Should I make a claim against my surveyor?

Moneywarrior123

We have just bought a home, and after moving in, we have noticed some serious dipping of the floor in the rear of the house. This was not noted in my home survey which rather said 'it is expected for the age of the property'. For context, this is a 60's/70's build but we have had to prop up the kids wardrobe for now as its dipped so much. I've read that you can make 'claims' against your surveyor, but not sure if this is even something that would qualify for it. I mean we did view the place, but didn't notice it at the time, maybe neither did the surveyor. Thoughts please?

Eldi_Dos

The first thing to do is make wardrobe safe, get some flat hanging brackets (or similar) and secure to the wall.

Mark_d

What you can claim for depends on the survey you took.  However it doesn't appear that the surveyor was in any way incorrect in their comment about the floor.

Albermarle

This was not noted in my home survey which rather said 'it is expected for the age of the property'. For context, this is a 60's/70's build 

I would not have thought it normal for a 60 year old house to have any noticeable dipping of the floor, never mind one as bad as this. My 100 year old house has nothing like this at all.

greenbee

The floor in one bedroom of my 1970s/80s house dips - primarily because the floor upstairs is hardboard that has been lifted for plumbing/electrics to be done and badly relayed. According to the electricians and carpet fitter I used, this isn't unusual (the electricians improved the bits they took up, but didn't do the whole floor). If I'd had the time and energy I'd have had it completely taken up and relaid as it annoys me every time I go in there. 

So not entirely unusual if work has been done that involved taking the floor up. It's tedious but straightforward to fix. Although the easiest option is to secure the wardrobe to the wall as per @Eldi_Dos advice.

TELLIT01

Our first house was built in the early 70s and we bought it in the mid 80s.  A dip in the upper floors was noted on the survey with the explanation that undersize timbers had been used throughout the construction of the estate, but no further deflection was expected.

Working_Mum

Moneywarrior123 said:

We have just bought a home, and after moving in, we have noticed some serious dipping of the floor in the rear of the house. This was not noted in my home survey which rather said 'it is expected for the age of the property'. For context, this is a 60's/70's build but we have had to prop up the kids wardrobe for now as its dipped so much. I've read that you can make 'claims' against your surveyor, but not sure if this is even something that would qualify for it. I mean we did view the place, but didn't notice it at the time, maybe neither did the surveyor. Thoughts please?

Did you purchase a RICS Level 2 Homebuyers report?? They are not as thorough as a Level 3 and I think it's made clear that the surveyors will not lift carpets etc in a Level 2 report.

I'd check out the T&C's you signed to see how thoroughly the property was going to be surveyed first.