Home buyers report- generic? Dampness etc

brummieaxgt

Hi ,

We are in the process of purchasing our new home. It's a 1930's detached home.

We read some thing on the Internet of the most common written issues in a home buyers report. We seem to have them all!

We have a category 2 - dampness
State dampeners is affecting ground floor walls- concealed timbers may be defective and should be investigated.

Penetrating dampness is affecting the side elevation close to the external chimney stack.
Instruct a damp proof contractor to identify the full extent of the problem.

Category 3
Roof -
There are some cracked tiles and the pointing to the verge is weathered and roof should be overhauled and repaired.

*Actually the report states all roofs are weathered and should be overhauled.


Category 3 - There is debris in both of the chambers which may indicate defects to the drainage system.

Category 3 for heating and electrics as instructed.

We're obviously concerned about dampness but has only been put down as a category 2?

We're concerned about the drainage as it is a shared access driveway and concerned for any potential big bills. Should we have a cctv survey?

The roof as above stated is weathered and should be overhauled.
We have been given a receipt by the seller for a full roof replacement 5 years ago with a 10 year guarantee. Are we within our right to ask the seller to exercise the right for the guarantee before we purchase?

Any help is appreciated.

Reuben

dc197

A roof is designed to keep the weather out of the house. In doing so, it becomes weathered.

If it is not defective a guarantee claim is likely to be fruitless.

If you buy it, make sure all guarantees are transferred to you.

brummieaxgt

Exactly sound daft doesn't it.

Good advice, transfer guarantees!

glasgowdan

Sounds like a harsh home report, some surveyors go over the top with their gradings, and those 3s don't sound like 3s to me. You can query/object to the surveyor if it's your survey.

teneighty

brummieaxgt wrote: »

Hi ,

We are in the process of purchasing our new home. It's a 1930's detached home.

We read some thing on the Internet of the most common written issues in a home buyers report. We seem to have them all!

We have a category 2 - dampness
State dampeners is affecting ground floor walls- concealed timbers may be defective and should be investigated. You need to commission a further report or builders quote as the surveyor has failed to identify the source of the damp, it could be any number of things like debris in cavity, bridged damp proof course, defective cavity trays etc. etc. Also quote for remedial work if timber has been affected by the dampness.

Penetrating dampness is affecting the side elevation close to the external chimney stack.
Instruct a damp proof contractor to identify the full extent of the problem. If it is penetrating damp a builder would be better than a damp proofing contractor. It is a shame the surveyor did not diagnose the actual cause. It could be defective pointing, defective lead flashing, leaking gutter etc. etc.

Category 3
Roof -
There are some cracked tiles and the pointing to the verge is weathered and roof should be overhauled and repaired. On a roof that is only 5 years old? Sounds dodgy, get the vendor to have the repairs done under their guarantee

*Actually the report states all roofs are weathered and should be overhauled.


Category 3 - There is debris in both of the chambers which may indicate defects to the drainage system. Get a drain survey, about £200 for a camera survey or just ask the builder to take a look, could just be debris from the manhole.

Category 3 for heating and electrics as instructed.

We're obviously concerned about dampness but has only been put down as a category 2?

We're concerned about the drainage as it is a shared access driveway and concerned for any potential big bills. Should we have a cctv survey?

The roof as above stated is weathered and should be overhauled.
We have been given a receipt by the seller for a full roof replacement 5 years ago with a 10 year guarantee. Are we within our right to ask the seller to exercise the right for the guarantee before we purchase?

Any help is appreciated.

Reuben

(Apparently my message is too short so please ignore this waffle)

AdrianC

If the roof really does need that much work after only five years, then the vendor was ripped-off something rotten by absolute cowboys - and the guarantee will be worth as much as yesterday's Andrex. If you're lucky.