Two Different Surveys! Which is right?!

MJS2011

I have had a Homebuyer survey done on a terraced property I am in the process of buying, which indicated high levels of damp in the downstairs floor timbers, and a possible breach of the damp course.

The vendor has subsequently had their own survey done, which has indicated that the damp course is in tact and there is minimal damp in the floor timbers!! The vendor was present during this survey.

I am concerned about possible damp in the timbers, as the ventilation to the floor isn't great - there is a suspended timber floor at the front of the property but concrete floor at the rear so the air cannot pass all of the way through.

Neither of the surveyors went so far as to check under the floor timbers.

Has anyone experienced such widely varying survey results before?

KateLiana27

Your surveyor works for you. Who knows what the seller did with their "surveyor". Family friend? Golf buddy? Promise of sexual favours? I know who I would trust more.

That said, a surveyor is not a damp specialist and the equipment they usually use can only say if a reading "suggests" or "indicates" damp, rather than proves that it is there. For a definitive answer, an independent damp specialist in (again, working for you and paid by you, and not someone trying to flog their damp-removal services), and get permission for them to look under the timbers and investigate fully.

MrandMrsB

Mr B is a solicitor, and I have asked him what he thinks, but he's preoccupied with DIY jobs, so he will no doubt think of other points later.

If you rely on the vendor's survey you are unlikely to have recourse against him. Your survey is for your benefit and the vendor's survey is for him / her.......ok it sounds dodgy and looks like somebody is not telling the truth, or maybe your surveyor is "covering himself" in case you find damp later! (Mr B has seen surveys that differ because of the weather conditions before and during the survey.)

Ask your surveyor for a estimate for remedial works, or better still you could ask an honest builder to check the property and give you a quote for remedial works. Use the estimate to negotiate a price reduction.

Isn't house buying a nightmare in this country?....that's a rhetorical question!

Best wishes, Mrs B.

Blacksheep1979

I have to say my survey was atrocious and I was in two minds (still am) about trying to get them to redo it. As yours, it was a homebuyers and they'd marked a number of items as 'needs urgent attention' but obviously hadn't checked the items (electrics - meter in cupboard under the stairs was all they put but rated it as needs urgent attention, same with gas) - damp was also one of these and personally I just think they're covering their bottoms. Kind of feel I wasted my money now as I don't think I got a factual representation of the property more an ar5e covering exercise for x hundred pounds.

Trouble is if you get a 'damp proof expert' in they'll usually be trying to flog you something...

kingstreet

Have a report carried out by an independent timber and damp surveyor who has no interest in quoting for work which isn't needed because he isn't a contractor.

You have two chartered surveyors' opinions and neither of them actually tells you very much because all they've done is stuck a moisture meter against the wall.

Look for independent surveyors in your area on here;-

http://www.property-care.org/