Ask sellers for old Home Survey

gab3x

Wanted to run this passed you... In process of buying a beautiful victorian semi which seems to be in perfect condition. The sellers have bought it in 2016 and are now moving because there is no way to add another room and they have another baby on the way.

Instead of me spending 500 pounds on a new survey I was thinking of asking them if they wouldn't mind sharing their survey from 2016. I mean, what can happen in such a short time?!

So would that be a weird request and is it a bad idea?

Thanks 

davidmcn

Quite a lot can happen in four years. The vendors may think they've fixed defects mentioned in the survey so don't want you to be put off by mention of them. You can't rely on the survey (i.e. sue the surveyor) even if it's completely wrong. Are you not planning to get your own survey anyway?

gab3x

I was thinking on not doing a separate one should the sellers old version show nothing of worry

need_an_answer

Get your own survey....it might cost £500 but when you are spending many more times that amount on the property it becomes a worthwhile purchase.
You don't say how you are funding the purchase but if it is via a mortgage then its likely your lender will want you to have some form of up to date survey....if you are a cash buyer then yes the decision is yours but a fool and his money can be soon parted!

greatcrested

You can ask. They might agree either to give (or sell) you their survey, or might refuse.

Assuming it's not been doctored, it may provide you with useful information and/or put your mind at ease (or the opposite), but as pointed out

a) it's dated so new issues may have arisen, or changes made eg repairs undertaken (well done or badly)

b) it will provide no legal guarantees as the surveyor who undertook it has no contract with you

But I've done this twice. Years ago when buying, my seller shared a survey with me. I was already aware of some issues including movement, so I had a Structural Engineer's report on that. The survey just gave me a useful 'to do' list of jobs after I purchased.

Recently I pulled out of a purchased, and the EA asked if the subsequent buyer could have my survey, and paid 50% of the cost. I was happy to provide it!

need_an_answer

greatcrested said:

You can ask. They might agree either to give (or sell) you their survey, or might refuse.

Assuming it's not been doctored, it may provide you with useful information and/or put your mind at ease (or the opposite), but as pointed out

a) it's dated so new issues may have arisen, or changes made eg repairs undertaken (well done or badly)

b) it will provide no legal guarantees as the surveyor who undertook it has no contract with you

But I've done this twice. Years ago when buying, my seller shared a survey with me. I was already aware of some issues including movement, so I had a Structural Engineer's report on that. The survey just gave me a useful 'to do' list of jobs after I purchased.

Recently I pulled out of a purchased, and the EA asked if the subsequent buyer could have my survey, and paid 50% of the cost. I was happy to provide it!

Its also worth remembering that even if the OP would subsequently wish to contact the surveyor who produced the report maybe for clarification on an issue or whatever....the surveyor is probably not going to want to discuss the report with anyone other than whom it was originally commissioned by.

SpiderLegs

gab3x said:

I was thinking on not doing a separate one should the sellers old version show nothing of worry

Yes that sounds like a sensible plan. Why bother chucking £500 down the pan.

davidmcn

need_an_answer said:

greatcrested said:

You can ask. They might agree either to give (or sell) you their survey, or might refuse.

Assuming it's not been doctored, it may provide you with useful information and/or put your mind at ease (or the opposite), but as pointed out

a) it's dated so new issues may have arisen, or changes made eg repairs undertaken (well done or badly)

b) it will provide no legal guarantees as the surveyor who undertook it has no contract with you

But I've done this twice. Years ago when buying, my seller shared a survey with me. I was already aware of some issues including movement, so I had a Structural Engineer's report on that. The survey just gave me a useful 'to do' list of jobs after I purchased.

Recently I pulled out of a purchased, and the EA asked if the subsequent buyer could have my survey, and paid 50% of the cost. I was happy to provide it!

Its also worth remembering that even if the OP would subsequently wish to contact the surveyor who produced the report maybe for clarification on an issue or whatever....the surveyor is probably not going to want to discuss the report with anyone other than whom it was originally commissioned by.

Well, I suspect they'll gladly discuss it provided they're being paid a fee for their advice.

gab3x

Thanks all, lots of good comments.
I am not worried about survey being doctored and fully aware there are no legal guarantees from a surveyor point of view. If there is anything in I don't feel comfortable with I can always commission a new one.
I am paying 600k for the 2 bed house so 0.5k is a 1/1200th of that but I would still rather not spend it unless 100pct necessary. 

Niv

You cant know if its 100% necessary until you have one done I am afraid, its a catch 22 in that respect

SpiderLegs

I think the OP is very wise.
They just want to be 100% certain on 0.08% of their total potential outlay, even if it means they are 0% certain on the other 99.92%