Surveyor damaged carpets...or did he.

desthemoaner

Thrugelmir said:

desthemoaner said:

I've used this surveyor several times before without any such issues arising, and I find it hard to believe he would cause any damage. However, I've emailed the photographs of the damaged carpet to him, and asked him to comment.

Wait for the response first. Then decide what course of action to take. Is the carpet actually damaged or simply needs refitting? 

The surveyor has been in touch, and has pointed out that the loose threads are a consequence lifting a fitted carpet and exposing the cut roll end. He's willing to return to the property and put the carpet back the way it was, and I'm just waiting for the nod from the agent once he's spoken to the vendor. 

desthemoaner

user1977 said:

desthemoaner said:

Section62 said:

desthemoaner said:

Meantime, however, the seller is taking the position that if the sale falls through she'll be liable for the cost of reinstating the carpets in their former condition, so she wants the damage repaired now.

Any advice as to how to approach the situation gratefully accepted. 

I'd suggest to the vendor that they can consider exploring that possibility if the sale falls through - if the surveyor has alredy been notified of the damage a delay of a few months won't affect the viability of a legal claim against them, and waiting to allow the prospective sale to complete demonstrates an attempt to mitigate (in this case eliminate) their losses.

Many thanks. If in the meantime the surveyor denies all knowledge, could we be considered vicariously liable for the damage, and could the seller therefore insist that we pay for it prior to exchange? Not something I'd want to do, obviously, and I can hardly imagine that the seller would pull the sale for the sake of carpets which won't be hers to repair after exchange. 

No, and if you're buying it I don't see why the vendor would be suffering any loss anyway. If there is damage (and you buy) you may have a claim against the surveyor, assuming any of this can be proved.

Pretty sure that there's no actual "damage", no, though I've only seen photographs. As I said above, the exposure of the cut roll end will inevitably reveal loose threads. Having said that, he could have put it back more carefully because a lot of threads are visible above the edge of the carpet, and its not been properly secured to the gripper, leaving the edge uneven. I suppose I can understand why someone selling a house with immaculate carpets might be a bit miffed. 

desthemoaner

Slithery said:

When you get the surveyors written report can you tell whether or not they lifted the carpets?
Obviously if they are trying to hide the fact that they caused damage then they may omit any relevant sections now that you've given them a heads-up but it's still worth checking.

 He told me that he did lift the carpets, and not just at the corners. The photographs taken by the vendor are pretty clear too, so there'd be little point in him omitting from the report any photographs showing carpet edges. 

Slinky

Is there anything in the survey that's making you change your mind about buying the house?

Wkmg

Out of interest, wouldn’t this be a matter between the surveyor and the seller. OP hasn’t damaged the carpets, the surveyor whom the seller gave permission to go in did it. 

TheJP

Wkmg said:

Out of interest, wouldn’t this be a matter between the surveyor and the seller. OP hasn’t damaged the carpets, the surveyor whom the seller gave permission to go in did it. 

I would say the contract is with the OP and the surveyor so yes it is the OPs issue but sounds like its an easy fix.

martindow

I'm amazed that a surveyor lifted the carpets at all.  In my experience they will not do anything beyond looking at what is visible - no lifting of carpets or moving furniture, etc.  Had the vendor given permission for a more invasive survey?

youth_leader

I'm surprised he lifted them too.   Did he give a reason as to why he did it?

 When the independent damp/timber surveyor I engaged to check under my floors out put his damp meter on the carpet it registered 96. 

desthemoaner

Slinky said:

Is there anything in the survey that's making you change your mind about buying the house?

No, and since I last posted on this thread the issue has been resolved. The vendor has agreed to leave the carpets as they are as long as the sale goes ahead, and we'll deal with the issue ourselves when we take possession. If it falls through, she wants a contribution towards refitting, and to enable matters to progress, I've agreed to that condition. I've seen photos in the survey report which show the carpets and underlay peeled back to expose the floorboards, so I understand the extent to which they've been disturbed. 

desthemoaner

martindow said:

I'm amazed that a surveyor lifted the carpets at all.  In my experience they will not do anything beyond looking at what is visible - no lifting of carpets or moving furniture, etc.  Had the vendor given permission for a more invasive survey?

No such express permission was given, no. I've used this surveyor before, and AFAIK during previous surveys he's only lifted the corners of the carpets. For this one he rolled back about six feet of carpet and underlay in one room.