Bad homebuyers survey

Newboy2016

We recently moved into a property confident in the homebuyers survey statement that 'extensive damp readings had been taken throughout the property'. Three months later we notice signs of damp, have a full damp specialist survey done (including things like thermal imaging etc) from a surveyors company with no commercial links to workmen. Their report says the walls are saturated (rm999 on a scale of 0-999) the cavity walls have rubbish insulation in from the 1980's that will need removing, wall ties may need replacing and there is no way that signs of this would not have been picked up in our original homebuyers survey if they had done their job.:eek: undrstandably not too happy. What should we do now? Can we get the original surveyor to cough up the costs?

marliepanda

Three months later? Lots can happen in three months.

This is why people advise a full survey on older properties. You only got a 'surface' report

teneighty

Newboy2016 wrote: »

'extensive damp readings had been taken throughout the property'

That is just a statement not a conclusion, what did it say about the results of those extensive damp readings or are they saying readings of damp were found extensively? Either way poor wording and potentially you have a claim against the survey firm for the damp. Claim for wall ties will depend if there was any visible evidence of wall tie failure to the naked eye at the time of the inspection.

AnotherJoe

'extensive damp readings had been taken throughout the property'
=====

That is very ambiguous.
It could mean that extensive damp was found throughout the property, or it could mean they took extensive reading for damp, but arent telling you what the readings were.

Newboy2016

What the report actually says is 'a comprehensive series of damp meter readings were taken throughout the property and there were no signs of rising or penetrating damp at the time of inspection' That seems pretty clear. If I wanted to claim the costs back from them how would I do it and with who?

kinger101

marliepanda wrote: »

Three months later? Lots can happen in three months.

This is why people advise a full survey on older properties. You only got a 'surface' report

You think they would have been any more diligent on a full survey?

kinger101

Newboy2016 wrote: »

What the report actually says is 'a comprehensive series of damp meter readings were taken throughout the property and there were no signs of rising or penetrating damp at the time of inspection' That seems pretty clear. If I wanted to claim the costs back from them how would I do it and with who?

The first step is complaining to their office. Next, I think you can raise it with RICS. The problem is that even if they were negligent, you don't necessarily get the costs of remedial work back. Just the difference in the valuation with and without defect as I understand it.

Are you sure it's not the damp specialist trying to take you for a ride?

camptownraces

First thing - check the gutters. You shouldn't really have to do this, as the recent survey could have spotted any problems.

Three plus months ago, in September, October or November, they could have been clear, now they could easily be blocked.

G_M

'extensive damp readings had been taken throughout the property'.

Newboy2016 wrote: »

What the report actually says is 'a comprehensive series of damp meter readings were taken throughout the property and there were no signs of rising or penetrating damp at the time of inspection'

Why oh why start a thread with a partial, ambiguous, and misleading quote???!!!

If you want help/advise, it's not conducive.

Newboy2016

It's unlikely that the damp specialists are taking us for a ride since they have nothing commercial to gain, they just do the surveys. Plus the report has the thermal imaging pictures which are pretty clear.

Doozergirl

I would love to see what thermal imaging shows?