Homebuyer report and damp/timber surveyor saying different things

[Deleted User]

We're buying a house that was built in 1938. Our Homebuyer report said the biggest problem with it, which is listed under 'Urgent Matters', is damp, wet rot and beetle infestation.

So we instructed a specialist (made sure he was a member of BWPDA) and he found NOTHING!

Luckily the ea has commissioned one of their surveyors to go and have a look next week, but of course they are on the Vendor's side...

What would you do? TIA

Doozergirl

Surveyors ALWAYS say this when you buy an old house. If the specialist says there is nothing there, there is nothing there - after all, it would be more in their interest to say there was, wouldn't it?

Congratulations on picking a house without problems and an honest damp and timber specialist! :beer:

[Deleted User]

That's what I was thinking, it sounds to good to be true though!

Doozergirl

Sometimes people look after their houses well!

cattie

Some years back I purchased a victorian house & the surveyor had reported high levels of damp, which he advised should be sorted out asap.

After I had moved in I got 2 different damp prooof specialist companies in to give me a report & estimate of cost. I was really surprised that both reported no real problem as the levels were very low & consistant with a property of that type & age, & that their opinion was no remedial work needed doing. I considered myself very fortunate to have been lucky enough to deal with 2 extremely honest companies.:)

Since then I've learned to take surveyors reports with a little pinch of salt & not get overly alarmed at everything they put in their reports.

Norma_Desmond

Ruddy Homebuyers Reports always make it sound like your house is falling down, or at least liable to be condemned at any moment! We had such a report and called in both a structural engineer and a damp and timber specialist. Guess what? Clean bill of health for our house (200 year old stone built cottage) apart from one rotten joist in the upstairs bathroom which cost all of £100 to put right. BIG DEAL!

Conrad

Van1971 wrote:

We're buying a house that was built in 1938. Our Homebuyer report said the biggest problem with it, which is listed under 'Urgent Matters', is damp, wet rot and beetle infestation.

So we instructed a specialist (made sure he was a member of BWPDA) and he found NOTHING!

Luckily the ea has commissioned one of their surveyors to go and have a look next week, but of course they are on the Vendor's side...

What would you do? TIA

Another consequence of the claim culture will live in.

Surveyors tend to give such advice in order to avoid being sued. They work on the basis that on the one report they dont include such advice, sods law will dictate thats the one that will come back and bite them on the bum.

[Deleted User]

Thanks peeps!

Sput2001

Conrad wrote:

Another consequence of the claim culture will live in.

Surveyors tend to give such advice in order to avoid being sued. They work on the basis that on the one report they dont include such advice, sods law will dictate thats the one that will come back and bite them on the bum.

Unless things have changed very recently, Homebuyers' reports don't usually leave the surveyor liable for any mistakes therein, usually only full Structural reports do that.

It's certainly not unusual for a Homebuyers' report to recommend getting further surveys done on specific areas (Damp, Electrics and Plumbing/Heating being prime examples) which turn out to be more or less problem-free. If your specialist surveyor hasn't found a problem, chances are there isn't one.

For what it's worth, pre-war houses tend to be pretty well built. We just sold our 1939 semi and the build quality is fantastic.

[Deleted User]

That's music to my ears, thanks!

Debt_Free_Chick

Just to echo what others have said ... there is no way that a standard Homebuyer's Report will have conducted sufficient investigation into damp, rot & beetle infestation. No way.

They also did not get up on the roof, or take up the carpet or do lots of other things that would have placed them in a better position to make a reasoned opinion on these things.

Are you sure that the Homebuyer's Report states that these were problems? Or were they simply listed as issues that needed further investigation?