Survey Report: Thatch Roof Overlaid with Tiles

Fire_Fox

IMO your next step is to formally ask (in writing) the owner via the agent if this has come up in any prior survey or report and what the outcome was.

propertyman

Steffi747 wrote: »

I have spoken to the surveyor and his opinion is the roof is generally in a good condition. He states the thatch was too compacted to pull away and look for a secondary structure to hold the tiles. So, if documentation exists, it should be ok. .

Well to an extent that is what I said earlier, however I doubt that you will find any documentation. Frankly I think it is a reckless conclusion the Surveyor has drawn. Not only does thatch need experience to understand, but this odd combination., it's very brave to say it's ok.

Step back and think-
1: "Building Regs"- council has no liability to you if it fails
2: How much to replace or overhaul it
3: Have you tried to get insurance- it's not a conventional structure, which has to be declared you can't say its just a tiled roof.

My advice with 28 years experience- do not settle on a price or to buy until you fully understand the structure its shortcomings and if it can be insured, even if there is "building regs".

chappers

Have a look at the eaves and any gables are there unusally wide bargeboards, fascias or soffits that would indicate thatch still below.
The roof looks very old (half sawn log rafters).
Personally I would be expecting to re-roof that and as has been said that would not be classed as a standard slate or tile roof for insurance purposes.

Steffi747

Thanks for all the responses.

Regardless of their being a structure between the thatch and/or building regulations this thatch has to come out for insurance purposes.

I will be contacting the vendors via the EA once they return.

Will keep you updated.

annie123

Steffi747 wrote: »

Thanks for all the responses.

Regardless of their being a structure between the thatch and/or building regulations this thatch has to come out for insurance purposes.

I will be contacting the vendors via the EA once they return.

Will keep you updated.

That can be arranged to be done between exchange and completion.

Also if this is also on behalf of your mortgage company their under writers have to be happy with the survey too, before they will issue you a mortgage offer, so you may want to hang fire on spending any more large amounts of money (thinking searches) until you have your mortgage offer.

Steffi747

annie123 wrote: »

That can be arranged to be done between exchange and completion.

Also if this is also on behalf of your mortgage company their under writers have to be happy with the survey too, before they will issue you a mortgage offer, so you may want to hang fire on spending any more large amounts of money (thinking searches) until you have your mortgage offer.

The mortgage provider received a separate basic valuation from the surveyor which recommended timber and damp reports. These issues are separate from the thatch and the mortgage provider knows nothing of it.

Just waiting to hear back about the damp and timber reports, then I shall approach the vendor with a list of questions.

geoffky

It was a full building survey done by Countrywide Surveyors.

They owned by estate agents http://www.countrywide.co.uk/about/history.aspx