We recently moved into a new house (we bought) and the ceiling collapsed!

complicated25

My partner and I recently bought an old period cottage. The whole move has been full of problems. On the day of the move, we were told by the Estate Agent that we could collect the keys at 2pm and the property would be empty and cleaned. We arrived to find the previous owners still there and stuff everywhere. They eventually left at 4.30 leaving the house unclean (with no apologies). We also noted that the property was not left in the condition agreed e.g. they had taken out the glass panels in the shower!!


Before the purchase we had paid out for a premium survey noting that it is an old house. The survey came back with no major problems. However when we moved in, the first day we noticed that a line on the dining room ceiling had recently been painted...looking closely it looked like the plastering had cracked and the vendors had tried to cover it up. After only one week into the new property, the whole ceiling collapsed (on me!). We called a builder around who said he was surprised the Vendors had been using the room above it as in fact, it was not only a problem with the ceiling but the flooring in the bedroom above it. The joists are weak and need strengthening and the floorboards (which we knew) need replacing. We have been told not to use that bedroom until the work is done. This is a lot more of a problem than the plastering and the old floorboards as noted by the surveyor. Who is accountable for this (if at all)? We have left numerous messages and emails with the Solicitor that dealt with our sale but as normal (and as everyone has been during the sale/purchase) they have not replied. We want to know whether or not we have a case with the Vendors (for covering it up) or with the Surveyor? If we do not have a case, we can start looking at insurance. As we have only been here 2 weeks, we did not expect such major problems so early on.


Any advice would be appreciated. We are looking to find a new solicitor to deal with the case if we want to pursue.

Annie1960

Here is the complaints procedure for RICS.

http://www.rics.org/uk/regulation/complaints/

somethingcorporate

Unless it was the solicitor that did the survey you should probably stick with them, escalate to a partner if you need to.

Sounds like the surveyor was at fault - what type of a survey did you pay for?

aldershot

Unless your surveyor was allowed to lift carpets and remove floorboard to inspect the underlying woodwork (which I suspect he was/did not) then his survey probably tells you that he hasn't and will almost certainly not guarantee the state of it. He can only comment on what he sees. It is an old cottage. There will be issues. Hopefully, you've already found the worst ones.

We're currently replacing the entire heating/hot water/wiring of our 250 year old purchase. I had hoped we wouldn't need to but was prepared for the worst once we moved in. We are also having to do remedial joist repairs at the same time and repair other bits and pieces.

If you buy old and pretty, however it looks on the surface, expect to have to do work and budget accordingly. You'll be very lucky if you don't have to and almost any survey won't really tell you what is going on underneath.

complicated25

Thank you all for your comments.


We had a survey done separately (not through the Solicitors) and got the premium one that cost a fair bit. However, yes he wrote that he was unable to move furniture and bits so that his assessment was based only on what he could see. I guess as it's quite clear when you step onto the floors that something is wrong, we imagined he would be able to pick that up.


I will try our Solicitors again and see what they suggest. I have a feeling that we will just have to accept it's happened and it's an old house and focus on the insurance.


Does anyone know whether it's best to call up insurance now or when we have a final quote for the work come through? We wanted to check how much it would cost first, and whether or not it was worth getting insurance if the monthly payments would then increase substantially.


Thanks again.

Gonzo1987

There is no such thing as a premium survey. You would have had a homebuyer's or a building survey. Which one you had makes a big difference.

In the first instance contact the surveyor who carried out the report for you.

Unitoons

Check your insurance policy - mine states I have to notify them of any issues as soon as I become aware of them!

00ec25

define "premium" survey, either it was a full structural survey or it wasn't.

If it was it will almost certainly contain a caveat telling you to get your own additional inspection done of the woodwork and that the surveyor offers no liability as to the integrity of the property. If as you say it was "obvious" that the floor was weak simply by walking on it then as a poster above suggests take up the RICS complaints procedure and be prepared to spend money on suing the surveyor