Buying a house - spotted damp and question on structural certification...

2much

Hi all.
We have finally found a house - and had our offer accepted.
The house is an older style 20's property that has just been refurbished by a builder.

When we first viewed the house, all seemed fantastic:
Re-skimmed walls or plasterboarded walls / new ceilings / new floorboards downstairs / new kitchen extension / new bathroom / new central heating (with certificates) / new wiring (with certificates) new windows / newly decorated etc.

But now we have a few causes for concern;

On going back to the property to measure up for curtains etc, I have seen 2 spots of damp. One was upstairs at top of old chimney breast, next to ceiling, and one was downstairs on a corner next to a door. He said that the problem on the chimney breast was the flute was not cemented in place in the chimney - (which he's now fixed) and that the downstairs damp was caused by run off from an ajoining wall linked to the house where an old lean-to was - which he said he's also sorted.

Also, he told us when we first viewed the house that he had re-fixed all of the roof joists, (bolted them together, when they were nailed) and also added an upright joist to help support the roof.
Should this work be certificated?

We only had the basic survey done by the building society - and are now considering paying for a full structural survey... We are now worried that there may have been other damp problems that he's simply skimmed over or plaster boarded over.

We still have 5 weeks until the seller wants to complete.

Any help / past experience or pointers appreciated.
Many thanks

Fire_Fox

RICS recommends a full structural survey on an older property - more often than not these pay for themselves by revealing work that you can renegotiate price over. You may also need an independent damp specialist look at the place.

go_cat

Definitely go for a structural survey, if anything is found you can try to reduce your offer or walk away. It saves any nasty surprises

G_M

2much wrote: »

Hi all.

One was upstairs at top of old chimney breast, next to ceiling, and one was downstairs on a corner next to a door. He said that the problem on the chimney breast was the flute was not cemented in place in the chimney - (which he's now fixed)
perfectly plausible assuming he's telling the truth.

and that the downstairs damp was caused by run off from an ajoining wall linked to the house where an old lean-to was - which he said he's also sorted.
perfectly plausible assuming he's telling the truth

Also, he told us when we first viewed the house that he had re-fixed all of the roof joists, (bolted them together, when they were nailed) and also added an upright joist to help support the roof.
Should this work be certificated?
Yes - I think so. Ask the Buildings Regs guys at the council - a quick phone call?

We only had the basic survey done by the building society
Now you know why going cheap may not be wise!

We still have 5 weeks until the seller wants to complete.
Never mind Completion date - Have you Exchanged?

Are you using a solicitor? Get your solicitor to get a written confirmation
a) that the work he says was done has been done and
b) that it is guaranteed for, say 12/24 months

If he's on the straight, then he should have no problem agreeing.

If he refuses or makes excuses, be sceptical!

2much

G_M wrote: »

Are you using a solicitor? Get your solicitor to get a written confirmation
a) that the work he says was done has been done and
b) that it is guaranteed for, say 12/24 months

If he's on the straight, then he should have no problem agreeing.

If he refuses or makes excuses, be sceptical!

Hi
Thanks for your replies - no, we haven't exchanged - prob a month or so away. Some sound advice. Thank you.