Building Survey

Libra1975

Our building survey has just come back, we were warned that BS are full of horrors but unless we are mis-reading ours it doesn't seem to bad for a house built over 100 years ago.
The conclusion the surveyor has come to is as follows:
1)Lag pipework to rear roof void and upgrade thermal insualtion

2) Pointing repairs to brickwork

3) Improve sub-floor ventilation

4) Provide vents to sealed chimney breasts

5) Provide mechanical extract fan to bathroom

6) Service gas boiler.

and has said we should get details and estimates for all of these before exchange of contracts (this would have been helpful advice if he wasn't 2 weeks late sending out the BS)

Now 1) I am not too worried about as the reason they tell us to upgrade the thermal insulation is that is doesn't meet current standards however the loft conversion is only a few years old and it met them back then.
Also 5&6 not worried about.

the ones I am worried about are 2,3 and 4 and was wondering if anyone with more house buying experience than me could comment on what there next step would be.

thanks.

Running_Horse

If it says 2 needs doing, then get a quote per sq metre. 3 is important, to avoid dry rot. Not sure about 4, but if your survey picked it up, you can be sure it will be picked up when you sell. 3 & 4 should cost a couple of hundred for a day or two of putting in air vents (luckily my father-in-law did it for free before we sold).

For 6 we signed up with British Gas who did several free repairs to bring it up to their standard, after we supplied the parts on the day he came to do the initial survey. Might even stay with them long term as they were surprisingly good.

Libra1975

Thank you Running Horse. Whilst I am aware you are just providing rough figures I just wanted to reassurance that 3&4 weren't going to run into 5 figures!

For 6 I have a very nice ex b/f who is corgi registered and who I am hoping to bribe with a hot meal and some beers But thanks for that tip.

I think now I am worried that not enough is wrong with the house and the survey wasn't thorough enough. Women, we are never happy are we

guppy

Sounds like the house is in good condition

The pointing might not be too urgent...i.e. the house won't fall down, but if you leave it too long water/freezing might start to damage the brickwork. If you're any good at DIY you could have a crack yourself.

The subfloor ventilation usually just consists of some airbricks in the outside walls near ground level...as Running Horse says, they let air in to avoid the ground floor joists rotting. If you have the carpets up anyway it might be an idea to pull up some of the floor and clear out any mess/earth under there stopping air circulating.

Chimney is the same thing...just lets some air in to prevent damp.

Good luck with the move, maybe this is time to take up DIY?