FTB....Got The Building Surveyor Report

isanat

Hi,

I am in the process of trying to buy first property, after the building surveyor report he uncovered that their is rising damp and beetle infestation in floor boards.......

I would like to known peoples opinions and if they have been through this and what their approach was ...

is it a case were you renegotiate the price of the house or do you ask for the repairs to be done before for purchase.....

any advice would be appreciated as i am not sure what the next step would be as i am still interested in the property but would not want to foot the bill as them faults are not something i could have spotted when viewing the house ....


thank you for your time

elverson

You can do either of those (or walk away). Renegotiating the price might result in a faster sale as you won't be waiting for the works to be done before you complete.

In either case the seller may agree or refuse - if they think they will be able to sell to somebody else anyway they might say no.

Go through the estate agent as it's in their interest for the sale to go through.

Doozergirl

Rising damp doesn't really exist. There is likely to be something breaching the existing damp proof course, a lack of under floor ventiliation or some form of penetrating damp. The solution is isually quite inexpensive. What evidence did they give for "rising damp"?

You spray for beetle infestation. It isnt particularly expensive, but most of the occurences I've seen have been isolated and historic and so you spray as a prevetative measure. Has the survey suggested that the infestation has caused structural damage to the joists? That's where it can be expensive.

This isn't your house yet and so isn't your problem to fix but where surveys can miss a lot of stuff, damp is where they almost always over egg the pudding.

Gorecki

Re. your question on approach, it's a very personal thing (how happy are you getting work done, diy, how important this house is to you etc).

Personally (assuming house is 50+ years old), I'd not re-negotiate on damp (assuming it's mild), as I think it's reasonable to expect a survey will pick it up. I would re-negotiate on an insect infestation as I wouldn't regard that as reasonable to expect in a survey.

I'd ask for a reduction as when someone's selling a house they're not exactly motivated to get quality tradesmen to fix issues.

Clutterfree

Does the survey say there IS damp and woodworm or that there MAY be and you need to consult a specialist?
Sadly, a lot of surveyors scare monger to cover their backsides.

isanat

well it says dry rot on ground floor joist .....any one have an idea if thats a very expensive job .....basically the whole house needs to be gutted and done again which i dont mind but im worried something like damp and dry rot is going to cost big pounds =[ .........think going to try get a quote and see if i can get price knocked down ....

isanat

it says high readings on meter for damp???

Doozergirl

Dry rot is a problem. You have to hack back and follow the beggar back to its source. There is some sort of penetrating damp, almost certainly. Despite being a dry rot, it still needs moisture.

Where is the affected joist? Below ground floor or above? Is there a cellar where the surveyor has seen exposed joists?

Are you mortgaging this property? Have they passed the house as mortgageable?

You've said it needs gutting but are also asking if the work should be done before you buy it. The answer is that you should trace this back as you gut to ensure you're finding everything. But gutting is gutting!

What's your budget for renovating the place? And how big is it?

isanat

Yes morgatge mate .... And rotting on ground floor i am assuming its coming from the cellar....he lifted board in living room and also went in the cellar...

The house is not big at all small two bedroom terrance ... By gutting i mean remove old plaster and do again new carpet n new kitchen n bathroom ..

My budget is £10k dats to get everything an me doin most da removal of old an da easy jobs lik painting n flooring but. With dese new uncovered problems i dnt kno if its impossible as i dnt kno how much to get rid of damp an its source n replacing joist on ground floor if need be ...

Hoploz

Saying your budget is £10k makes me say walk.

Up till then I was thinking if you're planning on hacking back plaster etc then you'll find all the nasties and be able to rectify them ... But £10k is really not an adequate budget to do all of that, with or without the adverse survey findings.

isanat

Was gna hack plaster back myself