House survey

kelly20xx

Hi everyone, I’m a first time buyer and I am buying a share of a shared ownership property, currently waiting on searches coming back. My question is do I need to arrange a house survey? I asked my solicitors and they said it’s at my discretion if I arrange one or not. 

Thanks 

ejury

Depends! When we bought our flat we didn't see the point as it looked like it was in good order. however it wasn't! It needed a new boiler and there was a really bad leak in the kitchen and under the bath! If I could go back I would have done for this.

We are currently buying a house and did get a survey because of our previous misconception and the house is perfect apart from it needs a new boiler!  Which we were aware of when we viewed the house. 

After the issues with the flat getting one on the house was a must! Although it was pretty much clear! It's always a risk not getting one done.

babyblade41

ejury said:

Depends! When we bought our flat we didn't see the point as it looked like it was in good order. however it wasn't! It needed a new boiler and there was a really bad leak in the kitchen and under the bath! If I could go back I would have done for this.

We are currently buying a house and did get a survey because of our previous misconception and the house is perfect apart from it needs a new boiler!  Which we were aware of when we viewed the house. 

After the issues with the flat getting one on the house was a must! Although it was pretty much clear! It's always a risk not getting one done.

Even if you had a survey then those items  would probably not have shown on a survey anyway.

Boiler may have had a service in the past 12 months and stopped working the day you moved in.

If you hadn't spotted a leak , how do you know a surveyor would have spotted it without moving the bath panel .

TheScone

They aren't required but most people do them. Someone I know bought recently and didn't bother doing one because they knew they were taking on a renovation project, whereas I'm looking to move straight in and wanted to know of any issues with the property that I would have to fix or be aware of for the future.

kelly20xx

The property I’m buying is a new build, the seller has lived there for 6 months from when it was first built. I only found out about surveys from this forum! Now I don’t know what to do. 

user1977

kelly20xx said:

Hi everyone, I’m a first time buyer and I am buying a share of a shared ownership property, currently waiting on searches coming back. My question is do I need to arrange a house survey?

What sort of property? Age, flat/house, etc?

The fact it's shared ownership doesn't make much of a difference, though generally they are modern developments and I'd expect the housing association not to have allowed the condition to deteriorate too badly.

kelly20xx

@user1977
2 bedroom house, was built in July 2020. 

Just didn’t know as I only owned a share of the property what the housing association were actually responsible for. Think for own piece of mind I’ll just pay to get one done. 

badger09

kelly20xx said:

@user1977
2 bedroom house, was built in July 2020. 

Just didn’t know as I only owned a share of the property what the housing association were actually responsible for. Think for own piece of mind I’ll just pay to get one done. 

If its a new build, rather than a conversion, then it should be covered by NHBC or similar. In which case, a survey would be a waste of your money.

user1977

kelly20xx said:

@user1977
2 bedroom house, was built in July 2020. 

Just didn’t know as I only owned a share of the property what the housing association were actually responsible for. Think for own piece of mind I’ll just pay to get one done. 

Has it even been occupied yet? Even if it has, you're effectively buying a newbuild, it wouldn't be normal to get it surveyed.

Though note any warranty you get isn't going to cover everything, so the more minor faults and day to day maintenance is going to be on you (shared ownership generally means you have to do 100% of the repairs even if you only own 25% or whatever).

kelly20xx

user1977 said:

kelly20xx said:

@user1977
2 bedroom house, was built in July 2020. 

Just didn’t know as I only owned a share of the property what the housing association were actually responsible for. Think for own piece of mind I’ll just pay to get one done. 

Has it even been occupied yet? Even if it has, you're effectively buying a newbuild, it wouldn't be normal to get it surveyed.

Though note any warranty you get isn't going to cover everything, so the more minor faults and day to day maintenance is going to be on you (shared ownership generally means you have to do 100% of the repairs even if you only own 25% or whatever).

Yes the seller lived there from July to December then moved out to live with his partner through covid and hasn’t been back since. I have emailed the housing association to see if there are any warranties. Thankyou for your help 

user1977

kelly20xx said:

user1977 said:

kelly20xx said:

@user1977
2 bedroom house, was built in July 2020. 

Just didn’t know as I only owned a share of the property what the housing association were actually responsible for. Think for own piece of mind I’ll just pay to get one done. 

Has it even been occupied yet? Even if it has, you're effectively buying a newbuild, it wouldn't be normal to get it surveyed.

Though note any warranty you get isn't going to cover everything, so the more minor faults and day to day maintenance is going to be on you (shared ownership generally means you have to do 100% of the repairs even if you only own 25% or whatever).

I have emailed the housing association to see if there are any warranties.

Your solicitor will be checking this (if they don't already know the answer). It will have a warranty though, it's not going to be mortgageable without one.