Buyers pulled out after mortgage valuation

elliot5200

Hi all, 

I had a surveying company carry out a mortgage valuation at my property for the lender. The guy seemed to have an agenda from the very beginning.

I felt like I was being interrogated when he spoke to me, asking me detailed questions about insurance claims which I was not prepared for as mortgage valuations are just meant to be surface level checks. 

He wasn’t interested in a certificate I had to prove that a past substance problem (caused by a tree) had now been fully resolved, with the tree being removed, and the situation monitored over the course of a year, and given the all clear (I had a certificate of structural adequacy to prove this).

Following this, the buyer pulled out because of the surveyor's inaccurate information about subsidence (while the bank were apparently still happy to lend). This is despite a similar valuation carried out just a few months ago by other surveyors proceeding smoothly, without any issues of subsidence even being raised.

Just wondering if I have a ground for complaint and who I should go to next: the RICS or the surveying company themselves?

I'm also curious to know what information I am obliged to disclose to a mortgage valuation surveyor. He was asking me highly detailed questions which I think were well beyond the scope (it was more like a full building survey). If I wasn't in the flat at the time and he did the survey without my 'assistance', where would he have got all this information from? I'm wondering if it's best if I'm not in the flat next time!

[Deleted User]

No, you have no grounds for complaint.  You didn't employ the surveyor. 

It's up to the mortgage company to complain if they feel he is not doing his job correctly.

ACG

You refused to answer questions about insurance, what did you expect to happen? 
You cant just force the bits onto him you want to and withhold other parts that will help him make his decision - well, you can. But you now know how that ends. 

And no, you cant complain about someone you have no contract with. 

dunstonh

I felt like I was being interrogated when he spoke to me, asking me detailed questions about insurance claims which I was not prepared for as mortgage valuations are just meant to be surface level checks. 

Are you sure it was just a mortgage valuation and not a homebuyers report (the option in between valuation and survey)?

He wasn’t interested in a certificate I had to prove that a past substance problem (caused by a tree) had now been fully resolved, with the tree being removed, and the situation monitored over the course of a year, and given the all clear (I had a certificate of structural adequacy to prove this).

 No wonder he was asking questions.  

Following this, the buyer pulled out because of the surveyor's inaccurate information about subsidence (while the bank were apparently still happy to lend). This is despite a similar valuation carried out just a few months ago by other surveyors proceeding smoothly, without any issues of subsidence even being raised.

How do you know the surveyor gave inaccurate information?
It is quite possible that you are the cause of this.   If you were evasive or uncooperative then the surveyor would note that and give warnings about potential issues.

Just wondering if I have a ground for complaint and who I should go to next: the RICS or the surveying company themselves?None whatsoever.  You did not employ the surveyor.  

I'm also curious to know what information I am obliged to disclose to a mortgage valuation surveyor. He was asking me highly detailed questions which I think were well beyond the scope (it was more like a full building survey). If I wasn't in the flat at the time and he did the survey without my 'assistance', where would he have got all this information from? I'm wondering if it's best if I'm not in the flat next time!Are you trying to sell the property or not?
The more evasive you are, the more likely the report will have warnings about historic issues.  I fear you only have yourself to blame for this.

[Deleted User]

Sounds like the surveyor did a great job for their clients. 
Certainly a lot better than the last one who didnt even pick up on historic movement.   The only complaint likely to be even looked at would be against the first surveyor for not picking up on a serious historical issue.

Its not up to you to decide if its an issue or not 

And finally, the mortgage survey isnt a surface level check.  The mortgage survey is to find anything that might affect the lenders decision to secure a loan on the property.  Again it sounds like the surveyor did a great job for the people employed by him/her.