Estate agent asking for survey report

eddddy

Assuming the EA is a reputable and obeys the law…

They will have to tell future buyers about the failed sale, as it's material information. Given the choice of saying:

• "The previous sale fell through because of a survey, but we haven't seen the survey so we don't know exactly what it said"

and

• "The previous sale fell through because of a survey. We've seen the survey and the problems are a, b, c, etc. So the cost of fixing those might be £x"

… the EA would prefer to say the latter.

So it depends whether or not you want to help out the EA and seller, and if so, how much you want to charge for the survey.

artyboy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82064565#Comment_82064565

And as a buyer I'd also want one where I had some recourse against the surveyor if problems were later discovered that ought to have been picked up.

PJBRFC

When someone pulled out of buying my mum's house back in December 2024, due to the survey results, we asked them if we could have it. They allowed us to buy it for 50% the price they paid. We happily paid it as it was useful to know what was found. We then adjusted the price accordingly.

House then sold successfully after going back on the market.

martindow

OP you haven't come back with any indication of what issues are mentioned in the survey. As has been said the reports from the surveyor can be full of gloom and doom, but these are often 'maybes' or 'possiblys' that they list to cover themselves.

You need to read between the lines to see if there any things that are real red flags rather than a list of nice things to do or ideas for future maintenance.

If you are able to speak to a surveyor they will often talk more freely and can be reassuring about the real condition of a house.

MeteredOut

Not sure if this is the case with surveys, but some professional documents are not transferrable.

TroubledTarts

Not all surveys are equal but no harm suggesting they can contribute to the cost to have a copy

Chief_of_Staffy

You mean you're unsure whether you want to help the estate agent earn future commission and help the seller sell their house for zero reward, by sending them a report you paid hundreds for? You should grab this opportunity whilst it's on the table, and ask them whether they'd like their shoes shined for free into the same bargain.

silvercar

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82065217#Comment_82065217

the professional indemnity for any errors wouldn’t transfer to anyone other than the purchaser, but the report itself would be.

silvercar

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82065368#Comment_82065368

Alternatively, you want to get some money back on the outlay you have made on a purchase you are no longer pursuing.

Chief_of_Staffy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82065693#Comment_82065693

How do you get money by giving something away for free?