Full Survey

michaels

I am (I hope) in the final stages of buying an LA maisonette under RTB. I had a my cost a full survey done about 6 weeks ago which reported no prooblems. I have now notice patches of damp/mould on a couple of downstairs walls and the laminate I put down a few months ago is starting to buckle and discolour as if it is also damp. Does the survey not include checking for damp? Surely I could have expected the surveyor to notice this?

I also don't know what to do now about the purchase - does anyone know if the council would reduce the price to reflect any remedial work required? because they move so slowly they actually did the valuation in June last year!! but as I have a mortgage arranged and have thus spent a fair bit on fees for this and legal fees already (not to mention the 450 quid for the useless surveyor) I don't want to end up back at square one with the council with another 18 months doing everything again...

neilhew

The survey conducted previously would have been a valuation survey, and because you have a discount, and even if you did not pay your mortgage, the mortgage lender would obtain their money back on possession.
The damp could be from several sources, condensation from internal activities such as cooking and bathing - do you have working fan extractors?
Cold bridging from features such as a concrete floor which will transmit cold from outside, this is common with 1960/1970s build.
Now we are into cooler weather, condensation is possible.
Have other maisonnettes in the block been sold, and if they have, do they resell easily.
Houses are popular for RTB, but less so are flats etc.
You council has a right to refer your valuation to The District Valuer if you request them to do so. Check your paperwork, however, he may value it the same, or higher. Also, beware that your landlord does keep on top of external maintenance.
If you are really bothered, you could pay for a specialist survey via RICS, but of course this is costly, and may require to be monitored over time.
Best of luck.