Converted flat build in 1920 ? What survey ?

Fire_Fox

I agree with David, my experience of DPC companies is that the solution to virtually every damp problem is chemical injection, without working out if the underlying cause is indeed failure of the DPC. It's not a free survey they are offering, it's a quote.

Doozergirl

Cazza wrote: »

I'm afraid I don't agree with this, I think you're better off getting a proper damp specialist in to do a report. Don't however, get anyone in who will charge you. The vast majority of reputable companies will do you a full report free of change, with an estimate of any works that need doing. I'd ask the surveyor for the names of 2 or 3 companies, most surveyors are usually very helpful with giving reccommendations (and I've never come accross anything which even whiffs of a kick back :rolleyes:)

I'm afraid that I will be the third person that is happy to state that someone who gives you a service for free is not soemone who offers impartial advice.

It's naive to believe that a professional will offer you you free advice. A professional is not free- you always pay for service - a free survey I guarantee will result in an estimate for some kind of work. Those 'surveyors' are what are commonly called salepeople.

True damp is evident.

nb. the survey results are fine. There is no specific concern; it correlates with an older property. Not to say that it is falling down, it simply behaves in the way it should do. If you were rigid, unflexible then you would soon fail. Same with houses.

Cazza

Doozergirl wrote: »

I'm afraid that I will be the third person that is happy to state that someone who gives you a service for free is not soemone who offers impartial advice.

Yes, I do completely agree with you all on this front - all I wanted to point out to the OP was that you don't have to pay for these types of reports - this is why I suggested he went back to his surveyor and asked for recommendations for who to get the report done by. OP, did you mention that you're buying in London? It may be the case that there aren't any good firms doing free reports in your area :rolleyes:

Having said this, have a look at what the Homebuyers report says first, I've seen similar comments to yours on the mortgage valuation, whilst the Homebuyers report has gone on to say that the damp is due to the fact the gutters need clearing

oli_ro

Thanks a lot for the replies, guys.

I am looking forward to seeing the homebuyers report, but to be honest I am really in 2 minds about this flat.
I am tempted not go ahead with it because I am really dissapointed about the issues that have been highlighted so far.
While I was not naive and expected issues here and there buying a flat that old(replace windows, etc).
I was not expected the report to mention structural problems(the replies so far have been helpful, but there are plenty of other flats even older, which don't have any such problems)
Same about damp
The roof is quite in a bad state as far as I understood from the surveyor and I will see how the report describes it.

I am paying decent amount of money for this flat and I can easily manage from the income point of view, but did not expect to start spending the moment I move in just to get it into some decent state. The price certainly did not reflect this fact.

With regards to the settlement/structural issues, I really appreciate the helpful comments, but house prices are also a function of sentiment and perception. This issues will like to come up again when I sell it, and again might put people off, etc. So, all things being equal we don't expect 2 properties(one with settlement problems, one without) to have the same price.

Its a tough one for me.

oli_ro

Also, what are you mean to answer when you take a home insurance policy and they ask if your property has suffered from any structural problems(subsidence, settlement, etc...).

Does the fact that it suffered form settlement make any material difference in the premium ?

Sorry, but being a bit cautious.

Fire_Fox

If you don't want to have to do any work and don't want extra service charge levies, buy a new build flat! Even if you aren't expecting problems to come up, have a full structural survey on an older property - they almost always pay for themselves. If anything significant does get flagged, renegotiate or walk away.

Doozergirl

oli_ro wrote: »

Also, what are you mean to answer when you take a home insurance policy and they ask if your property has suffered from any structural problems(subsidence, settlement, etc...).

Does the fact that it suffered form settlement make any material difference in the premium ?

Sorry, but being a bit cautious.

They answer to that question is no. I have already told you that every house moves. Settlement is not a structural problem, it is expected.

If you want a house with little maintenance issues then I seriously recommend you buy a nearly-new build. Not brand spanking because they have their own issues but a two or three years old.

Seriously, no homebuiyers report is going to be a glowing reference of an older house - you simply accept that older houses do no have straight walls. Stop wasting money on homebuyers reports on old houses because you will not find what you are looking for - unless I've just renovated it.