House buying and structural report worries!

LlamaRob

Hi all,

My wife and I are hoping to buy our first house. We've found a property that we really like and are contemplating putting an offer in! However, the fly in the ointment is that there was previously another potential buyer who had a survey done by a chartered surveyor. The surveyor reported that the roof was too heavy for the building and was causing the walls to move (unfortunately we've been unable to see the report).

The vendor then had a structural engineer come to look at the property, his report stated that there were no issues with the property, just some longstanding (not progressive) movement next to a single window. At the end of the report he states that the building represents suitable security for morgage/insurance purposes.

Although the strucrual engineers report is very good we're still conerned about the surveyors report. I don't know which of the two is more qualified to be trusted! Any advice?

If we did decide to put in an offer we would have our own survey done as a 3rd opinion, but how much is this likely to cost? (it's a town 3-bed proprty in cheltenham).

Thanks for any advice in advance!

phill99

The CS in this case is more of a Generalist and the SE is the specialist (think GP Doctor referring you to a specialist at the hospital). Its his opinion that is the better. However, as the vendor got the SE involved, you would have to commission an independent SE to undertake a similar report. Guessing £500 - £1000.

missPinky

Hi

Definately trust the structural engineer, however use your own rather than the vendors if you are certain you want to buy this property as that report might have been in the interest of the vendor as at the bottom of each report their is a disclaimer so you can't sue the engineer at a later date. I brought our house in the North and paid £350 for the structural engineers report.

LlamaRob

Thanks for the info both, it's much apreciated.

I suspected SE would know what he was talking about more than the CE. If we go for it I think we will get another SE in independantly, as far as I can tell SEs can vary quite a bit in price!

jc808

LlamaRob wrote: »

Hi all,

My wife and I are hoping to buy our first house. We've found a property that we really like and are contemplating putting an offer in! However, the fly in the ointment is that there was previously another potential buyer who had a survey done by a chartered surveyor. The surveyor reported that the roof was too heavy for the building and was causing the walls to move (unfortunately we've been unable to see the report).

The vendor then had a structural engineer come to look at the property, his report stated that there were no issues with the property, just some longstanding (not progressive) movement next to a single window. At the end of the report he states that the building represents suitable security for morgage/insurance purposes.

Although the strucrual engineers report is very good we're still conerned about the surveyors report. I don't know which of the two is more qualified to be trusted! Any advice?

If we did decide to put in an offer we would have our own survey done as a 3rd opinion, but how much is this likely to cost? (it's a town 3-bed proprty in cheltenham).

Thanks for any advice in advance!

Might be concrete tiles on an old roof. Not a huge problem