RICS Homebuyer Level 2 Survey - Complaint?

UnderOffer

You can still negotiate with the buyer, most buyers never share the results of a survey with sellers or EA. You could provide the photos if they challenge you.

Tracet74

This unquestionably should have been a Condition Rating 3, irrespective of the type of survey you chose.  Just from the photos, my colleague (who is a surveyor) has identified nail sickness with missing verges, and the roof needs recovering.

lookstraightahead

Mildreds_Earrings said:

lookstraightahead said:

Doesn't help you but I've only ever had level 3s for our houses - does a level 2 actually cover what you wanted? 

The Level 2 would have covered what we wanted, had the Surveyor not provided quite generic statements for each area of concern. 

Fair enough, it just looks like an older house.

our level 3 was 50 pages (and a lot of that was generic) and even then everything to do with the roof etc was either referencing what the structural engineer had said or advising us to get reports etc from a specialist in that field.

I don't know how you tackle this surveyor, but if you have the opportunity I personally would pay to get a more in-depth report and get it checked out properly. 

Looks like a lovely house by the way. 

TheJP

UnderOffer said:

You can still negotiate with the buyer, most buyers never share the results of a survey with sellers or EA. You could provide the photos if they challenge you.

A sensible seller will want to see certified and credible evidence that the work needs doing. This certified and credible evidence alludes to it not need doing. They don't need photos as the owners can look up, the difference here will be a difference on opinion. Usually you back it up with facts from the survey report. 

Mildreds_Earrings

Tracet74 said:

This unquestionably should have been a Condition Rating 3, irrespective of the type of survey you chose.  Just from the photos, my colleague (who is a surveyor) has identified nail sickness with missing verges, and the roof needs recovering.

Thanks so much for this!
Will pursue this further. 

lookstraightahead

TheJP said:

UnderOffer said:

You can still negotiate with the buyer, most buyers never share the results of a survey with sellers or EA. You could provide the photos if they challenge you.

A sensible seller will want to see certified and credible evidence that the work needs doing. This certified and credible evidence alludes to it not need doing. They don't need photos as the owners can look up, the difference here will be a difference on opinion. Usually you back it up with facts from the survey report. 

From the other perspective, if a buyer is getting itchy feet it would be prudent for the seller to get reports, especially as they will, as you say, be able to look up.

we only bought our current property promptly as the sellers already had a structural engineers report which helped immensely with the surveyor report.

I would want to know as a seller what the issues are, I wouldn't need a buyer to prove it, especially as you can see it.

[Deleted User]

Roofer here.
The roof doesn't look in great condition and the bargeboards could just be an indicator of more substantial issues.
Bargeboards are clearly rotten, chimney flashings look well aged, some slates appear damaged (but it doesn't look terrible).
Hard to tell from the photos but the slates look thick and probably quite high quality. I would imagine that they'd be a few quid to replace. Surveyors can be lax or over cautious, I'd ask a couple of roofers for their opinion.
Ultimately, you'll need their services so might as well ask now.

daveyjp

From the limited photos the whole roof needs a survey and assessment of what is required as it looks original.

The timber structures replacement is realtively straightforward.  Some of the slates are broken, but I would refurb what is there.  It appears to be a high quality Welsh slate roof (this wouldn't have been a cheap house to build) which even if you had limitless budget, you are highly unlikely to be able to replace like for like.

Mildreds_Earrings

[Deleted User] said:

Roofer here.
The roof doesn't look in great condition and the bargeboards could just be an indicator of more substantial issues.
Bargeboards are clearly rotten, chimney flashings look well aged, some slates appear damaged (but it doesn't look terrible).
Hard to tell from the photos but the slates look thick and probably quite high quality. I would imagine that they'd be a few quid to replace. Surveyors can be lax or over cautious, I'd ask a couple of roofers for their opinion.
Ultimately, you'll need their services so might as well ask now.

Thanks for your advice @[Deleted User]
Wish you lived close to us!
We will get two roofing quotes and we have advised the Seller to get a roofing quote also.

Mildreds_Earrings

daveyjp said:

From the limited photos the whole roof needs a survey and assessment of what is required as it looks original.

The timber structures replacement is realtively straightforward.  Some of the slates are broken, but I would refurb what is there.  It appears to be a high quality Welsh slate roof (this wouldn't have been a cheap house to build) which even if you had limitless budget, you are highly unlikely to be able to replace like for like.

Thanks for your advice @daveyip
Very helpful.