Surveyor Could Not Follow Up Survey at Property. Here’s Why.

konn1ch1ha

Hi all,

We had a surveyor carrying out a L2 survey today and could not finish the survey as the property we’re buying has a 60 foot rock face out the back. He said he would need to do a full building survey but the reasons were vague as I was being informed by the Your Survey agency. Would this likely be for subsidence risk? Is it common a full building survey would need to be done if next to a rock face?

TIA

Section62

konn1ch1ha said:

Hi all,

We had a surveyor carrying out a L2 survey today and could not finish the survey as the property we’re buying has a 60 foot rock face out the back. He said he would need to do a full building survey but the reasons were vague as I was being informed by the Your Survey agency. Would this likely be for subsidence risk? Is it common a full building survey would need to be done if next to a rock face?

TIA

Is the property at the top or bottom of the rock face?

TBagpuss

It could be ny number of things - if it is close to the rock face, maybe there was an issue with access?  There could be a concern over subsidence - either risk of rocks falling on the house, or concern that the house might be at risk of falling down the rock face - 

I would suggest that you ask for a more detailed explanation, preferably in writing.

konn1ch1ha

Section62 said:

konn1ch1ha said:

Hi all,

We had a surveyor carrying out a L2 survey today and could not finish the survey as the property we’re buying has a 60 foot rock face out the back. He said he would need to do a full building survey but the reasons were vague as I was being informed by the Your Survey agency. Would this likely be for subsidence risk? Is it common a full building survey would need to be done if next to a rock face?

TIA

Is the property at the top or bottom of the rock face?

Bottom. The top lies a castle. The house is terraced nestled amongst a row of of other houses. 

canaldumidi

and you want to live under that?

eddddy

konn1ch1ha said:

We had a surveyor carrying out a L2 survey today and could not finish the survey as the property we’re buying has a 60 foot rock face out the back. He said he would need to do a full building survey but the reasons were vague as I was being informed by the Your Survey agency. Would this likely be for subsidence risk? Is it common a full building survey would need to be done if next to a rock face?

There's no general rule that a structural survey needs to be done if a property is next to a rock face.


I'd guess that the surveyor has noticed something specific about this specific property which has caused him to recommend a full structural survey. You need to find out what that specific problem is, then you can decide your next steps.


It's strange that the surveyor didn't complete the L2 survey as you'd instructed. Is the surveyor going to refund some/all of the money that you paid for the L2 survey?

konn1ch1ha

canaldumidi said:

and you want to live under that?

With respect, this is a little dramatic isn’t it? The area we’re looking at has no history of subsidence, and there is a castle on top of the hill.  

konn1ch1ha

eddddy said:

konn1ch1ha said:

We had a surveyor carrying out a L2 survey today and could not finish the survey as the property we’re buying has a 60 foot rock face out the back. He said he would need to do a full building survey but the reasons were vague as I was being informed by the Your Survey agency. Would this likely be for subsidence risk? Is it common a full building survey would need to be done if next to a rock face?

There's no general rule that a structural survey needs to be done if a property is next to a rock face.


I'd guess that the surveyor has noticed something specific about this specific property which has caused him to recommend a full structural survey. You need to find out what that specific problem is, then you can decide your next steps.


It's strange that the surveyor didn't complete the L2 survey as you'd instructed. Is the surveyor going to refund some/all of the money that you paid for the L2 survey?

No refund, we’ve just had to pay the additional amount for the building survey. Frankly, I’m a little disappointed we just didn’t get the full L2 too. We were told to get a building survey BECAUSE of the rock face. 

Section62

konn1ch1ha said:

Section62 said:

konn1ch1ha said:

Hi all,

We had a surveyor carrying out a L2 survey today and could not finish the survey as the property we’re buying has a 60 foot rock face out the back. He said he would need to do a full building survey but the reasons were vague as I was being informed by the Your Survey agency. Would this likely be for subsidence risk? Is it common a full building survey would need to be done if next to a rock face?

TIA

Is the property at the top or bottom of the rock face?

Bottom. The top lies a castle. The house is terraced nestled amongst a row of of other houses. 

So this is a natural feature, rather than something man-made like a quarry?

konn1ch1ha

Section62 said:

konn1ch1ha said:

Section62 said:

konn1ch1ha said:

Hi all,

We had a surveyor carrying out a L2 survey today and could not finish the survey as the property we’re buying has a 60 foot rock face out the back. He said he would need to do a full building survey but the reasons were vague as I was being informed by the Your Survey agency. Would this likely be for subsidence risk? Is it common a full building survey would need to be done if next to a rock face?

TIA

Is the property at the top or bottom of the rock face?

Bottom. The top lies a castle. The house is terraced nestled amongst a row of of other houses. 

So this is a natural feature, rather than something man-made like a quarry?

I believe it’s a natural feature. An “outcrop of sandstone” is the hill that it’s a part of. 

Section62

konn1ch1ha said:

Section62 said:

So this is a natural feature, rather than something man-made like a quarry?

I believe it’s a natural feature. An “outcrop of sandstone” is the hill that it’s a part of. 

In which case the only logical reason for the surveyor to have a concern is if there is a possibilty the rock face may not be stable.  Sandstones are prone to weathering so it isn't completely unreasonable to have concerns about that.

I'm not sure why that couldn't be addressed in the survey you asked for though - for example suggesting you would need to get specialist geotech reports done.

konn1ch1ha said:

canaldumidi said:

and you want to live under that?

With respect, this is a little dramatic isn’t it? The area we’re looking at has no history of subsidence, and there is a castle on top of the hill.  

In defence of canaldumidi, the rock in the picture is probably a sandstone of some kind, so he's correctly predicted the rock type.... and what can happen when it naturally degrades through the effects of weather.

The issue won't be subsidence (or heave) - which might have been potential issues for a property in a man-made feature like a quarry - but almost certainly will be limited to stuff coming down on the property from above.