Inspection Reports

BFC

Hi,

We are in the process of buying a house and have received the homebuyers report which has highlighted several areas which need further inspection.

For inspections of the electrics and gas fire flue we have been quoted about £65 for reports. Is this a normal charge to pay or is there anyway to have this checked without the cost?

The other issue is with some damp found in the basement utility room. The building society have put a retention on a small part of the mortgage until we get a damp proof report. The agents don't seem keen to organise a report and say that damp readings are always high in basement rooms and the room is supposedly fully tanked. Not sure whether the work is still under guarantee the agent is apparently in the process of obtaining information on the work carried out. Should we demand a report or check the documents and see what is covered obviously we don't want to buy the house and then find ourselves with a large bill for damp proofing.

Any help much appreciated.

Debt_Free_Chick

BFC wrote:

For inspections of the electrics and gas fire flue we have been quoted about £65 for reports. Is this a normal charge to pay or is there anyway to have this checked without the cost?

Seems about right. Unlikely you will find someone to do the work for nothing. Anyway, if you want to rely on the report you normally have to pay for it - then the advice is covered by their professional indemnity insurance, should it prove to be negligent.

Whether or not they are absolutely necessary is a matter of personal choice.

The other issue is with some damp found in the basement utility room. The building society have put a retention on a small part of the mortgage until we get a damp proof report. The agents don't seem keen to organise a report and say that damp readings are always high in basement rooms and the room is supposedly fully tanked. Not sure whether the work is still under guarantee the agent is apparently in the process of obtaining information on the work carried out. Should we demand a report or check the documents and see what is covered obviously we don't want to buy the house and then find ourselves with a large bill for damp proofing.

hhhmmmmm..... by definition, a basement is below the DPC, so it will usually be damp. Any attempt to "damp-proof" it is unlikely to be 100% effective.

Provided there is a DPC then this ought to prevent any damp in the brickwork rising up through the rest of the property.

Tanking can often create more problems than it solves - especially in older property, where the property was built in the knowledge that the basement was below the DPC. They were usually designed to stay damp, but to allow the air to dry as much as possible out of the room, using plenty of air bricks. Are there air bricks in the basement? Have they been blocked up?

If this is an older property e.g. Victorian, then I suggest you use a specialist surveyor who understands how period properties were constructed, with regards to damp in basements.

marybishop

Any guarantees should be obtained via your solicitor from the vendors (via their solicitor) for any work such as DPC's, new windows, electrics, etc. Get your solicitor to make enquiries - that's what you're paying them to do!