ASK THE EXPERTS
Whether you’re disposing of hazardous waste or want to know more about cavity wall insulation, our team of experts can help
MARK BRINKLEY is a serial self-builder and author of the Housebuilder’s Bible
TIM PULLEN is an expert in sustainable building methods and energy efficiency in residential homes
MICHAEL HOLMES is a self-build expert and Director of Content and Product Development at Homebuilding & Renovating
IAN ROCK is a chartered surveyor, founder of www.rightsurvey. co.uk and author of Haynes Home Manuals
DAVID HILTON is an expert in sustainable building and energy efficiency, and is director of Heat and Energy Ltd
Got a burning question about your self-build, extension or renovation project that you need answering?
Drop us a line by emailing homebuilding@futurenet.com and your question could be answered by one of our magazine experts.
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QThe house we’re looking to buy to renovate already has cavity wall insulation. We’ve heard mixed things — what do we need to look out for?
BELLA, CHERTSEY
Check for damp patches on the internal surface of the external walls. These might manifest themselves as black mould, typically in the corners of the room but they can also form over windows or doors or behind furniture or pictures. There might be no black mould but patches that just look a bit damp, maybe a different colour to the rest of the wall. Whatever the case, it would be wise to ask a surveyor to check the walls with a moisture meter in order to give a more definitive answer as to whether there is any damp penetration.
You might also ask the surveyor to take thermal images of the external walls. This will tell you if there are any gaps in the insulation — again, typically over windows and doors. It is possible, but not easy or cheap, to fix any gaps but that would be a negotiation between you and the vendor.
TIM PULLEN, ENERGY EFFICIENCY EXPERT
LONG READ
QCAN CIL BE APPLIED RETROSPECTIVELY?
I read with great interest your timely article in the August 2020 issue on CIL. I have planning permission for two dwellings on a plot of land on the farm but only want to build one at present — though this could change in five years.
I had started to fill in the forms. Reading your article, I realised that I needed to contact our council as I did not know my CIL liability. But I have been concerned that I could get caught out. As I have applied for two properties, how does this stack up when I apply for CIL for a personal private build? The planning permission is for two dwellings; both will be self-builds and both for personal use, but the second might not be commenced for five years. How would I complete a CIL Exemption Levy form?
Starting the one build will ensure that planning permission for the second remains active, but where does CIL fit in (currently my local authority has paused the adoption of CIL)? What would happen in the future on commencement of the second build (assuming it will be a granny annexe) — can CIL cover two separate dwellings? Or is it ‘the plot’?
How would I explain this on the CIL application form for an exemption? Is it for one or for both at once?