Estate Agent telling us not to get HomeBuyers Report

markymarknz

Hi all,

We're mid-stage into buying a 4 year old flat.

We'd arranged and paid for a RICS HomeBuyers Report. Once this was scheduled, we had two calls from the Estate Agent telling us it is not necessary as it is a four year old flat.

Today we had another call from the Estate Agent questioning the need. Shortly after, we received a call from the Surveyors we had instructed telling us the vendor has to go in to hospital tomorrow and has rescheduled the survey for two weeks (we're told this is due to surveyor's availability).

Is something fishy or is there really no need to have a HomeBuyers done on a 4 year old property?

anselld

It is up to you what you have, no business of the EA. So yes, it is fishy that they are questioning it but they may just be impatient for their commission.

If the vendor is in hospital surely the EA can give access for the surveyor.

davidmcn

Many wouldn't bother, though I'd be wondering why the EA seem to be putting so much effort in dissuading you.

G_M

It is none of the EA's business - it is your decision.

Having said that
* the EA is just trying to speed things up and
* the EA has a point: a 4year old property is probably covered by a warranty (NHBC? Check?) and unless built by a cowboy without Building Regulations, it's unlikely to have any major issues

But if you are of a cautious nature, then pay for a survey.

Contact the EA and check they have a key so that your surveyor can get access during the owner's hospital stay.

Owain_Moneysaver

G_M wrote: »

* the EA has a point: a 4year old property is probably covered by a warranty (NHBC? Check?) and unless built by a cowboy without Building Regulations, it's unlikely to have any major issues

unless built by any of the major developers who all seem to have problems with quality control and get developments signed off that are in flagrant breach of Building Regulations ...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47826166

The agents should be wanting to sell the flat and if the vendor is in hospital they would normally arrange a key for the surveyor. An agent who tried to persuade me against a survey would be making me question why.

diggingdude

I would be letting the estate agent know I have big doubts about this property after their actions

[Deleted User]

As has been suggested, it is only four years old, but it may have build related problems. One way to decide if there are any known problems is to ask neighbours if there are any issues they know about. Hopefully there aren't.

princeofpounds

The EA suggesting once that you probably don't need a survey isn't in itself that dodgy, if the property has an NHBC warranty (ask and check!).


That's not to say they are right (personally I would get one in most situations except maybe an NHBC situation - but I'd need to research that).


But it would be understandable - they generally want the process to move ASAP with as little input from outside sources as possible.


However really pushing the point, and then having the vendor suddenly go AWOL over a medical issue... that gets the old spider sense tingling quite a bit.

markymarknz

Thank you all for your responses. We will crack on with the survey in two weeks and see how we go.

On the plus side, the lease remaining on the property is 148 years, not the 132 years the agent told us at the viewing and then the corrected 113 years they told us when we asked them to confirm.

Thanks again for your help!

letsbetfair

Under normal circumstances, I probably wouldn't get a homebuyers survey on such a new flat. The estate agent trying to put me off like this would worry me enough to insist on one though! It may all be fine, but I'd want a survey.

Why can't the agent give access to the surveyor?

kimplus8

I'm with others that say go ahead and get the report. I lived in a new build around 10 years ago build by one of the major estate developers in the south west. It had a plethora of problems, but fortunately for me I was renting. I believe the landlord had a hard time chasing up these issues even with the guarantee and other properties in the same phase of the development all had similar issues.
stick to your gut feeling and get the survey done, or step away from the purchase of the EA is acting this pushy and suspicious.