Suing chartered surveyor possibly?

Martin_the_Unjust

Have you considered a stair lift OP? It may be the cheapest and most practical solution.

MaryNB

My kitchen door (internal) is 170 mm narrower than specified in building regs, too narrow to get a standard washer dryer in. In a panic I hacked away at the frame the night before the delivery of my washer dryer was due (I only realised I couldn't get the garden side gate off when I went to remove it so my alternative route was a bust). Surveyor didn't mention that the door was not to BR and he didn't note the side gate was badly rusted making it very difficult to remove. I can't sue the surveyor because my kitchen door doesn't facilitate the installation of basic appliances or because my side gate is in very poor condition.

My front door is also much narrower than BR requires. When I bought the house last year the first thing I wanted to do was replace the front door with a composite door. Had three installers out to quote who said the door width was the absolute minimum for their composite door providers. If it was a fraction narrower and I couldn't get the type of door I wanted I wouldn't be able to sue the surveyor.

It's a 120 year old house so I'm sure I could come up with a very long list of reasons it doesn't meet the regs. 

moneysavinghero

hazyjo said:

SpiderLegs said:

MaryNB said:

SpiderLegs said:

This thread could turn into an all time classic.

I really hope OP posts about the outcome. Hate when these kinda threads are left unresolved.

I want to know who the solicitors are.

Tonto & Partners 🤭

OP, good luck. You'll need it. It's like me saying the kitchen is blue and I wanted a white one. Absolutely no more legal obligation to tell me that than that the stairs are steep. Did he even know you'd not seen it? Why didn't you get a buildings survey?

Not a leg to stand on...

Not for a month or two after OP falls down the steep stairs and breaks them both anyway

Herbalus

.....but you didn’t see the property before buying!

The point of a survey is to tell you what’s wrong with a property that you can’t see yourself as a non-expert. Not to tell you things like there’s a steep step outside the back door that might be difficult if you have walking difficulties (unless you tell them that’s what you want).

Very best of luck. 

AdrianC

Anybody else suspecting this solicitor - who the OP not only found some time between 2.17pm today and close of business, but had a first consultation which resulted in advice - may be a bit of a face-saving fiction?

davidmcn

AdrianC said:

Anybody else suspecting this solicitor - who the OP not only found some time between 2.17pm today and close of business, but had a first consultation which resulted in advice - may be a bit of a face-saving fiction?

I fully expect the result to be the surveyor funding the installation of a gold-plated elevator.

Doozergirl

AdrianC said:

Anybody else suspecting this solicitor - who the OP not only found some time between 2.17pm today and close of business, but had a first consultation which resulted in advice - may be a bit of a face-saving fiction?

You just found her! 

MaryNB

MaryNB said:

My kitchen door (internal) is 170 mm narrower than specified in building regs, too narrow to get a standard washer dryer in. In a panic I hacked away at the frame the night before the delivery of my washer dryer was due (I only realised I couldn't get the garden side gate off when I went to remove it so my alternative route was a bust). Surveyor didn't mention that the door was not to BR and he didn't note the side gate was badly rusted making it very difficult to remove. I can't sue the surveyor because my kitchen door doesn't facilitate the installation of basic appliances or because my side gate is in very poor condition.

My front door is also much narrower than BR requires. When I bought the house last year the first thing I wanted to do was replace the front door with a composite door. Had three installers out to quote who said the door width was the absolute minimum for their composite door providers. If it was a fraction narrower and I couldn't get the type of door I wanted I wouldn't be able to sue the surveyor.

It's a 120 year old house so I'm sure I could come up with a very long list of reasons it doesn't meet the regs. 

Out of curiosity I measured my stairs last night. Turns out it's exactly the same as the OP's.

garnelle said:

Riser 230mm - Tread/Going 190mm

The Homebuyers noted that the stairs is crooked (historic settlement) but no comment on how steep it is. The only way to rectify it is to go into the bathroom at the bottom of the stairs. I am planning to get the bathroom done but the quotes have come in higher than expected. Might have to get the details of OP's NWNF solicitor...