How reliable is a Structural Survey??

Dan1983

Good Evening!
I am a first time buyer. I have found a property and had the offer accepted. The property is an Abraham flat. About two weeks ago I got the results from the basic survey. The survey pointed out of signs of structural movement and cracks in the wall etc. It recommended that we get a structural survey on the property. All my money is tied up in the deposit so I refused to pay for the structural survey.
As I wanted more information about this I contacted the man who conducted the survey and he said that “he would not touch it with a barge pole”. I passed this information onto the agent and said I withdraw my offer on these grounds. The agent said he would get the vendor to pay for the structural survey.
Last weekend a structural survey was conducted on the property, which the vendor had paid for. The agent has informed me there are no problems and it has passed the survey. Once the report has been typed, I will be sent a copy and this will be passed onto the banks surveyor.
At present I am stuck in limbo. I really love the property, its perfect! But I also have the words of “I would not touch it with a barge pole” in my head. My worst fear is that in 10 years I will not be able to sell it etc.
I don’t know who to listen to. Now that it has passed the structural survey, should I not worry about it????

Thank you for reading this!

withabix

What's a Abraham Flat?

Thrugelmir

The survey may contain a lot more information than merely saying "passed".

All you can do is wait for the report.

GMS

Dan1983 wrote: »

Good Evening!
I am a first time buyer. I have found a property and had the offer accepted. The property is an Abraham flat. About two weeks ago I got the results from the basic survey. The survey pointed out of signs of structural movement and cracks in the wall etc. It recommended that we get a structural survey on the property. All my money is tied up in the deposit so I refused to pay for the structural survey.
As I wanted more information about this I contacted the man who conducted the survey and he said that “he would not touch it with a barge pole”. I passed this information onto the agent and said I withdraw my offer on these grounds. The agent said he would get the vendor to pay for the structural survey.
Last weekend a structural survey was conducted on the property, which the vendor had paid for. The agent has informed me there are no problems and it has passed the survey. Once the report has been typed, I will be sent a copy and this will be passed onto the banks surveyor.
At present I am stuck in limbo. I really love the property, its perfect! But I also have the words of “I would not touch it with a barge pole” in my head. My worst fear is that in 10 years I will not be able to sell it etc.
I don’t know who to listen to. Now that it has passed the structural survey, should I not worry about it????

Thank you for reading this!

If you want a structural survey you can rely on you will need to instruct your own. The vendor survey is good for the vendor in the event of any issues not spotted. You could not rely on the content of somebody elses.

Do not let your heart rule your head in this. Think carefully and make sure you have covered all bases

dogfish12

Sounds to me like a question of past settlement or ongoing progressive movement which appears to have been dismissed. But as has been said, wait for the whole caboodle. Cracks might give a bargaining chip to get the price down a little. Another thing to think about is house insurance. Even though this movement is probably past, some insurers can be very funny with it. Call it subsidence (which is I believe what even past settlement actually is) and you might have a problem on your hands. Movement in buildings is of course common, especially within a few years of construction, and in most cases nothing to worry about.

dogfish12

Gms's comment about best instructing your own structural survey is of course valid. But there seems to be a little in it of whoever pays the piper names the tune. Surely a professional would not deliberately omit issues? Or am I being niave?

GMS

The surveyor would give the whole story in all circumstances however his insurers would not pay up for a claim on somebody elses valuation.

If Mr Smith sold his house to Mr Jones with a full structural survey instructed by Mr Smith Mr Jones would have no reliance on the survey.

Mr Jones would need to get the surveyor to confim he may rely upon the survey, or instruct his own.

Basic mortgage valuations are of no use to the purchaser as the survey is instructed by, and for the lender. No claim against mis information for the purchaser.

dogfish12

Thx GMS, are we really then talking about incompetent surveyors? They must be about.

Ciske

This might help put it in perspective:

We're selling our house. In the first survey done on our property the results were horrendous, it was valued at £1.00 and the surveyor claimed there was evidence of potentially severe structural problems. :eek: Not surprisingly, the buyers' bank demanded a structural survey after that.

We agreed to split the costs of the survey with the buyers to avoid losing the sale. The structural engineer arrived a week later, looked very surprised as he walked around, double checked the address, scratched head and then expressed his utter disbelief at why he was called out. He said our house is fine and the worst feedback he could give it was a few creaky steps on the staircase and that the boiler needed servicing.

Based on the first survey he had expected a complete wreck and said it had been a waste of time and money for all involved to have him called out. As he left, he told me about 30% of his visits were for properties where nothing is wrong but the first surveyor "couldn't be bothered to do his job" or (as I generously offered as a second explanation) was perhaps overcautious. He also said if there was a way to complain about our first surveyor he would!

In your case, the structural engineer is the expert and probably right, but as you didn't pay for the survey, there is a risk involved. Can you ask a builder to visit the property with you, review what is in the survey and get a second opinion?

GMS

dogfish12 wrote: »

Thx GMS, are we really then talking about incompetent surveyors? They must be about.

Not at all. I did not imply that.

Any surveyor will say it as they see it. On rare occasions their judgement may have been wrong. Same goes for any profession conered by Professional Indemnity Insurance.

If the person trying to claim did not instruct the survey then it will be thrown out. No claim for something you did not instruct.

There are incompetent people in every profession. I doubt a surveyor would put his career on the line willingly to facilitate the sale of a property.

hillcats

I will always remember these wise words from my father - "If in doubt, walk away"

Personally I wouldn't trust a survey arranged by someone else, as they are paying for it then "maybe" it could be worded to suit... get my drift ?