Surveyor failed to notice Asbestos.

Graphic · 13 January 2015 at 2:05PM

Hello,

We've eventually purchased our first family home after months of back and forth between mortgage providers and land surveys and retrospective planning issues!

After having the keys for 3 days we've now after some investigation found the underside of the stairs is cladded in asbestos and this wasn't noticed by the surveyor.

Also we intented to remove the partition wall between the lounge and the dining to make one large room - this then led us to find out that although we have chimeny breast on the ground floor and the same breast in the loft we dont have one on the first floor - and we have no idea how it is being supported!!! This again wasn't noticed by the surveyor.

The extra work and time is meaning we can't live there (me, my wife and our 21 month old twins) at the moment and obviously incurs extra cost to us for that and the additional work required to make safe both issues.

I've contacted the surveyor (who we didn't appoint) to vent my frustrations.

Has anyone else had similar issues?

Looking for some advice and help!!!

Thanks.

MEM62 · 13 January 2015 at 2:33PM

What kind of survey did you commission?

If you commissioned a full structural survey then the surveyor should have picked up any issues and he will have indemnity insurance to cover any errors on his part. If, on the other hand, you have just relied on the valuation survey arranged by your lender then you have no come back.

Thrugelmir · 13 January 2015 at 2:36PM

Graphic wrote: »

I've contacted the surveyor (who we didn't appoint) to vent my frustrations.

Then the surveyor isn't working for you. Just the lender. To ensure that the property provides adequate security for the mortgage advance.

Older properties have more asbestos than you would imagine I suspect. When was it built?

DTDfanBoy · 13 January 2015 at 2:40PM

Graphic wrote: »

I've contacted the surveyor (who we didn't appoint) to vent my frustrations.

Are you sure you are not confusing a valuation with a property survey.

Graphic · 13 January 2015 at 2:54PM

Thanks for the replies.

We got a 'Buildings Survey'.

The house was built circa 1936.

The building survey was organised by our mortgage lender, the original surveyors passed it to another surveyors as there was a conflict of interest in the chain (we were in a two house chain - they were buying ours, and we were buying theirs - not a part exchange).

If we'd known the extent of the work required we'd have obviously offered lowered or reconsidered the move altogether.

ariba10 · 13 January 2015 at 2:59PM

Asbestos in what form?

If it is sheeting it should be relatively cheap and easy to remove.

Lord_Baltimore · 13 January 2015 at 3:28PM

Graphic wrote: »

I've contacted the surveyor (who we didn't appoint) to vent my frustrations.

And what was the reaction? Can you persuade him to cover any of the 'repair' costs through his insurers?

Graphic · 13 January 2015 at 4:49PM

The Asbestos is 'tanking out' the inside of the space under the stairs - im assuming it was a coal store or something when originally built before the previous owner built the garage alongside it.

Im awaiting the call from the MD of the surveyors now.

stator · 13 January 2015 at 5:15PM

Was the asbestos visible to the naked eye when the house was inspected? They are not expected to uncover anything not visible.

If there is a structural issue that may be relevant if you had a building survey.

Graphic · 13 January 2015 at 5:24PM

We opened a cupboard under the stairs (as we're planning on installing a new staircase) - and it was visible straight away.

We got the Buildings survey as it was sold as being the one to go for for houses of a certain age and because it provided a comprehensive breakdown of the structure and condition of the property, listing defects and advise on repairs and maintenance. And that the surveyor will be 'hands on' and will do things like checking in the attic and looking under floorboards.

MEM62 · 14 January 2015 at 10:35AM

Graphic wrote: »

We got a 'Buildings Survey'.

The building survey was organised by our mortgage lender

Unless you have appointed your own surveyor to do a full structural survey you have no comeback. As stated in an earlier post, the mortgage company would only organise a survey for valuation purposes (ie to ensure that the house is worth a least what they are lending you against it)

Surveyor failed to notice Asbestos.

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