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Advice on surveying a foreign property

mrlukeduke
mrlukeduke Posts: 9 Forumite
First Anniversary First Post
edited 23 February 2018 at 5:53PM in House buying, renting & selling
Hi all

I am considering buying my parents' villa in Spain but want to have it surveyed for any structural issues first, so I know what I'm buying from them. I also have a vision for the property should there be no major issues reported.

I have been in contact with a company out there who help a lot of expats etc so speak English. Apparenty they do "everything" from surveying to architecture/designs to refurbishment to legal/council bureaucracy, and so on; and they do not use subcontractors. Which is ideally what I want.

Anyway... I suddenly realized that there might be a conflict of interest with having a surveyor come in to survey a property on which a "thumbs up" (i.e. no structural issues) would grant this same company more work.

Should I be seeking an independent surveyor, someone unrelated to the architectural company? Or are all architects also surveyors, and thus I have legal/regulatory protection like in the UK?

Any tips/thoughts appreciated. Thanks!

Luke

Comments

  • bris
    bris Posts: 10,548 Forumite
    First Post First Anniversary Name Dropper
    You need a Spanish solicitor anyway so let them deal with it.


    Keep buying the property separate from any plans you might have for it.
  • I'm confused -- the solicitor doesn't do surveying...

    I would only buy once a survey is conducted to assess structural integrity and if there are no major issues.

    My question is how independent a surveyor would be who works for a renovations company.
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