Survey wrong and buyer pulled out!

Hcomet

Hoping for some advice as everything I can find seems to relate to the survey missing things and j have the opposite problem!

My buyer has just pulled out as the survey has reported 'extensive woodworm damage' to the roof timbers and the roof requiring 'immediate and extensive remedial work'.

It is a very old property and the timbers were treated for woodworm many years ago. The timbers have been assessed as sound by several different people since and there is no evidence of subsequent and certainly not current woodworm activity. Additionally, there is no evidence of leaking even after heavy rain today. There is a small area where the felt has ripped but isnt currently leaking. Certainly there is no indication the roof requires urgent or extensive work. It seems the surveyor has seen the holes and made a huge leap without checking first.

He has also expressed concerns over a crack in the end wall that has not changed in the 7 years I've owned the property And my surveyor stated showed no signed of recent movement. This was also what was said in the survey prior to that.

The property was rented and is now empty to be sold. This has the potential to cost me thousands while I wait for another buyer and sale to go through.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

bris

The surveyors will always err on the side of caution, the fact is there is woodworm damage, there is a crack in the end wall so he has no choice but to urge caution on that either.


The surveyors go with what they see, this one saw woodworm damage and a crack and reported it so the survey isn't actually wrong.


It's now down to the buyer to get detailed reports on the problems.

Running_Horse

Surveyors tend to write in a vague manner highlighting potential problems, suggesting further investigations and surveys. It is all highly subjective and open to interpretation. We lost a sale due to a survey which made it sound as if the house was full of rot and about to collapse. The next more or less gave it a clean bill of health. If the surveyor did not point these issue out to the client paying them a lot of money, they would be open to being sued for not doing their job. If the works are so minor, why not do what we did; carry them out yourself, get certificates, and put the house back on the market.

anselld

Have you presented the previous reports / treatment guarantees for the woodworm?

Hcomet

I understand how surveys work and that the surveyor may be sued etc. The problem is the surveyor wasn't vague and didn't suggest it needed assessing he stated the IS woodworm and the wood DOES need treating and that the timber needs replacing. My survey did exactly what the first two posters said. Drew our attention to them said there was no evidence of movement and therefore the crack is unlikely to present future problems and mentioned evidence of previous woodworm activity and that I should ensure it has been treated. If they had said that I wouldn't have a problem at all.

The survey is incorrect as it states there is active woodworm to the extent that the timbers need replacing. Neither of which is correct and can be proven as such. The crack is opinion so I can accept that, although it was worded unnecessarily dramatically.

Hcomet

Anselld the treatment was years ago two owners before me so there's no paperwork but I am obtaining a report regarding the lack of woodworm and the timbers being perfectly sound.
I have also given a copy of the survey I had to the estate agent. If they are willing to still consider the property i am hoping they will ask a roofer to come and look at it to confirm.

Running_Horse

Don't think I would just take the owners word for it that the woodworm had been treated several owners ago. I would want to see paperwork and maybe have my own up to date report.

Hoploz

What a horrible thing to happen, you have my sympathy.

You're definitely doing the right thing by getting a specialist to inspect it and hopefully they will be able to give you some kind of proof or guarantee it's historic if you pay them enough!

I fear it will not be enough for the current buyer as they will have been spooked by their survey, so with the doubt this has put in their heads it's unlikely they will take the word of a survey carried out by you as the seller over their own surveyor.

So it looks like its back to the drawing board for the moment. It's a shame you've got to bear the cost of it being vacant, but in some ways this can be helpful and may help it sell quicker.

On the positive side, at least you are not in a chain and about to lose the dream house you've been chasing.