Damp in new build/conversion - what sort of survey?

onetimeatponycamp

Hi all, I previously posted asking about surveys for a new build and the suggestion was a snagging survey. I recently went back into the property that I'm in the process of buying and noticed some damp in one of the rooms that is right under the roof - the property is a converted building and the bedrooms are effectively a loft conversion. I'm now wondering whether a snagging survey will be enough to pick up the cause of this damp and establish exactly what needs to be done to resolve it? I really don't want the developer just to paint over it, so I need someone to come in and say what will actually deal with the problem so it doesn't come back (as much as is possible, obviously I'm aware that down the line stuff can go wrong with a property). Would a snagging survey do that, or do I need to get something more comprehensive?

ComicGeek

The first thing is appreciating that it's not a new build - it's a new dwelling created by conversion of an existing building. So you're limited by the existing building - how old, what type of construction, level of maintenance over the years, level of repairs undertaken by the developer etc.

At one end of the scale it could be a rubbish building just fitted with a shiny new kitchen...

Is it a flat within a larger building or a freehold house, or something inbetween?

AdrianC

Damp usually has a fairly obvious cause. Just think about where the water's coming from.

In this case, the roof is obviously leaking. Raise it with the building's managers - the roof is almost certainly their problem.

onetimeatponycamp

ComicGeek said:

The first thing is appreciating that it's not a new build - it's a new dwelling created by conversion of an existing building. So you're limited by the existing building - how old, what type of construction, level of maintenance over the years, level of repairs undertaken by the developer etc.

At one end of the scale it could be a rubbish building just fitted with a shiny new kitchen...

Is it a flat within a larger building or a freehold house, or something inbetween?

Thank you, yes agree it's not a new build and that's why I'm buying it - I just find it hard to describe to others because although it's not "new new" it is a new conversion and it's on Help to Buy via a developer.

The building is locally listed and used to be a pub, it has 5 flats. So it's not a block of flats or large development.

I guess what I'm not sure on is where the responsibility lines are drawn between the flat owner and the building owner. As far as I can tell, one patch of damp is due to a leak in the roof/chimney. The other is on the wall which is with the eaves storage of the flat, so not sure if that counts as a building thing? Either way I'd want these things sorted before exchange. And now I'm wondering what else I might not have spotted.

AdrianC

onetimeatponycamp said:

The building ... has 5 flats. So it's not a block of flats

Yes, it is.

I guess what I'm not sure on is where the responsibility lines are drawn between the flat owner and the building owner. As far as I can tell, one patch of damp is due to a leak in the roof/chimney. The other is on the wall which is with the eaves storage of the flat, so not sure if that counts as a building thing?

The way flats usually work is that the inside of the flat is your problem, the fabric of the building is the manager's. But you need to read the lease - sometimes leases are done so that the top floor has responsibility for the roof. This is more common in houses converted into two flats, one per floor, but it's eminently possible.

Either way I'd want these things sorted before exchange.

It doesn't make a lot of difference either way, if the lease makes the roof the manager's problem. And, given that we're heading into spring, you may not even find out if the root cause is resolved until next winter.