How many problems in UK homes are actually caused by the people hired to fix them? Every week I inspect properties where homeowners have spent thousands of pounds following professional advice, only to discover the advice was wrong. Damp painted over instead of the cause being identified. Ventilation blocked because someone thought draughts were the problem. Insulation installed without understanding how the building works. Mould treated with chemicals while the moisture source remains untouched. Historic buildings covered in modern materials that trap moisture and accelerate decay. The result? Homeowners pay twice. Once for the original work. Then again to correct it. Most contractors do excellent work and take genuine pride in what they do. However, when poor advice, poor workmanship, or shortcuts cause damage to someone’s home, there should be accountability. A home is often the biggest investment a family will ever make. The standard of advice given should reflect that responsibility. Before agreeing to major work, ask: • What evidence supports the recommendation? • What is the root cause of the issue? • Are there alternative solutions? • What are the long term risks? • Can the recommendation be independently verified? Good contractors should welcome those questions. As a building surveyor, I believe the future of housing needs to move away from opinions and towards evidence. Have you ever paid for work on your home that later turned out to be unnecessary or incorrect? I’d be interested to hear your experience. #TheWellbeingSurveyor #HomeOwners #PropertyAdvice #BuildingSurveyor #HealthyHomes #UKHousing

Posted by Jason Ratcliffe at 2026-05-31 18:53:19 UTC