Had a building survey done about a month ago on a house we’re looking to buy. Turns out there’s only one real issue which we’re addressing. So far fine. Just received the mortgage valuation report and it’s asking for both damp (no explanation as to why) and timber (signs of wood bore infestation) reports from a PCA member plus all recommended works to be carried out else retention kicks in.

Now surely the surveyor, who said there are no signs or damp nor any infestation or other timber-related issue, is liable to cover any investigations/works under his insurance?

Can’t find anything for or against this online hence opening up to the hive.

Any ideas? Ta

ow surely the surveyor, who said there are no signs or damp nor any infestation or other timber-related issue.

if you read the report carefully, it probably says no such thing.

If your surveyor has acted negligently then yes you may have recourse. That said it does somewhat depend on what level of building survey you had done and what caveats are in the survey they gave you.

Quite often a wood survey is a specialist item and your survey may have something along the lines of ‘We haven’t inspected the wood and therefore recommend a specialist wood survey).

Damp, without them specifying why they want one is difficult to comment on but again there may be a caveat about damp in your building survey.

Cheers

Danny B

if you read the report carefully, it probably says no such thing.

Here is the report reference:

I found no significant timber defects (active wood boring insect
infestation, serious wet or dry rot) in the property causing visible
damage or posing a risk. Condition Rating 1.

I found no significant dampness in the property causing visible damage or posing a risk. Condition Rating 1.

If your surveyor has acted negligently then yes you may have recourse. That said it does somewhat depend on what level of building survey you had done and what caveats are in the survey they gave you.

We had a building survey done, not a HBR etc.

Hence why I’d like to think the surveyor will cough up for any costs. After all, he is insured. If he found any signs then surely he’d have commented (to cover his ‘arris) and graded them Condition Rating 2.

If you feel he has negligently you need to complain to him or his firm. He / they will have professional indemnity insurance and it is for him / firm to notify their insurers.

You will effectively deal with him / the firm and they will respond on the instructions of their insurer (I am a professional indemnity underwriter BTW so know the process very well!).

It may be that he is right and can prove it of course and that the mortgage co has got it wrong but first point of call is the surveyor.

Why not ask the people who are asking for those reports why they want them, given that the surveyor has said that there isnt a problem.

Going and trying to get a surveyor to cough up is not going to do your blood pressure much good.

He / they will have professional indemnity insurance and it is for him / firm to notify their insurers.

My thoughts exactly. I don’t want to stiff him for the sake of it, but if the reports cost a few hundred quid and then there’s another bit of work on top then surely that’s what his II is for?

Why not ask the people who are asking for those reports why they want them, given that the surveyor has said that there isnt a problem.

Already done that this morning because the lender didn’t provide enough info. Apparently the valuer will give me a call to provide more info … who knows, I won’t hold my breath. These reports are often so vague, e.g in this case there’s not even a mention as to why they want a damp inspection, yet they demand you get them done.

Indeed – why would you be going after the surveyor?

He reported on a visual inspection. That is the limit of his responsibility.

If your lender requires more detailed destructive investigation then you need to check with them why a) they wont rely on a surveyor’s visual inspection and b) why they need a destructive assessment.

If they insist, then it’s up to you to bear the cost of the assessment unless you agree to split the costs with the lender (because you are buying a knackered old wooden frame house) or you change to a less twitchy lender (who dont care what it’s made of)

A surevyor is not an insurance policy.

The two things are independent surely.

Just because the mortgage company ask you to have the reports done doesn’t mean they’re asking because they think there’s an issue. They’re making you pay for them so that they have their backs covered should they ever need to repossess the property.

Ring them and tell them you’ve had a survey and can you submit those results to them. If they won’t accept that then I’d say you’ll have to cough up for the reports or move lender.