House Survey Issue 5 Years Later

Eastie

I'm looking for some advise on my legal standing with regard my house survey which was done 5 years ago.


Last week the roof of my house had a minor leak in very heavy rain, nothing major but I got a roofer out to look at fixing it. When we went to the roof space to look at the source, the roofer told me that some of the roof insulation had melted away in what looked like a previous fire in the house loft (before I had owned it). When I bought the house I was told and could see from the outside that the roof was new, however I had no idea the insulation was damaged or that a fire had taken place. The roofer said the only way to fix it is a new roof at a sizable cost. Although I have been in the house 5 years and have had no issues he said there will be persistent minor issues in the long run.


I had the basic survey done when purchasing the house, should this issue have been picked up on that? Would there be any requirement for me to be told that there was a previous fire at the house? I have lived in the house 5 years and have had no issue but my worry is when I go to sell the house, will this be an issue. If I go to my solicitor to look at the survey report, if an issue is identified will this cause me problems when I go to sell? Will it be my responsibility to declare it to potential buyers despite me not knowing any of the details? Also, since the fire was over 5 years ago I'm not sure how I could prove that the fire didn't take place under my ownership.


Any help and guidance would be appreciated!

Doozergirl

A basic survey as in a valuation survey? The bottom priced option? Those are not for your benefit, only the bank.

However, do you trust this roofer? I have no idea what he is talking about.

Why would melting insulation require a new roof? Insulation is fitted under the structure of a pitched roof as doesn’t form part of the structure.

davidmcn

Doozergirl wrote: »

A basic survey as in a valuation survey? The bottom priced option? Those are not for your benefit, only the bank.

And in any event don't necessarily require the surveyor to even stick their head through the loft hatch, never mind carry out a more detailed inspection.

Also the fact there haven't been any problems in 5 years suggest that this may not be as big an issue as the guy who sells new roofs wants to make you think.

Annie35

I think the basic survey is what they can see without poking around, so no moving furniture, no pulling carpets & no clambering in the loft. So visually I guess it'd say 'new roof visible from street', which would be correct.

If it's a new roof isn't there a guarantee? I'd check into that for your actual fix first.. saying that you'd think an extensive fire should have to be told of by the vendors though wouldn't you, what about electrics etc?

Eastie

He wasn't trying to sell me a new roof, it isn't big issue day to day as I've lived there 5 years without an issue. I'm just concerned that it could mean an issue when selling the house.

dimbo61

You need to get this looked at by someone you can trust.
Any chance you could look up there yourself?
An insurance company is unlikely to pay a roofing firm a considerable amount of money to do a poor job.
No building surveyors wear suits and do not climb into the roof space.
They should check out the outside and see if any damage to the roof, blocked gutters with grass growing out !
If you find any signs of fire damaged insulation then take it down and replace with new.
Not a nice job but most people can do it

Eastie

Annie35 wrote: »

I think the basic survey is what they can see without poking around, so no moving furniture, no pulling carpets & no clambering in the loft. So visually I guess it'd say 'new roof visible from street', which would be correct.

If it's a new roof isn't there a guarantee? I'd check into that for your actual fix first.. saying that you'd think an extensive fire should have to be told of by the vendors though wouldn't you, what about electrics etc?

I would have thought it was an electrical fire but these seem to have been fixed. That was my thinking also, I thought a fire would have needed to be declared to the potential buyer?

parkrunner

Doozergirl wrote: »

A basic survey as in a valuation survey? The bottom priced option? Those are not for your benefit, only the bank.

However, do you trust this roofer? I have no idea what he is talking about.

Why would melting insulation require a new roof? Insulation is fitted under the structure of a pitched roof as doesn’t form part of the structure.

^^^^^^This.

G_M

Makes no sense at all. It's a sales spiel

Eastie wrote: »

...... I got a roofer out to look at fixing it......the roofer told me that some of the roof insulation had melted away in what looked like a previous fire in the house loft (before I had owned it).

......The roofer said the only way to fix it is a new roof at a sizable cost.

Just remove the melted insulatiion and lay new insulation. Take you all day on Sunday. Why would a new roof be needed?

Or do you mean roof felt?

fairy_lights

This doesn't make any sense. Why would melted insulation require the whole roof to be replaced? And if there had been a fire, and the previous owners had ended up replacing the roof, why would they have left the old damaged insulation in place? And how could damaged insulation be in any way related to the leak?
Get a second opinion because it sounds like he's talking !!!!!!!!.