Purchase sagging roof / loft conversion

Nordita

I'm a first time buyer with my girlfriend. We found a semi detached house we like but our homebuyers survey revealed concerned for the roof which has a rear dormer loft conversion (bedroom with ensuite).

The roof has some sagging on the front of the house with bowing on the front eave and some slightly less bowing on the rear eave below the dormer. There was no sagging in the ceiling of the loft conversion or the floor beneath. The surveyor believes that to provide adequate ceiling space aspects of the internal roof supports had to be raised and thus makes the roof more prone to sag inwards.

Our surveyor said he would have been surprised if it passed the building control. Doing a bit of research I learned that it would be illegal for an estate agent and seller to asvertise the space as a bedroom.

Nordita

Hit post discussion prematurely.

Keeping optimistic I will assume the seller will produce the associated documents which justify the construction in regards to planning permission and building regulations.

The surveyor advised if I wanted to continue I ought to get a structural survey done with additional engineers calculations regarding the roof. The house is built in the 1960s and looking back at Google Street view the problem existed back in 2009.

The optimistic side of me thinks this is a legal addition to the home and the sagging happens regardless and will not continue.

My girlfriend and are thinking of asking the seller to reduce the price to compensate for any future assessments and works. This will depend on what we hear back from our solicitors queries.

We have no specific question for the forum only to reiterate we are first time buyers and if anyone has any general or specific advice in this area? Finding another house is also possible unfortunately!

Doozergirl

The solution is probably to install another purlin.  Not the most expensive or complicated job in the world. 

TheJP

What did the surveyor value the property at taking all of that into consideration? I would want a structural survey done to be certain of what needs done? Its only illegal if it wasn't signed off by building regs. 

Nordita

Doozergirl said:

The solution is probably to install another purlin.  Not the most expensive or complicated job in the world. 

I hope so. 

TheJP said:

What did the surveyor value the property at taking all of that into consideration? I would want a structural survey done to be certain of what needs done? Its only illegal if it wasn't signed off by building regs. 

Our surveyor did not provide a value at the property as it is my belief this is done by a lenders valuation. Nationwide was our lender and they had no objections to the agreed sale price. I doubt they inspected the building to the extent that our surveyor did.

GDB2222

I would be worried if someone had converted the loft without building control. If they have done that, what else have they done?

TheJP

Nordita said:

Doozergirl said:

The solution is probably to install another purlin.  Not the most expensive or complicated job in the world. 

I hope so. 

TheJP said:

What did the surveyor value the property at taking all of that into consideration? I would want a structural survey done to be certain of what needs done? Its only illegal if it wasn't signed off by building regs. 

Our surveyor did not provide a value at the property as it is my belief this is done by a lenders valuation. Nationwide was our lender and they had no objections to the agreed sale price. I doubt they inspected the building to the extent that our surveyor did.

I would go back and ask the surveyor whether he things the price you are buying fits with what he saw. Usually surveyors will give an indication of whether the house is worth what you are paying.

oystercatcher

Is this a forever home or do you expect to sell in a few years? A visibly sagging roof would make me run a mile even if it is perhaps easy to fix. So you may have problems selling later.

user1977

Nordita said:

Our surveyor did not provide a value at the property as it is my belief this is done by a lenders valuation. Nationwide was our lender and they had no objections to the agreed sale price. I doubt they inspected the building to the extent that our surveyor did.

Your surveyor can provide a valuation if you ask them to, it's fairly normal for them to do so.