Advice on homebuyers survey

groovy_chick

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice from those of you with more experience on this


I have had my homebuyers survey back and it is mainly 1's. I have a few 3's in relations to Gas supply, Electrical Supply and Plumbing and I wondered if these were a cause for concern or simply a normal caveat to protect the surveyor.


Thanks in advance for any advice


The comments are below:


Condition Rating 3


The meter is in the outside meter box. The consumer unit contains RCDs (residual current devices) to protect
users should there be a defect with the installation.


The electrical installation appears satisfactory with no obvious visual defects but much is hidden from view. As
such systems require specialist knowledge, we cannot comment on its serviceability or safety.


Natural gas is connected and the meter and stopcock are located in an outside meter box. The gas supply was on
during the inspection. There appears to be no current test certificate for the gas installation.


The installation appears in fair order with no significant defects evident. However, as much is hidden from view and
as such systems require specialist knowledge, we are unable to advise on its serviceability or safety.

This is a risk to the building and to persons, and we refer you to our comments in section J.

You should ask a Gas Safe registered engineer to inspect and test the gas installation before exchange of
contracts as there is no current test certificate for the system. We refer you to the page in this report entitled
'What to do now'.

This is a risk to the building and to persons, and we refer you to our comments in section J.

Central heating and hot water is provided by a gas boiler which is located in the utility room. This serves the radiators.

Some of the radiators are leaking.

You should ask a reputable qualified plumbing engineer to inspect and report on the remedial work needed before
exchange of contracts. You should follow the advice given in the page in this report entitled 'What to do now'.

You should ask a Gas Safe registered engineer to inspect and report on the boiler and heating system even though
the installation has been inspected in the last 12 months and this should be done before exchange of contracts.

You should follow the advice set out in the 'What to do now' page in this report.

The heating system was on during our inspection. No obvious defects were seen but we have only carried out a
visual inspection of the system and therefore cannot comment in detail on its working condition.


In Section J it states:


J1 Risks to the building
E3: Rainwater Pipes & Gutters - defective/leaking gutters & downpipe/s


E5: Windows - disrepair/damp penetration


G1: Electricity - no current test certificate


G2: Gas/Oil - no test certificate




J2 Risks to the grounds
None


J3 Risks to people
F7: Woodwork - inadequate fire door


G1: Electricity - no current test certificate


G2: Gas/Oil - no current test certificate


J4 Other
None

chunkytfg

So basically the only problem is some leaking radiators and dodgy windows and gutters.

Does the house have double glazing and is it an older house? Is the damp/penetration actually condensation from having the heating on and inadequate ventilation to clear the moisture in the air.

Gutters and pipework will be fairly obvious whats wrong with them if you have a look yourself. Dips in the runs, downpipes separated at joints etc.

Gas a electricity certs would only have not been mentioned if the seller had left them out for the Surveyor to look at so they are covering there backside.

Nothing there would should 'Run for the hills' IMO

G_M

groovy_chick wrote: »

I have had my homebuyers survey back and it is mainly 1's. I have a few 3's in relations to Gas supply, Electrical Supply and Plumbing and I wondered if these were a cause for concern or simply a normal caveat to protect the surveyor.
Surveyors are not qualified electricians or gas engineers so always recommend you get these inspected separately.

Condition Rating 3

The meter is in the outside meter box. The consumer unit contains RCDs (residual current devices) to protect
users should there be a defect with the installation.Good

The electrical installation appears satisfactory with no obvious visual defects but much is hidden from view. As
such systems require specialist knowledge, we cannot comment on its serviceability or safety.Good

Natural gas is connected and the meter and stopcock are located in an outside meter box. The gas supply was on
during the inspection. Good There appears to be no current test certificate for the gas installation. Normal. Very few properties have them. Get an inspection done if you are worried.

The installation appears in fair order with no significant defects evident. However, as much is hidden from view and
as such systems require specialist knowledge, we are unable to advise on its serviceability or safety. Good

This is a risk to the building and to persons, and we refer you to our comments in section J. so what does J say? I asume it just covers them by saying gas can be dangerouse so they take no responsibility for any defect as they are not gas engineers?

