Should I get a surveyor on a purpose built flat?

wasimkham

I'm a first time buyer and i'm curious to know if a survey is needed on a purpose built flat that is only 14 years old? It's a 2 bed ground floor flat.

Thanks for the help.

hazyjo

It's not needed, but it is personal choice. I'd not want to spend tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds and scrimp on the £300-400 or so for a homebuyer's report.

Others who have more of a clue would say otherwise. Depends what you'll spot yourself. You might prefer to get service-people in to check certain things, but I imagine electrics, etc are all pretty much up to scratch in a 14 year old flat.

I had a homebuyer's on an 8 year old house and one on a 1930s house (bought both in different years). Far more came up on the newer house.

Jx

rosyw

I would definitely get a survey done following my brothers' recent experience. He was buying a 6 yr old purpose built flat but had a survey regardless, which highlighted a major problem effecting the whole block and was refused a mortgage because of it! :eek: Better to spend a few hundred now than throw away much more by not doing so.

wasimkham

rosyw wrote: »

I would definitely get a survey done following my brothers' recent experience. He was buying a 6 yr old purpose built flat but had a survey regardless, which highlighted a major problem effecting the whole block and was refused a mortgage because of it! :eek: Better to spend a few hundred now than throw away much more by not doing so.

That sounds like an awfully lucky escape! Do you mind if I ask what the problem was that effected the whole block?

My reason for asking is that I now know you can either have Homebuyer Report or a Full Building Survey. According to Prime Location website, a Homebuyer Report is;

This choice of survey is designed to keep costs to a minimum and is the better option if you are buying a relatively standard property that seems to be in reasonably good condition and is less than, say, 30 years old.

So would that be enough or is a full survey worth upgrading to?

hazyjo

You probably won't be able to get a full structural survey on a flat - especially one in a block (maybe a one up one down Victorian conversion or something - if the other flat granted the surveyor access).

Homebuyer's should sufice IMO.

Jx

wasimkham

hazyjo wrote: »

You probably won't be able to get a full structural survey on a flat - especially one in a block (maybe a one up one down Victorian conversion or something - if the other flat granted the surveyor access).

Homebuyer's should sufice IMO.

Jx

Ah ok that makes sense. Thanks for the advice!

highguyuk

I'd suggest you get a Homebuyers report to protect yourself. As others have said, why scrimp £300-£400 (maybe less) on such a large purchase?

propertyman

wasimkham wrote: »

Ah ok that makes sense. Thanks for the advice!

Well actually its doesnt, sorry hazyjo.

:money:The flat is one thing, but the single biggest mistake that buyers make is not to properly assess the state of the repair of the building as a whole, as that will set service charges in the future.


Its not just a question of a huge crack or issue but how old the communal wiring and mains are, the age of the roof or decorations or that boundary wall 200 feet away at the botttom of the garden, or the lift that has new doors and carpet but 40 year old machinery behind.
The surveyor can assess how much that might cost so you can budget and negotiate accordingly.

hazyjo

propertyman - are you saying that'd be classed as a full structural survey?! AFAIK, they could only get a homebuyer's report unless the surveyor can access all areas.

By all means, see if the surveyor can check out other aspects of the building (that they can access), but I'm not sure what survey they'd class it as.

My homebuyer's reports have always commented on outsides of properties I've bought. If there's a crack, or a broken chimney stack, it'll be mentioned.

Jx