Inaccurate Survey Cost Sale of House

Jackboy

Hi, 

I agreed a price to sell my house but the buyer pulled out after his surveyor found there to be dry rot in the loft. 
I have since had my own survey carried out to find out the extent of the rot and how to rectify it, but there was none found.

My questions are: 

1. Is there any accountability on the original surveyor?

2. Will my estate agent have to inform potential buyers about the original survey now that the 2nd survey has ruled it out?

Thanks

Brie

I doubt there's any comeback on this given that you weren't the one paying for the "wrong" survey.

We had a sale fall through due to a mortgage value survey (whatever you call it) stating that the flat was in a bad state of repairs for a new build block.  We pointed out that what we were selling was actually a Victorian vicarage that had been renovated 30 years previously and the new build was next door.  They seemed to think we were lying.  

I would offer your survey as part of the buyer's pack and leave it at that.  

Jackboy

Brie said:

I doubt there's any comeback on this given that you weren't the one paying for the "wrong" survey.

We had a sale fall through due to a mortgage value survey (whatever you call it) stating that the flat was in a bad state of repairs for a new build block.  We pointed out that what we were selling was actually a Victorian vicarage that had been renovated 30 years previously and the new build was next door.  They seemed to think we were lying.  

I would offer your survey as part of the buyer's pack and leave it at that.  

Wow, that's shocking! Thanks for the advice

gazb_2

It happened to us. Survey came back with rising damp in internal walls, surveyor stuck his damp meter on the MdF skirting that had soaked up a tiny amount of water from my wife mopping the floors.

AskAsk

we sold a house recently and the buyer surveyor was really incompetent.  he said that the roof timbers showed signs of recent damp treatment but this is incorrect as we had owned the house for more than 16 years and we have never had any timber treatment in the roof.

he also said that the chimney breast had been removed when this was not the case and you could see the kitchen units being built around it!

he said there may be asbestos in the wall paper on the ceiling and i pointed out that there were wall paper on the ceiling because it was a victorian house and it is not unusual for those period properties to have wall paper on the ceiling and i didn't see why wallpaper would contain asbestos.  and a victorian house is unlikely to have asbestos in the ceiling!

i don't know where these surveyors get their qualification from, but it goes to show that you can't fully rely on their "expertise" as often than not, they are useless.

the only comeback would be for the buyers to demand their money back from the surveyor as he was useless, so you could ask the estate agent to inform them of this and see if they are still interested in your property.

Gentoo365

Has the estate agent been informed of the new report?

Usually a surveyor just says something like 'evidence if possible X, advise a specialist survey' or something.

As you have now had what I assume is a specialist to check it then this should satisfy the buyer.

TheJP

Jackboy said:

Hi, 

I agreed a price to sell my house but the buyer pulled out after his surveyor found there to be dry rot in the loft. 
I have since had my own survey carried out to find out the extent of the rot and how to rectify it, but there was none found.

My questions are: 

1. Is there any accountability on the original surveyor?

2. Will my estate agent have to inform potential buyers about the original survey now that the 2nd survey has ruled it out?

Thanks

What type of survey did the buyer have carried out and what type off survey did you have carried out?

1. No comeback against the original survey due to;

• You have no contract with the surveyor or the buyer.
• You dont know which surveyor may have missed something, the original must have had a reason to list the dry rot.

2. No the EA do not have to highlight any reason or survey findings to prospective buyers that is up to the buyer to carry out their due dilligence.

TheJP

AskAsk said:

the only comeback would be for the buyers to demand their money back from the surveyor as he was useless, so you could ask the estate agent to inform them of this and see if they are still interested in your property.

What if the 2nd surveyor got it wrong. I think i would rather trust a surveyor that i researched and instructed rather than one the seller carried out.