FAQ

Yes.  But to fly drones in the UK you must comply with the Drone and Model Aircraft Code published by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).  The rules are based on the risk of the flight and take into account where you fly, the proximity to other people, and the size and weight of your drone.

• The person or organisation that owns or is responsible for a drone must register with the CAA for an operator ID.  The operator ID is your registration number and must be labelled on your drone.
• Anyone flying a drone weighing 250g or more must pass a test and get a flyer ID from the CAA.  The flyer ID shows you’ve passed a basic flying test and know how to fly safely and legally.
• It is against the law to fly a drone or model aircraft without having the required IDs.  Penalties range from warnings to the confiscation of drones and even imprisonment.
• Drone operators also need to consider any other restrictions and legitimate interests of statutory bodies such as Local Authorities, many of which have established local byelaws.

All our drone operations comply with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations, and are conducted in accordance with the Drone and Model Aircraft Code and our Operational Authorisation issued by the CAA.  Our pilots are trained and qualified to A2 Certificate of Competency (A2CofC) and General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVC) standard.

If you think a drone is being flown dangerously or not in compliance with the law then contact the local police on 101.  This is particularly important if you think a crime is being committed, or people, property and safety are being endangered.

Yes.  Third party liability insurance is a requirement for commercial drone pilots in the UK.  Insurance must be at least EU Regulation (EC) No 785/2004 standard.  Our insurance provides third party liability cover up to £5,000,000 and is fully compliant with (EC) No 785/2004.  Our professional indemnity includes cover for data protection and invasion of privacy.

Yes.  However, everyone has the right to peaceful enjoyment of their home without excessive disturbance from others.  Meaning we all have some legal rights in respect of the airspace above our homes, but the issue is complex.  The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for regulating airspace, and under CAA regulations all drone pilots must follow the Drone and Model Aircraft Code, which sets out the rules and guidelines for flying drones in the UK.  Find out more about UK drone law at www.caa.co.uk/drones.

Every drone flight will include:

• NOTAM reviews.  A NOTAM is a Notice to Aviation that contains aeronautical information about changes to facilities, services, procedures or hazards, to help improve air safety.
• Pre-flight planning which includes a desktop survey of the flight area using drone safety maps, street plans, and an initial risk assessment.
• Safety checks of our drone equipment including updating firmware and software when required.
• Weather observations.  Wet weather and high winds can force us to abort drone operations.  We will only fly drones when it is safe to do so and if necessary, will reschedule for a day when the weather forecast is better.
• Onsite risk assessment on the day of flight operations.  We will typically do a walk around the surrounding area to check for changes or hazards which may have been missed during pre-flight planning.
• Appropriately trained and qualified drone pilots.  Our pilots are trained and qualified to A2 Certificate of Competency (A2CofC) and General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVC) standard.
• Third party insurance cover to at least EC 785/2004 standard.  Insurance is a requirement for commercial drone operations.
• Copies of all photographs and video taken during the drone survey.  The digital record will be provided to clients as a download from a secure online folder.

We currently operate a DJI Mavic 2 Pro and DJI Mini 3 Pro.  Our drone pilot will capture high definition photographs or video of the survey area.  As experienced building surveyors we can work independently or as directed by the client to ensure the data recorded meets client expectations.  In suitable weather conditions we can fly our drones to within a metre of the building, resulting in highly detailed images which are perfect for building inspection.  Photographs and video will be supplied as a digital download from a secure online folder, or if required on USB flash drive.

Yes.  A visual inspection of a roof by our experienced surveyor can offer a general condition assessment and identify defects and deterioration which require maintenance and repair.  We can operate a drone to capture high definition photographs and video in less time and at less expense than that required for a mobile elevated work platform (cherry picker) or rope access team.  Drone flights can also avoid the risks usually associated with roof inspection.  Although there is no substitute for physical inspection, the data we capture using drones can inform decisions about the need for working at height.  Many of our clients ask their building contractor or roofing contractor to consider using our service.

