Homebuyer survey - drains

Jonboy_1984

There is a short guide to whether it’s your responsibility or the water boards here https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/emergencies/sewer-flooding/sewer-pipe-responsibility?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6bbksLu4_wIVUOztCh1fKQgoEAAYAiAAEgLuFfD_BwE

We paid a couple of hundred pounds for a cctv inspection and it was worth it to me to understand where the pipes ran and the types of pipes involved. As others have said lack of maintenance isn’t necessarily an insurance type repair depending on your policy.


EICR is not a legal requirement for homeowners, but is for renting so would really be up to buyer to arrange. 

We used one to get around some missing installation paperwork when selling, and then arranged and paid for the (unrelated to the installation) repairs recommended following negotiation with the buyers. Beware this left the buyer without the benefit of any say in the quality or warranty for the works for their purchase as the work was in our name and we completed two weeks later….

Section62

atlasmm said:

1) I am not familiar with this term ‘stuck fast’, does this just mean it’s stuck?

"Stuck fast" is usually used where significant effort has been made to lift the cover but it will not budge.  Typically because the cover/frame have corroded so the two have effectively become one.  Lifting the cover then requires a fair bit of hitting with a heavy hammer, or breaking the cover+frame out and replacing it.

"UTL" (unable-to-lift) is typically used where the cover couldn't be lifted due to any one of - not wanting to / not having the tools / not enough time / risk of cover or frame failure / cover too heavy / welded down / obstructed / no permission.  Very often with no attempt to lift being made because it was obvious it wasn't going to come up.

It is possible the surveyor said "stuck fast" because he had "his" best clothes on etc, but they would look a bit silly if you got a drainage company out who found no problem (you'd also potentially have grounds for complaint/claim against them for not doing the survey properly)

eddddy

FWIW - with a house I was buying many years ago, the surveyor lifted a cover and noticed that the chamber had been repaired / rebuilt.

That was the first evidence that the surveyor found that the house had subsidence repairs - which the seller hadn't declared. 

But I guess that's an extremely unusual scenario.

dimbo61

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-ms6860d-16a-socket-tester-230v-ac/91596?tc=CA8&ds_rl=1244066&gclid=CjwKCAjw4ZWkBhA4EiwAVJXwqYi9Uz8St1KKlcxmSqRTRdb0MqbCQonmtTJWYyi2TB3LA4YVvcbcQBoCHucQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

If you buy this from screwfix , wickes, Band Q or toolstation you can check all the sockets in the property  you are looking at buying.
Check how many sockets are in each bedroom, lounge, kitchen etc