Surveyor missed major structural defect

FBaby

A few weeks ago the builders went outside and immediately called us as the outer skin on the back wall has dropped and needs to be rebuilt.

Did you get a second opinion? Surely it took more than just going outside and have a look at the wall to reach that conclusion in a few minutes when the surveyor failed to do so.

stator

Firstly you need to find out what type of survey you had. No-one here can tell you, so look at the paperwork.

Secondly get a second opinion on the house's structural condition and any remedial works needed.

[Deleted User]

If this problem wasn't obvious to someone doing a Home Valuation (he/she would have least checked that the walls were straight?) then it sounds more likely to have been caused by whatever your builders did.

It sounds like you may have a case against the builder (who I hope has enough insurance to cover being sued? And is a member of a reputable professional body such as the Federation of Master Builders?) you need a second opinion - and fast.

In your case I would cover all bases:
- Ring my local council's building office (they have to sign off major structural alterations to make sure they meet building regs, so may be able to advise you)
- Ask around for a builder someone trusts and ask them for a second opinion (and you may need them to remedy the work);
- Contact a firm of Surveyors, explain the issue and ask if they can help (they should be able to identify what has happened - and whether it's an old issue, which the original surveyor missed, or a more recent issue caused by the builder; you may need their report to build a legal case).

Yes this may cost you money but not doing it could cost you much more in the long run.

Good luck. Let us know what happens.

Doozergirl

Corona wrote: »

If this problem wasn't obvious to someone doing a Home Valuation (he/she would have least checked that the walls were straight?) then it sounds more likely to have been caused by whatever your builders did.

It sounds like you may have a case against the builder (who I hope has enough insurance to cover being sued? And is a member of a reputable professional body such as the Federation of Master Builders?) you need a second opinion - and fast.

In your case I would cover all bases:
- Ring my local council's building office (they have to sign off major structural alterations to make sure they meet building regs, so may be able to advise you)
- Ask around for a builder someone trusts and ask them for a second opinion (and you may need them to remedy the work);
- Contact a firm of Surveyors, explain the issue and ask if they can help (they should be able to identify what has happened - and whether it's an old issue, which the original surveyor missed, or a more recent issue caused by the builder; you may need their report to build a legal case).

Yes this may cost you money but not doing it could cost you much more in the long run.

Good luck. Let us know what happens.

Massive speculation followed by advice that suggests you don't know much about building at all, let alone to start blaming the builders when the OP says that the house is run down to start with.

We don't even know what has happened! The description is poor.

Thrugelmir

Doozergirl wrote: »

We don't even know what has happened! The description is poor.

At the outset the property was at least mortgeagable.

Clutterfree

In my opinion the problem you have is that if the structural defect wasn't picked up by the surveyor, was it there when they did their inspection? He could claim it wasn't and has occurred after the builders started work.

The builders will say it wasn't caused by anything they have done.

So you are stuck between a rock and a hard place I'm afraid.

I do wonder why the builders did not point out the problem BEFORE they started work because then it would prove it was already in existence. Seems strange that it was only noticed after some structural work had begun...

Good luck, I fear you are going to need it.

Doozergirl

It will be absolutely clear to any building professional how, when and why the problem occured. There are always clues and there are many of them.

Our specialism is the renovation and restoration of 'broken houses' and, thankfully, I get to choose my clients. What you don't do as a builder is take on a wreck and face people who don't have surveys and have internet friends who decide that structural problems are your fault without even seeing or having a proper description.

OP, if I can assist with some educated opinion on sight of some photos at the very least, I would be happy to do so.

Doozergirl

Thrugelmir wrote: »

At the outset the property was at least mortgeagable.

I've worked on countless jobs that have mortgages. And jobs that have had full surveys that haven't found problems. Soemtimes you have to have building work opened up to find major problems that somehow haven't turned into the disaster they promise.

I have seen walls held up purely by render, and walls and huge trusses held up by nothing more than wishful thinking.

Erinoco

Doozergirl

Thankyou. I will try and get some photos to you when I can. Struggling with internet right now.

Erinoco

The builders haven't undertaken any structural work so we know it wasn't anything they have done. The company does a range of work including building work but they were originally only doing rewiring, boiler replacement and plastering. We uncovered some dodgy lintels internally which they were in the process of replacing and that's when they had builders brought in. It is clear to anyone in the know that the drop in the wall is old and the cause has been identified and a full structural report obtained. The internal skin is fine so any work they have needed to do has not impacted the outerskin.