The cost of our drone survey depends on the location, size and complexity of the building or site, and the scope of work required.  Our prices include travelling time, time on site, and compilation of the photographic record.  Expenses such as hotel accommodation, parking fees, road tolls, ferry crossings, etc, will be charged at cost.

Our drone surveys will usually take between two and four hours on site and will typically cost from £315 to £625 (including VAT).

Flight operations requiring more preparation and time on site will cost more.  For example, some areas are restricted, and we may need to seek permission from the appropriate authority before operating our drone.  Examples include near to airports, prisons, or power stations.  Remote sites, or large complex buildings may require more time on site and multiple flights over a longer period.  Our drone pilot may also have to be accompanied by additional flight crew such as observers to ensure the safety of uninvolved people.

Contact us for a quote.

Generally understood to be a building constructed before 1919 and of ‘breathable’ construction making use of permeable materials such as stone and lime mortars.  Designed to rely on good air circulation and ventilation through windows, vents, and chimney flues to remove moisture created by household activities like breathing, cooking, and washing.  Will often have solid mass masonry walls, timber windows, and slate covered roofs.

Historic Environment Scotland have lots of useful information about old and listed buildings on their website page Owning a Traditional Property.

Yes.  We are an Associate Member of RICS with the designation AssocRICS.  Details of our membership can be found on our Member Details Page.

The Home Report is typically carried out from ground level and the Single Survey part will often contain many caveats relating to limited access.  Our building survey provides a more thorough inspection and more detailed condition assessment of the building and is particularly suited to older and listed buildings.  We comment on the type of construction and materials used, highlight defects and possible consequences, and offer recommendations for remedial works.

In March 2021, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) launched new formats for home survey reports.  These are called RICS Home Survey Level 1, 2 and 3.

For clients who require an RICS Home Survey we can provide Level 2 and Level 3.

Clients looking for a bespoke survey can be confident in our building survey as it offers an equivalent level of detail as the RICS Home Survey Level 3, and is tailored to your needs.  In many cases our building survey provides more information because we make use of drones to inspect difficult to access areas.

Our building survey includes a site visit by a qualified and experienced surveyor who will inspect all accessible building fabric including masonry walls, surface coatings, roof coverings, gutters and downpipes, chimneys, loft spaces and basements, windows, and doors.  Assuming no restrictions, the surveyor will fly a drone to photograph high level building elements and difficult to reach areas.  Our survey report is usually issued to clients within a few days.

The report will include:

• A description of the building and general summary of condition
• A description of individual building elements inspected with condition ratings.
• Details of visible defects identified and the most probable cause.
• Recommendations for remedial works and likely consequences of not repairing.
• A roof plan to help the reader locate building elements described.
• A selection of annotated photographs of key building elements and defects.

Clients will also be provided with copies of all photographs taken during the inspection.

Absolutely.  Our principal surveyor is a time served tradesman with over 35 years of practical experience working in the built heritage sector.  He is expert in the use of natural stone and lime mortars and is qualified in Conservation of Masonry.  Our stone surveys include a thorough visual inspection of individual stonemasonry elements with a written condition report highlighting defects and areas of deterioration and decay.  The report will also include recommendations for appropriate repair using traditional methods and materials.  We will usually provide marked up elevation photographs or sketches to help readers locate key issues referred to in our report.  If clients have access to architectural drawings, we are happy to incorporate those into our report.

Our surveyor will be on site for as long as it takes to carry out a thorough inspection.  For most buildings this will be between two to four hours.  Very large buildings can take a day or more.  Our written report can take several hours to compile and is usually issued within a few days of our site visit.

The cost of our building survey depends on the location, size and complexity of the building, and the scope of work required.  Costs include travelling time, time on site, drone operations, and compilation of our written report.  Expenses such as parking fees, bridge tolls, public transport fares etc, will be charged at cost.

Our building survey with written report will typically cost from £625 to £1500 (including VAT).  Large buildings and tenements may cost more.  If we are asked to investigate a specific defect such as unsafe masonry or water ingress, we will usually charge by the hour with site visits costing from £155 (including VAT).

Contact us for a quote.