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katyp
Posts: 124 Forumite
I was in the process of buying a house, and paid extra for a Homebuyer's survey, as opposed to a normal valuation, as I wanted a more thorough report on the property.
A few days later, I got a letter from the company, saying that the survey had been completed (and money taken from my account to pay for it) but they would not release it to me until I signed a form, which basically said that I had no comeback should anything not have been picked up. I signed the form as (a) I wanted the survey and (b) I think that asking me to sign a disclaimer to see something I had already paid for would have no legal standing.
Anyway, there was a couple of bits and pieces came back in the survey, and I asked a builder and a glazier to go around to the house to have a look.
When the builder had been round, he called me and asked me to go round with him to have a look at something else which concerned him. In a nutshell, the roof was bowing down under the weight of a dormer extension, which will need major surgery to correct. This was not mentioned in the surveyor's report in any shape or form, even though it is obvious when pointed out to you.
Because of this, we have pulled out of the purchase, however I feel annoyed that we would have gone ahead, had I not asked a builder to have a look at something else for me.
Surely something that basic should have been picked up in a survey? The actual survey was a load of nonsense, not much more than a basic valuation, except the surveyor recommened that I pay for specialist surveys for just about everything, presumabley to cover his back.
Do I have any comeback about this? I'm not after compensation, but I would have thought that it would be reasonable to ask for the differenece between a vaulation and a housebuyer's to be refunded, as what I got was nothing more than a valuation with a long list of additional surveys recomended.
Has anyone any experience of this kind of thin?
A few days later, I got a letter from the company, saying that the survey had been completed (and money taken from my account to pay for it) but they would not release it to me until I signed a form, which basically said that I had no comeback should anything not have been picked up. I signed the form as (a) I wanted the survey and (b) I think that asking me to sign a disclaimer to see something I had already paid for would have no legal standing.
Anyway, there was a couple of bits and pieces came back in the survey, and I asked a builder and a glazier to go around to the house to have a look.
When the builder had been round, he called me and asked me to go round with him to have a look at something else which concerned him. In a nutshell, the roof was bowing down under the weight of a dormer extension, which will need major surgery to correct. This was not mentioned in the surveyor's report in any shape or form, even though it is obvious when pointed out to you.
Because of this, we have pulled out of the purchase, however I feel annoyed that we would have gone ahead, had I not asked a builder to have a look at something else for me.
Surely something that basic should have been picked up in a survey? The actual survey was a load of nonsense, not much more than a basic valuation, except the surveyor recommened that I pay for specialist surveys for just about everything, presumabley to cover his back.
Do I have any comeback about this? I'm not after compensation, but I would have thought that it would be reasonable to ask for the differenece between a vaulation and a housebuyer's to be refunded, as what I got was nothing more than a valuation with a long list of additional surveys recomended.
Has anyone any experience of this kind of thin?
0
Comments
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ask the builder to put his opinion in writing and ask for the homebuyers survey fee to be refunded. and give the builder a few quid for helping you out.
imo.
the survey seems to have failed to cover any reasonable expectation, any disclaimers are probably not valid on the basis on most consumer legislation.
push it back to the lender - would they want the publicity that this might bring? Phone calls first then letters, then legal action if you feel it's worth it. Possibly check if the surveyor is reg'd with a professional body and ask them if they think it's ok (do it by email, then there's a record).
hth0 -
I wouldn't just take the word of one builder. You do not know that he is simply trying to get you to instruct him to carry out what may be un-necessary building work.
I would have asked at least 3 builders to look round without telling them what the survey report had highlighted.0 -
We've just had a similar thing happen, and it will be unlikely you have any comeback, they're slippery creatures these surveyors!
I bet somewhere in your survey it recommends that you get a builder to check over the building, in which case you took their advice, and have found something nasty. No comeback on the surveyor then.
We had a huge bulge in the render at the front of the house which you couldn't miss, and a broken window lintel that was clearly in three pieces, neither was mentioned in the survey. When we complained we got a "re-survey" and a letter saying in very twisty lawyer-speak that they had no responsibility as the house was still worth what they valued it at, and they had mentioned that the render would need "future repair". We hadn't realised that "future" meant the day after you move in!!!!!
Your lender won't be interested either as the homebuyers survey is for you not them, they are only interested in the valuation, and if like us the value would still stand then they don't care.
Sorry, but I don't think you can do anything.0
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