Property Surveyor Liable?

tez1982

Hi just wondering what other peoples experiences / opinions are:

• Brought a house 2 months ago.
• Had a full survey done before purchase by chartered surveyor
• Chimney sweep came on Saturday and immediately said "I can touch your wood burner - its been installed illegally, please don't use it, its dangerous"
• Got a HEATAS engineer in today straight away said "That's illegally installed, it's a fire risk, don't use it"

The HEATAS engineer says it something the property surveyor should have picked up as its a serious fire risk. I spoke to the surveyor and they stated "I'm sure we can come to an arrangement, we don't want to escalate this" Then asked how much it would cost to get it put right. He has now arranged to come to the property next week.

I double checked the property report, and they only stated "There is a multi-fuel fireplace in the reception room and recommend for the installation to be checked by a qualified person". Nothing about the illegal installation or fire risk. In hindsight I should have had the engineers in before buying but unfortunately didn't, and it would have been impossible to get all the checks the surveyor recommended.

How liable is the surveyor? Where do I stand with this? Anyone had any similar experiences?

Thanks

Tez

jacko74

He ''recommended the installation to be checked by a qualified person''... that pretty much sounds like !!!! fully covered to me.

tez1982

Looking at the report it says that in every section, so what's the point in the surveyor if there bare no liability at all and are allowed to miss dangerous faults?

Nobbie1967

I think the surveyor has covered themselves pretty well there (as usual) not sure you have any comeback as you didn't get the further inspection recommended. The surveyor recognised the limit of his competence as referred you to further advice. The same would be the case with a central heating boiler or electrical installation.

What did the property information form say about the wood burner? I suspect they need building regs for the flue, but not certain. Worth checking as you may have comeback against the seller if they lied on the PIF, but could be a tricky one.

tez1982

Not a lot - just that it was installed in 2007. We saw it working on several viewings so obviously assumed it was safe to use (there was a small child in the house!).

Unfortunately with the time-scales on the sale we couldn't get all the checks recommended but I do feel like we wasted £450 on a full survey.

But then why does the surveyor seem jumpy and willing "to come to an agreement". Plus the HEATAS engineer is saying it should have been picked up by the surveyor.

phill99

tez1982 wrote: »

Looking at the report it says that in every section, so what's the point in the surveyor if there bare no liability at all and are allowed to miss dangerous faults?

Because surveyors are exactly that - surveyors. They are trained in constrction techniques and fault diagnostics. They are not technicians trained in every household service. They have a basic training in plumbing, gas, electrics etc. They are not deemed 'competent persons' in these areas and will never have the knowledge that a Gas Safe Engineer, a Heatas Engineeer or a qualified electrician has. Thats why they refer you to technical specialists.

If you opt not to heed their advice as part of your due diligence, then you are at fault.

G_M

* A surveyor is not a specialist in wood burners.

* So he sensibly advised you to get the burner checked by a specialist who understands wood burners (ie a HEATAS engineer )

* you stupidly chose to ignore his professional advice

* he is now (in my view very generously) coming to re-inspect and has offered to "come to an arrangement".

* Be thankful.

* offer him tea and cake when he comes.