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kezzygirl
Posts: 888 Forumite
So, we have the home buyers report for a house we are all set to move to. Unfortunately, it has highlighted various issues such as evidence of woodboring insect in the roof space and floorboards. It has been suggested this is inspected further. It also highlighted the roof as having no felt lining, slates need replacing and also the roof may need replacing as there is evidence of previous repairs. The double glazed window seals are worn with age. The boiler has no front case and the oil tank is old, corroding and is positioned next to the house, bushes etc and needs to be moved. The oil pipe is leaking also.
My sister thinks we should drop the house like a hot potato.. ..i have forwarded the survey to our solicitor. Please, someone give me some perspective?!
My sister thinks we should drop the house like a hot potato.. ..i have forwarded the survey to our solicitor. Please, someone give me some perspective?!
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Comments
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Are you buying with your sister? Unless you've considered all the implications, that would worry me more than the survey!.... issues such as evidence of woodboring insect in the roof space and floorboards.
active o historic? If the beetles were ther 70 years ago, their holes (the 'evidence' ) don't magically disappear.
It has been suggested this is inspected further.
Well that's a good suggestion.....
It also highlighted the roof as having no felt lining,
very common. Is this an older property?
slates need replacing
How many? 3 or 4? Half a dozen? Or 30 or 40? Big difference!
and also the roof may need replacing as there is evidence of previous repairs.
My roof has minor repairs most years. That's because I keep it in good condition by replacing tiles that slip and fixing battons underneat that get damp.
I don't expect to replace the roof though!
The double glazed window seals are worn with age.
Have they actually failed? ie is there water/mist between the double glazing panes? My need replacing some time. May not. I'm guessing again this is an older property. That's what you get. Maintenance.
Don't like that? Buy a New Build.
The boiler has no front case and the oil tank is old, corroding and is positioned next to the house, bushes etc and needs to be moved.
No. It doesn't. Though if you replace it then yes, it may have to be located elsewhere.
The oil pipe is leaking also.
Sounds like you'll need to budget for a new tank (and et pipe fixed at same time. Get the largest you can afford/fit.
Does the boiler work? Have you had an OFTEC inspection?
My sister thinks we should drop the house like a hot potato.. ..i have forwarded the survey to our solicitor. Please, someone give me some perspective?!0 -
OP unless you buy a new build there are usually issues identified at survey.
Buying any house will have issues, some big and some small but there will be issues.
Nothing in the survey you describe would make me run. I would definately get the roof and floorboards inspected though in case there is an infestation that has caused bad damage.
The roof, double glazing, boiler cover, oil tank would not worry me.
But make sure you have some spare cash to sort these few issues out. If you don't feel like you want to sort them out then it's not for you.0 -
Get some quotes/estimates for the work required and knock that off your offer - walk if refused.0
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Did you speak to the surveyor in person? We are buying a very old house indeed and the building survey came back with all sorts including roof repairs needed, rotten window frames, some damp etc etc but this was all expected and normal in a house of that age. We spoke to the surveyor on the phone and he said it was a lovely property in good repair, he would like to live in it himself, and he recommends we proceed. The survey report itself looks scary and full of problems but in reality it is OK and quite normal for the age.
Your survey doesn't sound too bad to me.Save £12k in 2018 #130 - £1200/£7,0000 -
Why does the oil tank need to be moved? Rusting oil tanks will need to be replaced if the rusting is really bad as you don't want oil leaking into water courses. New tanks are bunded double skin plastic but would normally go in the same place.0
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Building Regulations. Nothing to stop the existing tank remaining there, but a new tank would need to comply with more recent (andd hence current) Regs which might require re-siting. SeeWhy does the oil tank need to be moved? Rusting oil tanks will need to be replaced if the rusting is really bad as you don't want oil leaking into water courses. New tanks are bunded double skin plastic but would normally go in the same place.
http://www.oftec.org/Media/Default/DocGalleries/OFTEC%20Homes%20Guides/OFTEC_HomeGuide_DomesticOilStorage_PUB19.pdfTanks should be sited:
• 1.8m away from non-fire rated eaves of a building;
• 1.8m away from a non-fire rated building or structure
(e.g. garden sheds);
• 1.8m away from openings (such as doors or windows)
in a fire rated building or structure (e.g. brick built house/
garage);
• 1.8m away from oil fired appliance flue terminals;
• 760mm away from a non-fire rated boundary such as a
wooden boundary fence;
• 600mm away from screening (e.g. trellis and foliage) that
does not form part of the boundary
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Thanks for your comments, here is the exact description from the survey: Loft space- there is evidence of infestation by wood boring beetles which should be treated. While affected by wood boring beetles the timbers I inspected did not appear to be structurally damaged. There is evidence of infestation by wood boring beetles in the floorboards. Treatment work is recommended. The infestation may have spread to other timbers and i recommend the whole property is inspected.
Depending on age, the textured wall finishes in the hallway may have an asbestos content. You should have the asbestos content checked by a specialist .this is considered a potential safety risk and requires urgent attention.
The case from the front of the boiler is missing. The oil tank is positioned too close to the house and surrounding bushes . There is evidence of an oil leak from the pipe and corrosion to the tank.
My solicitor has raised some queries with the vendor regarding the above, e.g do they have a guarantee for the roof, have the timbers been treated previously. The house is an old ex council house, built around 1900 ish. I will give the surveyor a call and discuss what was highlighted . I have never bought a house before therefore I am not experienced in all of this. Guess I should be getting some quotes?!0 -
You havent had a bad surveyor by the sound of it.
My surveyor (on current house) didnt mention the stuff re oil tank being:
- too close to walls
and
- too close to my house
and that's another thing I only found out later of myself. That one didnt matter to me - as I knew that any house I bought with an oil tank was going to have it removed quick sharp. So my concern is my surveyor should have mentioned the house needed rewiring - and the little b*stard didnt (ie a point that would concern anyone).
So you've done well with your surveyor that they mentioned those relevant points to you - considering just how many surveyors don't mention the "Blimmin' things they absolutely should for any buyer" from what I can see...:cool:0 -
Part of the problem is the way people view surveys, especially the detailed full surveys.
They tend to be read in the context of either
* should I buy this property? and/or
* should I renegotiate the price?
Both of these are valid questions which a survey should help answer. But they ignore the third purpose, which is to inform/educate you about the house you are buying.
I had a detailed survy done on my C19th house which listed multiple 'issues'. Once I had bought, I used this as an an informative 'to do' list of improvements to protect the property for the future (eg slipped tiles) and improve it to more modern standards (eg increased insulation etc).
My 'to do' list had around 50 bullet points varying from 30 minute DIY jobs, to a day or two's work by a contractor, to a hard weekend's DIY diggging (reducing external ground level).
I didn't see the '50 issues' as show-stoppers to the purchase, or even as price negotiating tools - they were helpful information for a new home-owner.0
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