Don't know where to turn. False survey report

Della99

I live in a freehold flat. I have been trying to get something done about a damp problem for 6 years. Out of the blue agents sent round a Co. to do a damp survey. A very young man came he was very nervous, agitated said he wasn't qualified and had been instructed to only take meter readings. I took him into the room with the problem he put his hand twice on the wall and said it was a zero reading and started to leave. I said didn't he want to check the other rooms, he didn't seem keen but stabbed his hand twice, randomly, on a wall in each room saying it was a zero reading,then left. Try as I might I could not see a damp meter just a clenched fist, I never saw him take the cap off the meter or switch it on, believe he did not have a meter. He couldn't leave fast enough. The report came it said there had been a visual inspection done and meter readings taken ever metre around all the flat!!!!! My complaint is not about the damp problem but the untruths in the survey report. I have written to them and the agents but no reply or acknowledgement from either of them. I feel this report was written to achieve the end result requested by the Managing Agents to make it my fault so I would have to pay. When I took the letter to the Post Office the clerk said "not another one we get a steady stream of these to this company to be signed for. I certainly know not to use them". CAB could not help just said get another survey. As I said this complaint is how I was treated not about the damp problem. This is wrong and I feel I am being treated as if I am stupid.

FreeBear

Della99 wrote: »

A very young man came he was very nervous, agitated said he wasn't qualified and had been instructed to only take meter readings. I took him into the room with the problem he put his hand twice on the wall and said it was a zero reading and started to leave.

Please have a read of this - https://www.heritage-house.org/damp-and-condensation/the-ping-prong-meter-guilty-of-fraud.html

I'm afraid the only way you will get a reliable and worthwhile report is to find an independent surveyor and pay for a report. Although in this instance, may be get a "free" survey done by on of these damp treatment companies (Peter Cox springs to mind for some reason). They will inevitably find damp and recommend several expensive "solutions".

sevenhills

Della99 wrote: »

Thank you I will read this. I have had CIGA round but they just drilled 2 holes in the outside wall and he hardly said 2 words just let the installation company of the cavity wall insulation do all the talking.
However, my query was who do I report this false survey report to.

Your landlord can get an opinion from whoever they wish, about a damp issue.

buglawton

Which agents? Estate agent that you appointed, but damp inspector was on buyers instruction? Move on to a new agent and a new buyer.

George_Michael

sevenhills wrote: »

Your landlord can get an opinion from whoever they wish, about a damp issue.

True, but if the report has been falsified and the reason for this is to cause a monetary gain or loss to be made then this is fraud (Fraud by false representation to be exact).

Taking legal action against the surveyor or agent however may not be easy or cheap.

FreeBear

buglawton wrote: »

Which agents? Estate agent that you appointed, but damp inspector was on buyers instruction? Move on to a new agent and a new buyer.

The way I read the top post was that the OP has a flat (leasehold?) and it was the freehold management company that had sent the "surveyor" round. No buyer or estate agent involved.

If the report is saying there are no issues with damp in the fabric of the building, then the freehold management company will be looking at getting the OP to pay for any remedial action or refuse to address the problem.

teneighty

As I read it the OP has been complaining about a damp issue in their flat for a number of years.

The managing agents for the building commissioned a damp survey which came to the conclusion their was no evidence of damp in the flat. I wonder if this is a new build development and the managing agent is part of the original development company, they often have a vested interest in playing down any building defects.

The OP has no grounds to complain about this survey as there is no contract between the OP and surveyor and there is no obligation to be unbiased or independent. I suppose you could argue that the surveyor was acting dishonestly with the agent but I do not see how you could prove that and then the complaint is against the agent not the surveyor.

If the OP disagrees with the findings of the damp report they should commission their own independent report and then take it up with the managing agent.

As the OP has mentioned CIGA I assume we are talking about penetrating damp or condensation caused by injected cavity wall insulation.

robatwork

Della99 wrote: »

I live in a freehold flat.

Do you mean the opposite?

buglawton

What end result exactly?