Issues not identified in level 3 survey

sheramber

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


Are the contractors offering to do the work?

stuart45

I've never worked on a new build or extension where the rainwater from the gutters was allowed to soak into the ground straight out of the bottom of the pipe. This could cause foundation issues. If the drainage was a combined system it went to that, if not usually a soakaway. Otherwise the nearest stream.
Years ago they did allow it to run into the garden or street if you laid a concrete run off away from the walls.
Thatched roofs don't normally have gutters, but the water is thrown out slightly, and also it's spread evenly around the building. It's when other water is concentrated on one place that the foundation issues can happen.

doodling

Hi,

I think you will need to explain further about both points.

With respect to the drainage, what does it look like?  There will be a downpipe from the gutter, what does it connect to at its base?  What does it look like?

With respect to the stairs, I'm struggling to understand how someone can make a mess of installing what are presumably prefabricated stairs.  Exactly what is the problem that has been identified?

In both cases, your recourse against the surveyor will depend on what was visible when the surveyor inspected the house.  For example, if the downpipes from the gutter just go into the ground then it would be reasonable for the surveyor to assume that they would be connected to something, the surveyor is not expected to dig holes to check.

The same applies to the stairs, if the stairs were covered with carpet then the surveyor is not expected to lift it to inspect the underlying carpentry.

Some photos of the issues would help.