We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
EA affilliated damp "surveyor" ruined future sales? Turned up without warning from EA

BronzedCab
Posts: 1 Newbie
The buyer had a proper surveyor round for the building and they didnt pick up any issues. Then just after queries were done they came to look at the house one more time, I got no explanation as to why. I got a phonecall the next day from the EA and was told that a damp surveyor had turned up to the EA, requested from the buyer to pick up the keys. I had no warning, and agreed to this. I was later told the buyer has felt dampness in the house, which is nonsensical. I checked the house later just in case and it's still bone dry with no signs of damp anywhere.
I then got a report from this unqualified surveyor for huge problems, and he was selling treatments for tens of thousands of pounds. Again the RICS surveyor found no issues, I dont even believe the buyer even believes this new "surveyor", and I think they just wanted to lower their offer and poison the house if we rejected to lower the price. By poision I mean, the EA has to give a reason for why a sale fell through to the next buyers. Now I have this BS survey ruining the price. Even worse is when I asked for his details at the impromptu phone call, the EA gave them, but also said he was affiliated with them!
I believe I am in the sole selling period, if this is grounds to move EA, I certainly don't want to have to pay double commission due to previous introductions, I feel this is a terrible thing that has happened and I should never have let that person in the house, and that the EA has failed me badly. Am I seeing this wrong?
I then got a report from this unqualified surveyor for huge problems, and he was selling treatments for tens of thousands of pounds. Again the RICS surveyor found no issues, I dont even believe the buyer even believes this new "surveyor", and I think they just wanted to lower their offer and poison the house if we rejected to lower the price. By poision I mean, the EA has to give a reason for why a sale fell through to the next buyers. Now I have this BS survey ruining the price. Even worse is when I asked for his details at the impromptu phone call, the EA gave them, but also said he was affiliated with them!
I believe I am in the sole selling period, if this is grounds to move EA, I certainly don't want to have to pay double commission due to previous introductions, I feel this is a terrible thing that has happened and I should never have let that person in the house, and that the EA has failed me badly. Am I seeing this wrong?
0
Comments
-
So the house is empty? Have you left the heating on, I'm in the NE and temperatures at night are very low now.
I don't understand why you are saying 'unqualified'? Is the surveyor from a PCA approved company? If so, the damp/timber survey would have involved the floorboards being taken up to inspect the subfloor.£216 saved 24 October 20140 -
Was the damp rising damp? A friend of mine had that in a house he bought and it was really expensive for the remedial work.0
-
As you suggest, it sounds like the 'surveyor' was really a 'salesperson' from a damp treatment company.
Maybe email the EA with the following questions:- Why did the EA introduce a damp treatment salesperson, when the RICS surveyor hadn't identified any kind of damp issues?
- What does the EA mean by "affiliate"? What is the relationship between the EA and the damp treatment company?
- Does the EA get referral fees / commission or any other type of payment from the damp treatment company? (If so, how much would the EA earn if the buyer went ahead with the salesperson's quote?)
- Tell the EA that they must explain to the buyer that the RICS surveyor found no damp problems, and therefore the salesperson from the damp treatment company is likely to be trying to sell unnecessary damp treatment services.
And tell the EA that by introducing the damp treatment salesperson, they risk scaring the buyer and scuppering the sale - and therefore getting no commission.
And since the EA has caused this problem, you expect them to work hard to fix it by reassuring the buyer that there isn't a problem.
1 -
I experienced the same thing. In the interests of a quick sale, and not being constructionally inclined, I gave a minimal discount, but if I were to do it again I'd say you either pay the agreed price or forget it. In my case it was a 'friendly roofer' who was eager to say the house needed a new roof, especially in view of the 'sagging ridge beam'. It was unfortunate that I did the research after I'd conceded the discount, because a few hours' investigation later confirmed by two roofers showed that I don't have a ridge beam (structural), I have a ridge board (non-structural), that there is no sag in it whatsoever (unsurprising for a ridge board) and the timbers are in such good condition that it would be 'a waste of time' to even treat them.
Call it what it is, an attempted scam. And act accordingly.0 -
Also, if you're worried about the buyer backing out and the EA having to give the reason to another potential buyer, then you be the one to back out. Then you can give whatever reason you like and that's the one the EA would need to tell any inquirer down the line.
1 -
I’m not sure what the estate agent has done wrong? The buyer wanted the name of a damp company, and the estate agent suggested one. If he had not, the buyer would have found a different one.The op was asked whether it would be okay to let the ‘surveyor' in, and the op agreed. The op could have said no, but chose not to.Can someone explain why the estate agent is to blame?No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?0
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.1K Spending & Discounts
- 244.9K Work, Benefits & Business
- 600.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.4K Life & Family
- 258.6K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards