Offices (other than those that fall within A2), research and development of products and processes, light industry appropriate in a residential area. The changes permitted are to B8 (limited to change of use relating to not more than 235 sq m of floor space).

Use for industrial purposes other than ones falling within class B1 (excluding incineration purposes, chemical treatment or landfill or hazardous waste). The changes that are permitted are to B1 and to B8 (limited to change of use relating to not more than 235 sq m of floor space).

Storage, including open air storage. The changes that are permitted are to B1 (limited to change of use relating to not more than 235 sq m of floor space).

An early plastic which was often used to make electrical fittings.

These flues consist of one pipe within another: the inner pipe removes waste gases while the outer pipe draws in fresher air which is used for the combustion process. Common on gas appliances.

A mechanism to open/close a valve using a floating ball in a cistern.

A single vertical post or pillar which supports a handrail/parapet rail.

The collective term for a row of balusters or other structure below a handrail on a stair/parapet.

Very similar to fascia boards on the outside of a property except barge boards run diagonally along the gable edge of a roof (fascia boards run horizontally).

Thin strips of timber, usually supporting roof tiles or slates.

Three or more windows that angle out beyond the exterior wall, creating a ‘bay’ in the room.

Often timber in older buildings but usually steel/concrete in newer construction, a beam spans an opening and carries the weight of the structure above.

This usually refers to the larvae of a range of beetle species which attack wood. This has led to the term ‘woodworm’. The tunnels the larvae create can cause serious structural/furniture damage and specialist treatment may be required.

A thick, curved section of render, usually at the base of a wall, above the damp-proof course. The idea is to deflect / shed water away from the face of the wall below.

Smoothly sloped concrete which fills in the gaps between drainage channels and brickwork. Also known as ‘haunching’, the idea is to prevent a build-up of sewage / water.

Beneficial occupation is one of the essential requirements in designating ratability. Together with exclusive occupation and sufficient permanence, beneficial use is required before any party can be subject to a business rate liability.

A timber laid across ceiling joists to reduce their effective span and prevent sagging.

Conservation activities designed to deliver biodiversity benefits in compensation for losses, in a measurable way. The government has announced plans to introduce biodiversity offsetting schemes to the UK. The first pilot schemes began in spring 2012, with the stated aim of testing a ‘metric-based approach’ towards biodiversity conservation.

A black, sticky substance, which is a constituent part of asphalt. It is used as a sealant for damp-proof courses and in mineral felts.

Trapped air or moisture vapour bubbles below paint, asphalt or felt that appear like ‘blisters’. It indicates that the material will fail soon.

The regular arrangements of bricks, blocks or stones in a wall. The idea is that wall units can be easily and effectively joined together. The common types of ‘bond’ you are likely to spot in domestic construction are Stretcher, English, Flemish, diagonal, header, diagonal or various ‘garden wall’ bonds.

Timbers added within the walls of older houses to add strength. Common problems with them are rot and wood-boring insect attack.

Fitted on the hip intersections of pitched roofs, these tiles connect roof tiles together. Their decorative ‘bonnet-like’ appearance gives them their name.

This is when neighbours disagree about where the boundaries between their properties lie. A surveyor can help establish these boundaries.

A square shaped gutter.

A break clause (alternatively called a ‘break option’ or ‘option to determine’) is a clause in a lease which provides the landlord or tenant with a right to terminate the lease before its contractual expiry date, if certain criteria are met.

A break notice is the formal notification that one party wishes to exercise its right to terminate the lease (a break clause, option to determine or break option). Break notices must be served correctly and require a degree of care to ensure the right is successfully exercised. For example, the notice must be served the correct number of months before the break date and may require compliance with pre-conditions.

A break option (alternatively called a ‘break clause’ or ‘option to determine’) is a clause in a lease which provides the landlord or tenant with a right to terminate the lease before its contractual expiry date, if certain criteria are met.

BREEAM is a recognised environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings, which was first launched in 1990. BREEAM is one of the most commonly used standards for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation and is a widely recognised measure of a building's environmental performance. A BREEAM assessment evaluates a building’s specification, design, construction and use, such as energy and water use, the internal environment (health and well-being), pollution, transport, materials, waste, ecology and management processes.

Light building blocks originally made from ashes (or ‘breeze’). The term is now used more broadly for various concrete building blocks.

A load-bearing beam in a timber-framed building. They are often found over shop fronts, fireplaces and bay windows.

Building insurance covers the landlord against damage, destruction and loss of rent. The cost of the insurance premium is normally reimbursed by the tenant.

Paper that was commonly used as a lining beneath roof tiles in the 1960s. Although heavy-duty and often reinforced with a bitumen layer, it is easily damaged/torn.

A building survey is a report on a building by a building surveyor on the structural integrity of a building and its state of repair. This report would usually cover the condition of the structure, incidence of any defects to the fabric of the building and the state of repair of fixtures and fittings, services and plant installations. A building survey is often required by a lender prior to agreeing to a loan which is secured against the value of the property in question.

Business rates, or non-domestic rates, are a tax on the occupation of commercial property and other non-domestic property. The Local Government Finance Act 1988 introduced business rates in England, Wales and Scotland. Properties are assessed in a rating list with a rateable value. Rating Lists are created and maintained by the Valuation Office Agency, with a revaluation generally occurring every five years.

An ‘M’ shaped roof, usually concealed using a parapet wall. This design can cause various problems, particularly in the hidden central valley gutters.

A structure built against a wall to offer additional support. Buttresses vary in shape and temporary buttresses can be constructed during construction works as a form of temporary support.