Survey on house we are selling

Squoozy

We agreed a sale on our empty property at a low price because we want to sell quickly. The house has been completely renovated in recent months (not for profit, it was my mum’s house and we wanted to do it up before selling). We had 3 offers on the first day of viewing and took one from a first time buyer. The day before contract exchange he suddenly said he was having a full survey, which came back today. He is now saying there may be asbestos in the roof, the electrics may not be earthed, the gas boiler needs to be checked, the house may be damp. 

We have a yearly service history for the gas boiler and a gas safety check certificate. We also have an electrical safety certificate and had a full electrical survey in October 2022. The roof was replaced in 2000. All of this information was already handed over to the buyer’s solicitors. But what has really angered us is that the surveyor has added a photo of a broken tile and a hole in the roof showing the plastic membrane. The area in the hole is completely clean, no moss, no rust, no weather damage. We have a photo of the roof taken when we renovated the house (completed in December) and there is no missing tile. The roof looks perfect. We are convinced that the surveyor purposefully broke off the tile.

The surveyor is not local. He travelled 80 miles from the town where the buyer lives. The buyer is now asking to have people go in to quote for the work he says needs doing before revising the price. We have just sent an email to the agent saying we don’t want anyone else going in and either the sale goes ahead now for the agreed price or we look for another buyer. 

We are so upset by this whole thing. We were supposed to complete last week. Is this common practice now to suddenly ask for a price reduction? We feel we have been taken for a ride and we now have a roof to fix. 

user1977

What's the price reduction for? None of the things mentioned sound significant.

youth_leader

I am so sorry for your loss, but don't be upset.  It is a business transaction and unfortunately your FTB seems to have become concerned because of their very late survey. 

I also would not have negotiated and if they don't proceed, hope the other two offers are still live.  I wish you the best of luck with your next buyer.  

MikeJXE

This happens all the time and always has done

I have sold and bought 10min my life time and it never got easier 

One of the most stressful times of your life is buying and selling a home

Move on to the next 

Squoozy

User1977 the buyer says the roof needs fixing and there are ‘clearly several other issues’. We strongly suspect he had intended all along to try for a price reduction at the last minute. The survey seems to be very flimsy to us. 

user1977

Squoozy said:

User1977 the buyer says the roof needs fixing and there are ‘clearly several other issues’. We strongly suspect he had intended all along to try for a price reduction at the last minute. The survey seems to be very flimsy to us. 

All you've mentioned about the roof is one broken tile? What "other issues"? It's one thing if they're actually claiming some significant problems, but merely pointing out some normal minor maintenance points isn't relevant to the price.

flashg67

I actually think it's unlikely the surveyor broke the tile - they aren't known for climbing on roofs and after 20 years it's not impossible to expect some slippage, and unlikely to be a major job to fix. As a FTB, your buyer maybe being extra cautious, but your ultimatum to the agent may do the trick - after all, your buyer has invested time & money up to this point too. 
It's easy to say not to get emotional, but really, it isn't personal, just a business transaction. Some of the survey findings do sound like !!!!!! covering by the surveyor. You've said what you expect to happen - set a time limit and remarket if it doesn't happen

Squoozy

The slate tile is clearly snapped off across the corner, it hasn’t slipped at all. The remaining quarter of the tile is in place with a large corner missing. The exposed lining looks brand new and un weathered. It looks as if it just happened, which we believe is the case. The photo is a close up and we suspect was taken from the escape window in the attic bedroom. The broken tile is just to the side of the window. 

Most of the report is ridiculous, suggesting potential issues when there are clear answers that were not checked. At the very least it is poorly researched. What has upset us is that the buyer waited until the very last minute to have the survey after weeks of inactivity, and seems eager to find a problem in order to reduce the price, and also that in our opinion the survey has caused damage to the house. It’s minor damage, but we still have to fix it. It feels reckless and thoughtless at the very least

babyblade41

Put it back on the market and re-list. 
Call their bluff 

SusieT

Surveyors will often put that an electrical and gas check,are done as they are not experts in either, asbstos is also a bascside covering thing if they see something like signs of artex anywhere People in rented know that their home has to have up to date annual gas safety certificate and EICR report, so often expect all houses to need them. Since those reports are copied to their solicitor the surveyor will not have seen them and it s possible the buyer has not either. 
I would suggest replying that the reports have been with the solicitor and are therefore available to be seen, and that you will get the slate fixed (it sounds like an easy job for a roofer, and will need doing even if they/you pull out). Then tell them there is no negotiation on price, take it or leave it. 
It is annoying, but they are probably getting buyer nerves and needing somewhere between hand holding and saying everything will be fine, and being given a boot up the proverbial. 

Squoozy

Thank you all for your comments and advice. Just for information, we now have proof that the surveyor broke the roof tile. He made the mistake of including and earlier photo of the same piece of roof with no broken tile. He put it in a different part of the report and presumably forgot. It’s clearly the same place next to the window, tiles all intact. I’m sending the photos to our solicitor. I don’t actually see why we should fix a roof that has been deliberately damaged.