Can I request a survey be repeated, or some form of recompense if its not up to standard?

Heres_the_deal

Is there any recourse for a building survey that, for example:

• contains contradictions regarding the structure?
• fails to acknowledge the existence, let alone condition of wall bars?
• missed areas noted as ‘mandatory requirements or benchmarks’ outlined in RICs Home Standard 1st Edition 2019?

I don’t feel able to continue with the house purchase due to lack of information and clarity in the report - despite asking follow-up questions. The cost to me in conveyancing costs will be in the region of £1.5k (minus the survey costs), plus I don't have the money left to have the survey repeated with a different practice.

In sum, have I wasted just short of a thousand pounds on a service that does not meet the standards it should, or is there some consumer protection offered to me?

moneysavinghero

https://www.rics.org/uk/footer/contact-us/concerns/raising-concerns-about-a-regulated-member/

user1977

Might help if you were more specific about the problems (I'm not sure what wall bars are - wall ties?) - but generally, yes you're entitled to get what you've paid for, so if that requires a rewritten survey or another visit they ought to be doing that (or refunding appropriately).

k3lvc

Heres_the_deal said:

Is there any recourse for a building survey that, for example:

• contains contradictions regarding the structure?
• fails to acknowledge the existence, let alone condition of wall bars?
• missed areas noted as ‘mandatory requirements or benchmarks’ outlined in RICs Home Standard 1st Edition 2019?

I don’t feel able to continue with the house purchase due to lack of information and clarity in the report - despite asking follow-up questions. The cost to me in conveyancing costs will be in the region of £1.5k (minus the survey costs), plus I don't have the money left to have the survey repeated with a different practice.

In sum, have I wasted just short of a thousand pounds on a service that does not meet the standards it should, or is there some consumer protection offered to me?

Surely if you've enough about you to know that these specific things are missing from the report you've enough ability to go back and challenge the report.

Based on your other posts and the age of the property it seems the lender is OK with the survey results but you're looking for more reassurance/detail

Rather than asking for the report to be redone (assuming it already delivers against what was promised) why not ask/pay for a re-visit to examine the specific issues you raise ?

In reality not having the money to be able to pay for that at this stage doesn't give much confidence that you've be able to deal with the unexpected you find when you do move in

Heres_the_deal

k3lvc said:

Heres_the_deal said:

Is there any recourse for a building survey that, for example:

• contains contradictions regarding the structure?
• fails to acknowledge the existence, let alone condition of wall bars?
• missed areas noted as ‘mandatory requirements or benchmarks’ outlined in RICs Home Standard 1st Edition 2019?

I don’t feel able to continue with the house purchase due to lack of information and clarity in the report - despite asking follow-up questions. The cost to me in conveyancing costs will be in the region of £1.5k (minus the survey costs), plus I don't have the money left to have the survey repeated with a different practice.

In sum, have I wasted just short of a thousand pounds on a service that does not meet the standards it should, or is there some consumer protection offered to me?

Surely if you've enough about you to know that these specific things are missing from the report you've enough ability to go back and challenge the report.

Based on your other posts and the age of the property it seems the lender is OK with the survey results but you're looking for more reassurance/detail

Rather than asking for the report to be redone (assuming it already delivers against what was promised) why not ask/pay for a re-visit to examine the specific issues you raise ?

In reality not having the money to be able to pay for that at this stage doesn't give much confidence that you've be able to deal with the unexpected you find when you do move in

I agree with all you say. Having requested follow up questions that are ignored, it look like I will be turning to RICs. However, as buyers we all try to prepare for the worst, but life never works out that way. I took out the smallest mortgage available to qualify for the £3k HTB ISA bonus, other than that I have enough to buy cash with  £20k left for repairs. The issue regarding the survey is it cannot be trusted. On one hand it suggests major repairs eating the 20k, and on the other 10k will bring it up to scratch. 

If I was going to borrow 150k and then be faced with 20k repairs, I'd have walked away before even viewing, but I feel I'm being responsible and making adequate provision for what may come. I just want the reasonable 'guidance' that I was told a building survey would bring.  I feel I've answered my own question: walk away and attempt to get some form of refund on the survey.