homebuyer survey

kah1019

Hi All
I was wondering if anyone else had a nightmare caused by a homebuyers survey. We decided to get one because we were buying a early Victorian house. We were also unhappy with the replies we were getting from the sellers solicitors. I instructed a survey to be completed and did say it was fairly urgent. So they made an appointment to do it three weeks later then took just over a week to send me their report.
We got 64 pages of what appeared to be general information with a lot of level 3 (serious concerns). However the surveyor did say in the report that he had not been on the roof. However it was full of useful advice such as a number of roof tiles (this can be two or the whole lot) and a number of spalling bricks (again two or the whole house). Also the surveyor made it sound like the bay window was hanging off the building. A lot of the report suggested we get builders and roofers and electricians in before we exchange. So we paid £450 to be told to get experts in!
Of course not being builders we panicked and said we were not happy with the house and sent a copy to the estate agents and they sent it to the seller (we were happy for them to do this as we had nothing to hide). Another major issue was the Lintels and these were causing a real structural defect.
So after all sorts of negotiations and nearly an argument via the estate agents with the sellers and us nearly pulling our of the sale of a house we love we asked a local roofer and builder to look at these things.
The roofer said a couple of bits could be done but because the roof was last done 40 years ago it may be better to have it replaced. The main expense is the scaffolding (its a three story house) so it would really be cheaper in the long run to replace. He gave us a very reasonable quote and even said as the gutters etc has never been replaced he would do this at a discount; he has very good reviews and has provided references. Plus it is guaranteed for 25 years.
The builder who came out for the lintels and bricks said nothing was wrong with them. He wasn't sure the surveyor was looking at the same house. We did offer to pay him for this time but he said there was no need.
I'm just a bit angry that I paid £450 for a so called professional who highlighted a load of problems and told us to call in professionals and when we have they have all said its no where near as bad as made out.
I am certainly now thinking when I buy a house again to just ask some professionals to come out individually and assess the property. Has anyone else had this or lost a buyer due to this?

Cakeguts

Would you feel the same if the survey had shown up a serious defect that you hadn't noticed?

kah1019

Well if there was a serious defect they didn't notice then they wouldn't have done the job they were paid to do. However, pretty much everything was considered a serious defect and I could have written pages (but stuck to the main points) but everything has been checked out and nothing is serious. The main issue is that I paid for an "expert" who simply covered his backside saying this is a problem get an expert in, so we did. And each expert has said in writing in their professional opinion there is nothing wrong. The biggest job is the roof and we are only replacing it because the few small jobs will work for some time but the roof i 40 years old and the main expense is the scaffolding so in the long run a new roof is cheaper. So again I don't feel he did the job he was paid to do he simply created panic and a stressful situation to cover himself of any liability. Of course I am happy I can exchange and complete on the house we love but wished I hadn't paid £450 for the wrong information.

kinger101

The point Cakegut's is making is that an experienced buyer is only really appointing the surveyor to check for major structural issues which would make them withdraw. They expect lots of trivial things to be marked as more serious than they might be, endless caveats, or worse, things like blown plaster and small leaks in the roof to be entirely overlooked.

If subsidence doesn't show up, it can feel like you've paid for nothing, but you have some reassurance that you're not spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on something that will need major structural work.

It you have several written opinions that the surveyor wrote false statements, feel free to follow their complaints procedure, but I'd let this go. It's not worth the hassle. It's not easily claiming a surveyor has been negligent, and in any case, I don't see your loss. I also think you've misinterpreted what "3" means.

Defects that are serious and,or need to be repaired, replaced or investigated urgently

That isn't the same as must be repaired/replaced urgently. It can equally be interpreted get someone to look at soonish. You've done that, and more qualified people have advised you urgent repairs aren't necessary. You ought to be quite pleased with that outcome.

JennyP

I know some people will really disagree with me but I never get a survey. Instead, I pay a structural engineer to check for majoral structural problems. The last one charged £350 but as part of that told me whether structural alterations that I want to do are possible and suggested a few repairs/changes to improve things.

If I've other concerns eg electrics, I get an electrician in to look.

I think there's threads on here about moving into a place only to find issues not spotted by surveyors and there being no comeback. I advised a friend of mine to get a structural engineer instead of surveyor a few years ago when she was buying. She ignored me and paid £800 for a survey. Six months later, she discovered a major structural problemc that the surveyor had missed but should have spotted. She's a lawyer so thought she might take legal action but said the whole contract with the surveyor was so tightly worded that she would lose in court. So she had no option but to pay for the repairs - £20k - and had to have a structural engineer in to advise on those repairs anyway.