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Would you carry a homebuyer survey?

I am buying an ex-council flat in Mitcham. This is a repossessed property, so everything should happen within a month from now as I have a mortgage.

The building was built in the 50/60’s and is a solid / standard construction (brick and slate). The flat is empty so it is easy to see everything.

- There isn’t a single crack on the walls
- The boiler was removed from the wall and a new one needs to be installed.
- There are radiators in all rooms
- the bathroom needs to be done and is missing a basin
- There is no mark of damp anywhere

The flat seems in pretty good state although it needs a new boiler / bathroom as soon as possible (which is reflected in the price). Therefore, I really wonder if a homebuyer survey is necessary or if it would be a waste of money.

Comments

  • Brodiebobs
    Brodiebobs Posts: 1,050 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    i'd always get one done... not everything is visible.

    My inlaws bought a house, were too tight to pay inspection FIL reckons he knows a thing or two about DIY and didnt bother.... 3 months later getting a new kitchen fixed installers pulled a corner cupboard off and there was a gap you could fit your fist in between interior and exterior wall but bulge wasn't visible from outside, 6k for pinning and problems getting home insurance every since, now for sale and can't find a buyers because everyone elses survey picks it up... i'd say it was worth the £600 or so to get a full inspection!
  • zweety
    zweety Posts: 61 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Thank you for your response. In this case, do you think that a homebuyer survey would be enough? And a structural unnecessary as in a solid building?
  • mrcol1000
    mrcol1000 Posts: 4,799 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    I think it would be more important to get a Homebuyer report with a repossessed property as there is no current occupier to answer any of your questions. Our house was a repossession and we got a homebuyer report. I think you only need a full structural one if its a very old property.
  • Horasio
    Horasio Posts: 6,676 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    edited 20 September 2010 at 3:01PM
    Council properties built in the 1960s were not very well built which is why you see so many being demolished now. We lived in a very upmarket 1960s house and it had structural problems, such as crumbling cement and asbestos, 15 years ago. Thankfully we were only renting but could see a lot of work/expense was needed to get it right.

    I would pay the expense in case there is something you can't see.
    An average day in my life:hello: :eek::mad: :coffee::coffee::coffee::T :o :rotfl: :rotfl: :p :eek::mad: :beer:
    I am no expert in property but have lived in many types of homes, in many locations and can only talk from experience.
  • kkgree1
    kkgree1 Posts: 328 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    We've just had a homebuyers completed and I was quite surprised with how much detail they now contain. 25 pages of fairly detailed notes + diagram of the whole structure of the house.

    We paid £240 for it and think it was really good value.
    Mortgage free wannabe
    Mortgage (November 2010) £135,850
    Mortgage (November 2020) £4,784
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