Survey results

TIGASH

Ftb currently buying a 1970s semi detached ex council house. Was being lived in until Jan 2022

I commissioned a home buyers and have received the results. 

Do I send this to solicitor? 

There are three level 3 items on the list. 
Electricity, boiler and drainage. 

The first 2 was because no certificates were provided. The boiler has been serviced and a repair done in the last month due to me pointing something out on viewing. 

Electrics- the surveyor was quiet positive about the electrics being more up to date than expected.

 But did suggest commissioning a electrical survey. Is this expensive? Needed?

Outside  Drainage was pointed out to have possible remananents of sewage and reccomended inspection before completion (which I will)  who should pay for this? 

All the other elements (marker 2) are items I'm aware off except reccomendation of new water tank which I happy to do. 

Oh and a wasps nest in the roof? Who should pay for this removal. 

I have read alot here about surveys. As I've never bought a house before looking for opinions. 

Thanks

canaldumidi

TIGASH said:

...
Do I send this to solicitor? If there are legal issues or questions on the survey, then yes you could.Or you could just send those parts.

The potential downside of sending the whole report is if there is anything adverse in it that the mortgage lender might not like, but which that lender's own 'valuation' survey may not have identified.

There are three level 3 items on the list. 
Electricity, boiler and drainage. 

The first 2 was because no certificates were provided. The boiler has been serviced and a repair done in the last month due to me pointing something out on viewing.  Surveyors are not gas engineers. It's a '3' because he does not know, not because there's a problem.

Electrics- the surveyor was quiet positive about the electrics being more up to date than expected. So he still made it a '3' because: surveyors are not electricians. It's a '3' because he does not know, not because there's a problem.

 But did suggest commissioning a electrical survey. Is this expensive? Needed? £100? Up to you, but if the surveyor said "more up to date than expected" that's apositive sign so perhaps not. How risk averse are you?

Outside  Drainage was pointed out to have possible remananents of sewage and reccomended inspection before completion (which I will)  who should pay for this? You, if you are concerned. Drain might be partially /fully blocked, either due to tree roots growing into it or excess tampons flushed or whatever. Might need plunging/flushing. Might need repair. A cctv inspection will tell you.

All the other elements (marker 2) are items I'm aware off except reccomendation of new water tank which I happy to do. Needed why?

Oh and a wasps nest in the roof? Who should pay for this removal.  Why remove it? Wasps don't return to their old nests.

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TIGASH

canaldumidi said:

TIGASH said:

...
Do I send this to solicitor? If there are legal issues or questions on the survey, then yes you could.Or you could just send those parts.

The potential downside of sending the whole report is if there is anything adverse in it that the mortgage lender might not like, but which that lender's own 'valuation' survey may not have identified.

There are three level 3 items on the list. 
Electricity, boiler and drainage. 

The first 2 was because no certificates were provided. The boiler has been serviced and a repair done in the last month due to me pointing something out on viewing.  Surveyors are not gas engineers. It's a '3' because he does not know, not because there's a problem.

Electrics- the surveyor was quiet positive about the electrics being more up to date than expected. So he still made it a '3' because: surveyors are not electricians. It's a '3' because he does not know, not because there's a problem.

 But did suggest commissioning a electrical survey. Is this expensive? Needed? £100? Up to you, but if the surveyor said "more up to date than expected" that's apositive sign so perhaps not. How risk averse are you?

Outside  Drainage was pointed out to have possible remananents of sewage and reccomended inspection before completion (which I will)  who should pay for this? You, if you are concerned. Drain might be partially /fully blocked, either due to tree roots growing into it or excess tampons flushed or whatever. Might need plunging/flushing. Might need repair. A cctv inspection will tell you.

All the other elements (marker 2) are items I'm aware off except reccomendation of new water tank which I happy to do. Needed why?

Oh and a wasps nest in the roof? Who should pay for this removal.  Why remove it? Wasps don't return to their old nests.

......................................................................

This is great information thanks. 

To be honest I get the impression the heating and electrics are only 3 because like u say they are not qualified. My feeling is not to worry about the electrics. 

The water tank is leaking and the pipe work is starting to corrode. 

The surveyor is suggesting I get the drains looked at before signing paperwork would this be correct? Currently looking at cctv for drains. 

Thanks for all the advice. 

canaldumidi

Well 'signing' commits you to nothing. It is 'Exchaging contracts' when you commit, which can be weeks after you sign!

If the condition of the drains might affect your decison to buy, or the price you are willing to pay, then obviously you need to investigate the drains before Exchange.

If you are convinced you are going tobuy at the agreed price come-what-may, then you can invstigate the drains at any time at your leisure.

andyf1980

We had an electrical survey on the house we are currently buying. To be honest the main benefit was that we found out the house doesn’t need to be rewired. It needs a new consumer unit because the regulations have changed to require a metal unit rather than plastic. 

Mahsroh

A full EICR will cost you about £200 - £250 depending on size of property / part of country you are in etc. 

Personally, if the Surveyor is saying it's "more up to date that expected" I wouldn't commission one until after completion. Then once you're in get an EICR report done at your leisure. But as already said, depends how risk adverse you are as to whether you'd want to do it now for peace of mind. 

Remember unless you're planning to rent it out it doesn't HAVE to comply with current regulations so unless something comes back as "C1" meaning it's dangerous you can get the remedial work done at your leisure. The example Andyf1980 has mentioned above (metal consumer unit rather than plastic) is a C3 so "recommended" but not absolutely essential. 

martindow

andyf1980 said:

We had an electrical survey on the house we are currently buying. To be honest the main benefit was that we found out the house doesn’t need to be rewired. It needs a new consumer unit because the regulations have changed to require a metal unit rather than plastic. 

It would need a metal unit if it were being installed today you don't need to change it.  The vast majority of houses would not conform to the current regs.  It seems as if the electrician did not find any worrying faults, so stick with what you've got.

propertyhunter

If I took my surveyors report as gospel, I would technically need everything replacing imminently - electrics and central heating. However, the previous owner lived there fine for many years, so any upgrades can be done at the same time as the whole house being renovated in about 3 years. As long as it is not a health and safety danger or a structural issue, I wouldn't worry about it. 

canaldumidi

andyf1980 said:

We had an electrical survey on the house we are currently buying. To be honest the main benefit was that we found out the house doesn’t need to be rewired. It needs a new consumer unit because the regulations have changed to require a metal unit rather than plastic. 

The regs change periodically. They used to require metal. Then that was decided to be an electrical risk so plastic was put in the regs. Then that was judged to be a fire risk, so it went back to metal (or vice verse).

Whatever you now have, or whatever you change it to, in a few years when the Regs next change you'll no longer be compliant with current regs - but very few houses are.