soil, and by local factors such as old mine shafts beneath certain properties. Experts identify Bristol as one of the UK’s higher-risk areas for subsidence and structural movement due to this unique combination of soil type and regional conditions.
Recent articles and
The UK housing market is showing tentative signs of stabilization. According to the Office for National Statistics, annual house price inflation accelerated in June 2025 to 3.7%, up from 2.7% in May, with the average property price hitting £269,000 Financial Times. The Bank of England’s recent interest rate
Looking ahead, projections point to modest improvements. Savills has revised its 2025 price growth forecast down to 1 %, citing economic uncertainty and early-year softness, though it expects a stronger rebound of 24.5 % cumulatively from 2025–2029 as mortgage conditions ease further. RICS data shows buyer demand has returned to positive territory (+3 % net), but price pressures linger (net balance –7 %), suggesting a stabilizing but cautious market. The consensus is clear: affordability improvements and an uptick in transactions are on the horizon, but any
EWS1 assessments, or External Wall System 1 assessments, were introduced in the UK in 2019 as a standardized process to evaluate the safety of external wall systems, particularly in residential buildings. The form was developed jointly by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Building Societies Association (BSA), and UK Finance in response to heightened concerns about fire risks following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
An EWS1 form is typically needed when selling, buying, or remortgaging a flat in a residential building with external wall systems, especially if there’s cladding or
The Office for National Statistics has reported that UK house prices experienced their fastest annual growth since December 2022, increasing by 6.4% in the 12 months to March 2025, up from 5.5% in February. This surge was mainly a result of impending expiration of temporary tax incentives aimed at aiding buyers of lower-cost properties and first-time purchasers.
Customers Comments
Below is a selection of comments that clients have kindly provided following surveys.
