Just received surveryors report

Lemon_Tree

Hi,
we've just received the homebuyer's report and it's got 3's on the following things:
need to check the electrics/have they been serviced/ replaced in the last 10 years.
gas appliances and boiler need evidence of servicing etc (we know the current owners are having it serviced on the 28th before the purchase completes)

are these normal comments that surveyors use to cover their derriers? obviously we would be having such things checked as a matter of course when we move in but will they stop the mortgage going through or should we pull out? or am i worrying unnecessarily?

oh the house was built in about 1955.

thanks for your help

G_M

Surveyors are not electricians so cannot determine their condition. Is there any reason to believe the electrics might have a problem? How old is the property? how old the electrics? What kind of switches? Fusebox? Has the surveyor actually given any statement questioning the electrics or just 'advised an electrical inspections?'

Gas stuff? Exactly the same! How old etc? Was the heating on when you viewed? Did it work? Did you run a hot tap?....

Bit of common sense goes a long way with these things!

poppysarah

before completion but after exchange?
Would mean no room for negotiation if it's condemmed.

Probably usual comments.

But re: elecs. What fuse board, how many plug sockets in each room etc? Gives you an idea of the usability of the electrics.
All sockets and light switches the same? no brown frayed furry light cables anywhere?

hazyjo

Am surprised they're servicing the boiler so near to completion - I wouldn't be if it was mine. Not really their problem, and no legal need for them to have it serviced or prove to you that they've ever had it serviced.

All surveryors' reports say they can't commit to the electrics, gas, etc being in working order or not needing updating.

I usually get an electrician round to inspect if buying an old property.

As said, check that things work - all rads, hot water, etc.

Jx

aunt_sal

When we bought our house a couple of years ago we had a full structural survey ie the full monty.

There was no mention of the electrics. The woman we bought the house from boasted that her dad was an electrician who'd rewired it all a few years back. Shortly after we moved in we wanted to fit a new light switch in. The electrician - a friend - looked around and came back ashen faced. He said the place was the worse he'd ever seen. For example, under our double bed there was a speaker wire that had a bare end, just laying on the floor. Problem was it was connected to the mains supply. It might have killed our toddler.

he did some rewiring and it's all been fine

so imho surveyors don't know much about electrics - and they should, if they're going to make any comments on it at all. And if you're not confident with checking this stuff yourself I'd suggest you get a builder or someone like that to give it a once over BEFORE you buy. That way you can add any problems into the negotiations.

googler

The electrics are guaranteed not to be up to current regulations - but as they change the regs every couple of years or so, that's not surprising.

There's absolutely no need to be rewiring every 10 years, as the above suggests.

I sold my parents' house two years ago. It was built in 1971, and I sold it with all the original electrics in place, with no protest from the buyer.

Unless the surveyor has removed wall sockets, or opened up the consumer unit, which I'll bet he hasn't - he's in NO position to state whether or not the wiring is serviceable, safe, not safe, or anything.

He is in a position to comment on visible aspects - whether or not the wall sockets 'look' old, whether or not the number of wall sockets meets current expectations, whether or not they are switched sockets, whether or not there's cloth-braided pendant lighting cable - but at the end of the day, you can see these for yourself, can't you?

G_M

aunt_sal wrote: »

so imho surveyors don't know much about electrics - and they should, if they're going to make any comments on it at all.

Which is exactly why surveyors do NOT make comments about the electrics apart from, as here, suggesting the buyer ask for proof of recent re-wiring/electrical inspection, or arrange their own inspection.

Surveyors are not trained electricians - you might as well ask him to check the contract and Title deeds and save yourself the cost of a solicitor!

aunt_sal

Our full monty survey did comment on the electrics saying they seemed fine - of course they couched it in non commital terms.

Lemon_Tree

thanks for all your thoughts and comments,
we have been to the house whilst the heating was on and have checked that they're working.
The report did specifically say that he hadn't removed plates etc but that it was a modern style fuse box and plastic covered wiring so i'm thinking we'll just get a sparky around to check there's nothing obvious.
thanks again

G_M

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

thanks for all your thoughts and comments,
we have been to the house whilst the heating was on and have checked that they're working.
The report did specifically say that he hadn't removed plates etc but that it was a modern style fuse box and plastic covered wiring so i'm thinking we'll just get a sparky around to check there's nothing obvious.
thanks again

Strange decision. You quote lots of positive evidence and go on to conclude you need a sparkie!

I'm not saying don't use a sparkie for your peace of mind, but if you're going to, why tell us

but that it was a modern style fuse box and plastic covered wiring so.....

. No logic