Scheme 3 survey after purchase? (Scotland)

[Deleted User]

Hello all

Here is a thread that will no doubt have the regulars squirming at the stupidity within

We bought a semi-detached house in Scotland in October 2015. It was a "one photo of the outside only" job and needs complete renovation. It had no heating/bathroom/kitchen etc. Built around 1900. The council has since advised that as far as they are concerned it has been unoccupied for 9 years. We are both completely inexperienced in all aspects of renovation and DIY but fell in love with the house (stupid fact #1). Small saving grace here is that we own current flat outright and so can renovate at our leisure and move as and when.

On purchase we did not commission a full survey but relied on the home report as our solicitor advised strongly that he didn't see it as necessary and it wouldn't flag anything the home report one didn't (stupid fact #2).

Since purchase we have decided not to simply hand it over to one building contractor to renovate completely but to do it piecemeal and project manage ourselves (likely stupid fact #3?!)

Strange thing so far is that the only Category 3 thing the Home Report threw up was that there was rot work needing completed ASAP and they forced the seller to attach a quote for the works- this was £1.7k. However we have since had 2 separate rot specialists attend and say there is nothing required in this regard.

On completion of the first major piece of work (central heating), the floorboards that they have disturbed have revealed that below the upper floors there is a crazy amount of rubble beneath the floorboards. Underneath the lower floors also look a bit rough and ready. As we aren't experienced at all, we have no idea of what looks "normal"- we do intend of course to catch the heating engineers and ask them.

This has made us think that for a bit more peace of mind and also to try and pick up the "unknown unknowns" we should just get a surveyor round to do a full survey and let us know what the deal is structurally. This is obviously going to be a four figure job but we're at the point now where we're worrying that using separate tradesmen will mean something slips through the cracks and doesn't get flagged as an issue. What would you do- should we bother now we already own it or just try and crack on?

New_Me

Beneath floorboards - "the layer between the underlying ceiling and the floorboards, called deafening, should be left undisturbed. Fitted in most traditionally built domestic properties, a mix of clinker, and sand mounted on rough boards, deafening provides a valuable fire resistant, acoustic and thermal insulation and should be retained."

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/informguide-timber-floors.pdf

Mine is slightly older than yours, and has the same stuff under the floorboards upstairs.

davidmcn

Fluzz wrote: »

we did not commission a full survey but relied on the home report as our solicitor advised strongly that he didn't see it as necessary and it wouldn't flag anything the home report one didn't (stupid fact #2).

I don't consider this particularly stupid - while a scheme 3 survey will give you more detail than the home report, I would expect the HR to flag up any serious things needing further investigation, such as structural issues.