You should ask a Gas Safe registered engineer to inspect and test the gas installation before exchange of
contracts as there is no current test certificate for the system. We refer you to the page in this report entitled
'What to do now'. Get an inspection done if you are worried. Up to you.

This is a risk to the building and to persons, and we refer you to our comments in section J. as above

Central heating and hot water is provided by a gas boiler which is located in the utility room. This serves the radiators. good

Some of the radiators are leaking. a new radiator (if needed) costs about £50. Fit it yourself for free or pay a plumber a few ££.
Or just tighten the connections......


You should ask a reputable qualified plumbing engineer to inspect and report on the remedial work needed before
exchange of contracts. You should follow the advice given in the page in this report entitled 'What to do now'. Why pay a plumber £60 to tell you you need to spend £50 - £200 (how many rads?). Just budget to fix them after you buy.

You should ask a Gas Safe registered engineer to inspect and report on the boiler and heating system even though
the installation has been inspected in the last 12 months and this should be done before exchange of contracts. Get an inspection done if you are worried. Up to you.

You should follow the advice set out in the 'What to do now' page in this report.

The heating system was on during our inspection. No obvious defects were seen but we have only carried out a
visual inspection of the system and therefore cannot comment in detail on its working condition. good

In Section J it states:


J1 Risks to the building
E3: Rainwater Pipes & Gutters - defective/leaking gutters & downpipe/s Man with ladder to fix. £100?

E5: Windows - disrepair/damp penetration Needs more info. Are these upvc double glazed? Single glaze wood frame?


G1: Electricity - no current test certificate Very few properties have these. Get an inspection done if you are worried. Up to you.

G2: Gas/Oil - no test certificate Very few properties have these. Get an inspection done if you are worried. Up to you.

J2 Risks to the grounds
None good


J3 Risks to people
F7: Woodwork - inadequate fire door very common. If worried, buy a door.

G1: Electricity - no current test certificate Very few properties have these. Get an inspection done if you are worried. Up to you.

G2: Gas/Oil - no current test certificate Very few properties have these. Get an inspection done if you are worried. Up to you.

J4 Other
None good

I'm really not sure what it is you are worried about.......

PhilE

Without seeing the property its hard to tell. I tend to prepare for the worst, so excuse the pessimism.

If the heating system had been inspected in the last 12 months, the rads shouldn't be leaking. Either the engineer missed the leaks, or they have just happened recently. It only takes a small leak for boiler pressure to drop. If the main body of the rads are leaking, this suggests rust in the system. If the system is old and doesn't have a filter, I would be factoring in for the cost of a new system. Find out if its just the valves that are leaking, or the body of the rads. Get the age of the boiler, and any other service history.

Electricity, if there is no inspection on record you have to factor this into the price. As RCD's have been changed in recent years, an electrician is going to advice you to have a new one installed.

Gutters should be regularly inspected. A leaking gutter may not seem like much, but years of it could contribute to structural damage. If they weren't keeping an eye on their gutters, they probably were not cleaning moss off of their roof, which means there could be some issues up there also. Did the surveyor comment on the roof?

Damaged double glazing windows can be costly to repair, If they are single glazing or doubles which are near the end of their natural life, you may have to factor in the cost of new windows.
Find out what is meant by damp penetration. Damp in the home, whether from outside or in, can lead to mold and all sorts of problems. Once again, this suggests that the occupants were not on the case with maintenance. I would be considering what else they were letting fall into disrepair.

Ask for further explanations of what the surveyor has highlighted.

groovy_chick

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me chunkytfg, G_M and PhilE.

The house is only 14 years old. The damp is a small water stain near a velux window - I was hoping the surveyor would clarify if it was a leak or just that the window had been left open in the rain, but as it was not raining on survey-day, he couldn't tell. The other door damage is a set of patio doors that were jammed shut and would not open - something that needs to be fixed.

The boiler is probably the original (14yrs old). The survey said there is a service contract, so I am surprised at the leaking radiators.

So I guess I am looking at getting a quote for a patio door (replace/repair), possible velux window replace/repair) and someone to look at the heating system???