Kensington Mortgage application timescale

lauraclay1727

we've requested a home buyers survey as a first time buyer just for peace of mind so there's no surprises later on. we know if any work will need doing in future etc. we've also been advised by family that it's a good thing to get done. 
the seller isn't happy and apparently won't consent to it. my partner doesn't want to go ahead without doing it and doesn't understand why they wouldn't allow it. 
I'm not sure what I think, I get the frustration of a another survey but surely its not a big deal and its just to make sure everything is ok with the house. 
what do you guys think? do any of you plan on getting a home buyers survey done? 

Blueem5

we got our offer this week! It’s come in the post today. So pleased and relieved. under 4 weeks from application to offer  

Blueem5

lauraclay1727 said:

we've requested a home buyers survey as a first time buyer just for peace of mind so there's no surprises later on. we know if any work will need doing in future etc. we've also been advised by family that it's a good thing to get done. 
the seller isn't happy and apparently won't consent to it. my partner doesn't want to go ahead without doing it and doesn't understand why they wouldn't allow it. 
I'm not sure what I think, I get the frustration of a another survey but surely its not a big deal and its just to make sure everything is ok with the house. 
what do you guys think? do any of you plan on getting a home buyers survey done? 

We are also having a homebuyers survey. The seller is fine about it. I would probably wonder why they won’t allow it, what are they hiding?! 

Bucky88

lauraclay1727 said:

we've requested a home buyers survey as a first time buyer just for peace of mind so there's no surprises later on. we know if any work will need doing in future etc. we've also been advised by family that it's a good thing to get done. 
the seller isn't happy and apparently won't consent to it. my partner doesn't want to go ahead without doing it and doesn't understand why they wouldn't allow it. 
I'm not sure what I think, I get the frustration of a another survey but surely its not a big deal and its just to make sure everything is ok with the house. 
what do you guys think? do any of you plan on getting a home buyers survey done? 

We are selling ours and our buyer had a valuation survey done for his mortgage and then 4 weeks later a homebuyers report. It is annoying as it can usually be done in one go by the same surveyor but if a home owner is refusing to let a survey be done alarm bells would be ringing as to what they know about the house and are hiding as they know a homebuyers report would find it!

EmzJenks

lauraclay1727 said:

we've requested a home buyers survey as a first time buyer just for peace of mind so there's no surprises later on. we know if any work will need doing in future etc. we've also been advised by family that it's a good thing to get done. 
the seller isn't happy and apparently won't consent to it. my partner doesn't want to go ahead without doing it and doesn't understand why they wouldn't allow it. 
I'm not sure what I think, I get the frustration of a another survey but surely its not a big deal and its just to make sure everything is ok with the house. 
what do you guys think? do any of you plan on getting a home buyers survey done? 

 A refusal would certainly set alarm bells for me - what reason have they given? Is it because of the length of time already passed? In theory you could've got a homebuyers done straight away (I get why you didn't as waiting for mortgage) so they could be annoyed at the length of time already passed? We had one done before our MO came out, and just had an EICR done and it needs a full rewire (which we expected so no great shock)
It's either they're worried it'll flag something or they're annoyed at how long it's already taken?

lauraclay1727

@Bucky88 @EmzJenks @Blueem5
I think they were just frustrated with the whole process, they are buying somewhere else and I know that's not always gone smoothly so I think us asking for this was just another thing on top that they weren't expecting maybe. 
my partner spoke to them direct and explained why we wanted the survey. They were actually really understanding and are getting one done themselves on the property they are buying. They just said that they were annoyed with the process as they feel they've been left in the dark alot by the estate agents and solicitors. I think we all feel like that abit, don't we. Anyway it's sorted now and we should get the survey done in the next week or two. 
I was so worried they would refuse and we'd end up loosing the house. 
We weren't aware we could of had it done at the same time as the lender survey 🤷‍♀️ 

kdickinson90

So spoke to the site manager on our new build and Kensington have asked for a survey/valuation . That’s a good sign right?! 

lauraclay1727

@kdickinson90 yes definitley!! 

Bucky88

Does anyone else feeling like banging their head against a wall sometimes going through this process????

We had issues with some paperwork they asked for not being received on their end through their portal which was sent the same day as requested. Our MA had to re-send a number of times and each time it took 2 days for them to say its not been received, so this took nearly two weeks to resolve.

The latest issue now, we had our valuation done on the 9th July and was told by MA that our applications was approved and they just needed the valuation to confirm the price was correct. She said we should have an offer by the following Tuesday 13th July, however we didn't hear anything on the Tuesday. So gave the MA a call and she told us that the surveyor wrote in his report that there was significant movement in the property. I laughed as we are buying a new build which hasn't even built yet, she told us this was a clear mistake and Kensington were already back in contact with the surveyor to get this corrected and we should hear back by the end of the week. Anyway on Friday i give the MA a call and ask if there is any update, i was told that the surveyor had re-sent the report back to them but directly to someone who was on AL that day. So was told that it would be sorted by Monday, Monday came and went with no contact from anyone. 
So i gave my MA a call today as she had a meeting with the BDM, now they have raised another issue from the report saying the utilities are not connected and they want to know if the road will be adopted when completed. 
I wouldn't of been that bothered but my Solicitor pre-empted this and sent them an email on the 6th July (two weeks ago) informing them that the road and utilities are to be maintained to an adoptable standard by the developer until they become adopted by the council and utility providers. There is also NHBC insurance which covers this until they are adopted. 

So they had this information for 2 weeks and did nothing with it until the surveyor said there was an issue with the utilities not being connected at the moment. 

I spoke to the developers who informed me that the surveyor didn't even leave the site office and said it was his first new build. Both my MA and Solicitor were baffled as to why they have asked this question when it has already been answered 2 weeks ago.

Its so frustrating as we are already over our reservation period for the property with the developers losing patience as its one issue after another with Kensington at the moment.

Our applications has been in for 5 weeks now, we got told on day one that it should be 3-4 weeks due to it being a new build and straight forward application. I am starting to lose my patience with them as we could end up losing £2000 because of these 

unnecessary delays. 

Sorry for the long post but i needed a to rant and get it off my chest.

kdickinson90

@Bucky88 yeah i felel the same. we have gone for a new build too. were over 5 weeks in now and none the wiser. we have sent documents in and they have been asked for , for the 3 rd time this week. our valuation only got booked in on Monday and Kensington made up change our solioctor so now we have the stress of that also. i think that after all this they just gunna turn around and decline us a mortgage  

try not to lose hope though, hope all goes well