Buyer asking us to pay for structural survey

blue_max_3

It was an older property and they elected to go cheap. Now they hope you'll pay for their omission. Maybe suggest you'll pay if it still means they can't get a mortgage and they pull out?
You do need to be strong I think.

TripleH

How about saying that you will refund half / third of the cost of the survey on completion of the sale as a compromise? 
It shows willing but also avoids you wasting money on a report as suspect any future buyer (should the sale fall through) would want their own one done if at all.
But I'd say no personally. You repaired an issue found, be careful they don't try pushing for other concerns they have.

Falafels

Years ago I was selling - absolutely desperate to sell, for reasons I won't bore you with. My purchasers negotiated 7.5% off the purchase price, then demanded repairs of various kinds - nothing major, but the costs really mounted up. I found that the more I did, the more they wanted, until I told them I wouldn't be doing any more. It was a 1930's house with all sorts that needed doing, and this was reflected in the asking price to begin with.

They then pursued me when they found defects that I'd been completely unaware of, and sent me a bill. Which I ignored.

My own house is now SSTC, and my purchaser has pre-empted the SPIF by asking if she can come round next week with "all sorts of questions about the house"; I'm happy to answer the queries, but suggest that she also waits for communication from the solicitors because that's what we're paying them for. Sometimes people are just naive, and in retrospect my purchasers took their cue from me. It's possible to gently stand your ground, and point out that you aren't prepared to pay for something which you hadn't wanted in the first place - whilst being happy to accommodate them if they wish.

ThePants999

I just want to emphasise the "no value to you" point. They think that if the sale falls through, and you've paid for this survey, you'll be left in possession of something of value to you which you can give to a future buyer. But that's flat-out wrong. No future buyer with their head screwed on will accept a survey not commissioned by them, as they'd have no recourse if the survey had missed anything. Part of the reason you get a survey done by a professional, and part of what you're paying for, is that it comes with a certain level of guarantee, backed by insurance - but the surveyor is only liable to the person who commissioned them for the quality of their work.

Surveys are part of a buyer's due diligence, and are very much on the buyer to pay for - if they succeed in getting you to pay for this, it will absolutely not be the last unreasonable request they make during this process.

worriedegg

Thank you all again, your replies are so useful and appreciated. 

Having read through them all, and a chat with my partner, I do think I’m going to refuse to pay even if it does mean the sale falls through. 

Although in the grand scheme of things the money isn’t a huge amount, I’m just not willing to pay for something many of you mentioned we didn’t want, will be of little value to us, and ( if the sale was to go ahead after) will probably be used as a bargaining tool to cost us further money. 

@ThePants999 thank you for clarifying what little use a survey would be to us afterwards.

I do really want to be accommodating and flexible as I do think the process is stressful enough without behaving unreasonably, (especially during a pandemic!) but I’m concerned we are being taken advantage of. 

jimbog

I think you have come to the right conclusion. How you communicate this to the buyer (through the EA) would be important. Phrases such as 'we are not prepared to pay for a survey that has no value to us but would be happy to allow access for Mr and Mrs X to the property if they wish to have one undertaken' are non-confrontational 

blue_max_3

jimbog said:

I think you have come to the right conclusion. How you communicate this to the buyer (through the EA) would be important. Phrases such as 'we are not prepared to pay for a survey that has no value to us but would be happy to allow access for Mr and Mrs X to the property if they wish to have one undertaken' are non-confrontational 

Agreed. A polite refusal is all that's required. Put the pressure back on them.

MovingForwards

You have already been more than accomodating, especially as you are in England. There's no obligation for you to obtain the report and it is up to the buyer if they want additional checks / surveys they pay for them.

worriedegg

Morning All

Just a quick update as you were all kind enough to offer your opinions & advice.

Our potential buyer agreed to split the cost 50/50 however we specified we would both get a copy of the report and we were not willing to further negotiate on price based on the result. The survey is being done this afternoon so I’m steeling myself for a full breakdown! 

Fingers crossed the sale still goes through, but I’ve come to terms with if it isn’t meant to be it won’t be.

Thanks again!