Lender's valuer has rejected PCA survey report

Pippi123456

Hi all, we're FTB trying to buy an older-style end-of-terrace house (circa 1910-1930). The house has a damp patch on the back reception room by the kitchen (ground floor) caused by a range of issues, including condensation from the kitchen and poor ventilation, poor guttering, an old window that needs replacement, and some small cracks in the outside rendering. The flooring is in good condition as well as the whole of the first floor, which is free of damp or mold.

Our lender's valuer was concerned about the estate of the subfloor and requested a damp and timber survey report from a PCA member. We got this and the report stated that there is no sub-floor but a concrete slab across the ground floor with no signs of decay or rot on the wooden flooring which is on top of the concrete slab. They quoted the work for £5K. 

Fast forward three weeks and several conversations between our mortgage broker and the lender to escalate the process (we applied to the mortgage in January!) have resulted in the valuer still insisting that there is a sub-floor in the back room and has requested us to hire another PCA surveyor. We were there so we saw that there is a concrete slab underneath the flooring. Our mortgage broker has never seen a situation when the valuer and the surveyor are in dispute and our solicitor reckons the valuer is being unreasonable, and the PCA surveyor also says that apart from taking pictures, there is nothing else they can do.

If we get another PCA report, we don't have guarantees that the valuer is going to believe the results because they didn't believe the first one. At this stage, we have decided to get an independent surveyor (non-PCA) to go to the property and write a report with photographic evidence. We've tried hiring a PCA surveyor but none of those who work in our area can attend the property before May, so we have also asked our broker to apply to another lender to cover our backs - this process has been going on since the end of January and we are afraid we may lose the property. 

Have you come across a dispute between the lender's valuer and a PCA surveyor? If so, what happened in the end? Is there a basis to report this to the Financial Ombudsman? Is there anything else we can do?

nicmyles

The obvious question: can the first PCA surveyor go back and take pictures? Can you take pictures and submit them?

propertyrental

Not directly addressing your issue, but what was the PCA salesman surveyor suggesting doing for £5K? PCA 'surveyors' are renowned for finding issues that, surprise!, their company can solve.