Issues not identified in level 3 survey

Cateya23

We recently purchased a house and had a full level three survey. It also has building reg sign off. Was built 2013

since moving in our contractors have noted.

1) there is no drainage around the house so all gutter water runs directly into soil/ground next to house

2) the stairs are incorrectly finished with screws and mechanical fixings that I’m advised should not be used and will need to be made good

both areas were easily accessible to surveyor and our survey reports nil issues for drains and gutters nor stairs

there is obviously a cost of a few thousand likes to this which was unforeseen. Please can you guide if we have legal recourse and if so how?

the surveyor was an accredited one with good reviews 

many thanks
Cat

JGB1955

I don't know about the second point, but it's quite usual to have gutters that drain directly into the ground.

user1977

Think you'll need to explain more about the problem with the stairs, as I don't really understand the issue from what you've said.

m0bov

Did you complain to the surveyor?

sheramber

Were the regs for the stairs the same in 2013 as they are now?

In my last hour the gutters drained   into the ground, as did my neoghbours.  There were no land drains for them to drain into.

TBG01

1) there is no drainage around the house so all gutter water runs directly into soil/ground next to house

So just like the vast majority of properties in the UK then.

2) the stairs are incorrectly finished with screws and mechanical fixings that I’m advised should not be used and will need to be made good

According to who?

there is obviously a cost of a few thousand

See above.

Cateya23

Hmm ok so this could be creative work finding from out contractors.  Thanks for the responses. I will explore further

MikeJXE

1) Just because there are no inspection chambers visible doesn't mean there are no drains,

Surface water could be soak away

Foul could go to next door or even the highway as could surface water 

2) a simple check on building regs will enlighten you on the use of screws and mechanical fixings on stairs 

No there will be no cost and no compensation either 

babyblade41

A lot of surface water goes into soak away's  as ours does ATM 

If you believe that screws & fixings  are wrong on the stairs then get them changed , (I doubt they are, just not up to recent regs) 

I'm not sure where you are getting ££££££'s worth of remedial work from , certainly no compo

Ksw3

Does the downpipes go into a soakaway or does it just pool into the ground next to the house? Do you have a picture? 

ThisIsWeird

Hi Cateya.
I've no idea about the stairs - but I'd have thought very easily putrightable - a couple of hours by a chippy. Is there access to its underside via a cupboard or open space? Tbh, I'd be happy to bet a £iver that they won't fail in any case.
The rainwater drainage sounds wrong, tho', and whilst I don't know what the requirements would have been in 2013, I'd have thought they would be more advanced than wot you've described! We should all be aware of the astonishing quantities of water that come down from our roofs during wet spells - anyone with a butt certainly will be - and for this to be deposited into the ground right beside the house seems to be very wrong, and surely ineffectual (except in a bad way).

At some point - don't know when - building regs changed to include requirements (where possible) for surface water - including roof - to be removed via soakaways, located some distance away from the property; 5m is mooted as the recommended distance if possible. Should be easy to find out when (our garage required this, built in around 2006), and - I'd have thought - also easy to look up the building plans for your house from only 10 years ago. Have you checked the Planning Portal on your LA' s website? If not there, someone will surely have a copy. See what it shows there, and compare that with the reality on the ground - post a pic on here of the gulley setup the DP goes in to, and we should be able to advise further.

This ( https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/442889/BR_PDF_AD_H_2015.pdf H3 page 39) seems to suggest an update to Part H regs regarding sewage and rain/surface water - put forward in 2010 to be enacted from 2015 - so your build would be obligated to the earlier 2002 regs, I guess. I struggle to interpret these sorts of things, but I think the first step in any case would be to check if/where these drains go - photo of gully, and then a quick and simple inspection by a drain consultant.

If you do need a soakaway - ie your setup does not correspond to the requirements at 2013 - then this will typically be a few £k - and that's if your land has the space to allow it.

That doesn't answer your Q, tho', and for that, I guess, you need to read the full guide for the level of survey you had carried out. Does it include a drain inspection beyond checking what you can see from ground level?