Property Survey Issues

Tyler119

Hi everyone,

So my partner and I are buying our first home. Everything was going to plan until today really. We have signed a contract with our solicitor who is holding it until we say to exchange. He had been trying to get date to finish everything of for April 17th. Had a letter today which now states that the vendor will not begin packing up his house until at least the 2nd week of May. That seems to us to be a long time but hey ho what can we do.....pack for him

Anyway, survey arrived and recommended having the Gas system fully checked, the roof fully checked as there may be some rot and for the electrics to be checked and quoted for updating.

Is it normal for a vendor to allow us access to the property for this to happen as the survey recommends it be done before purchase.

I have emailed the vendors estate agent and just wanted to know if anyone had been through this.

Thanks in advance for any help.

:):)

artbaron

I'm wondering why your survey is recommending that these things be checked, being that this is the purpose of a survey. Have problems been identified?

mrsmchapman

Our survey also suggested getting electric and gas checked, this is because surveyors are not registered to check these appliances. This is your choice you can either pay someone to do a check for you or you move in and get it checked afterwards.

As for the roof, what exactly did the survey say?

DannyboyMidlands

It is normal for surveyors to recommend additional inspections and for vendors to allow them - providing there is no damage to finishes etc.

The question for you is why do you want these items checked and/or updated? Do the lights not work? Does the water not heat up?

G_M

Exact wording of the recommendations needed.

Often these are recommended as a matter of course because the surveyor isnot an electrician or gas engineer. Does the survey actually state there is some indication of concern?

As for roof -surprised the surveyor is recommending a further survey. By who? a roofer? A structural engineer? A damp specialist? What exactly is surpposed to be wrong (or may be wrong) with the roof?

If in any doubt, phone the surveyor and ask for more detail!

And yes - it is normal. If you need further checks to be made, the seller shgould allow access, or expect you to suspect he is denying access because he has something to hide...

Tyler119

The survey said that under the rear dormer there are broken and missing tiles with exposed timber and that there may be rot and so to have a roofer inspect this. The report goes on a red, amber and green rating for each section with red meaning immediate work needs done.

There was a new boiler installed in 2010 , however it was not registered with the local authority and the survey suspects the engineer that installed it was not CORGI registered.

The electrics in the house are the original ones from 1975 and it is an old style fuse box so he asks that an electrician test it all out fully.

He also says that a GAS SAFE engineer check and approve the entire system including heating.

We did wonder why the house was priced 30k less than an exact same house a few doors up. I may be cynical, however I found it odd that the surveyors valuation price was dead on what the asking price was.

G_M

Tyler119 wrote: »

The survey said that under the rear dormer there are broken and missing tiles with exposed timber and that there may be rot and so to have a roofer inspect this. The report goes on a red, amber and green rating for each section with red meaning immediate work needs done.
The tiles themselves are a minor matter. 75 p each and an hour's work...?

If the tiles have been missing for a long time, and water has got in, the timber may be damp. But serious damage requiring timber replacement is unlikely unless it was a LLOOong time.

Once the tiles are back, the timber will dry out.

But an ispection is wise to be sure. Just be careful that whoever inspects is not touting for work! Otherwise.... they'll suggest treating this and replacing that £££££!

There was a new boiler installed in 2010 , however it was not registered with the local authority and the survey suspects the engineer that installed it was not CORGI registered.
Ask the seller for the Installation documentation! Check if the installer who did it was CORGI/GasSafe. If he was, a 2010 boiler should be fine.

(you could also check if the radiators get hot, the taps deliver hot water, and a CO alarm goes off if placed next to boiler!)

The electrics in the house are the original ones from 1975 and it is an old style fuse box so he asks that an electrician test it all out fully.
By 'old style' do you mean it uses fuse wire? Replace. Or cartridges? Not to current standard but otherwise fine.
If you get an electrician to inspect, beware of the distinction between "Dangerous - needs changing" and "Not to current standards" (most houses!) which is fine.

He also says that a GAS SAFE engineer check and approve the entire system including heating.

We did wonder why the house was priced 30k less than an exact same house a few doors up. I may be cynical, however I found it odd that the surveyors valuation price was dead on what the asking price was.

Valuations are almost never higher than price agreed as that is all the mortgage lender needs. It's if the valuation is lower than price agreed that there is a problem.

Lord_Baltimore

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Kayles86

Exactly the same with ours - they are not qualified to do most things (which is a bit of a pain to say the least). We didn't have damp noted on ours but gas and electrics "should be checked by a qualified/registered blah blah". Basically, most of it is covering their backs in case something does happen

artbaron

Sounds like a typical survey. Nothing identified but a lot of things 'may' need checking. My surveyor didn't even bother going up to the attic because for reasons that are still unclear, he "couldn't get up there." The roof 'may' need work, however. He identified one 'red' (urgent) matter which was to paint the exterior of the house. When I rang to ask why it was urgent he said it wasn't. "I can't explain why that's marked urgent," he added helpfully. What a cark.

Dukesy

Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much. Those sound like standard survey issues, and don't necessarily mean that there is actually a problem.

As previous posters have said, the surveyor is not qualified to deal with electrics, gas etc and so will recommend they are checked anyway. The roof probably isn't a problem either - they always err on the overcautious side and probably haven't even inspected the wood itself.