Homebuyer Survey - worth it or not?

[Paper2002AD]

A friend had a Homebuyer Survey which failed to pick up some pretty dire shortcomings. The surveyor concerned (a member of the Institution of Chartered Surveyors) offered some compensation, but only on the basis of complete confidentiality. To me, that stinks, and the amount offered was in any case inadequate.

I have experience of excellent surveys that went way beyond the call of duty, but it appears that some properties are subjected to the most cursory of inspections under the name of Homebuyer Survey, costing hundreds of pounds.

Anyone have a story to tell?

[dg]

This type of survey is little more than a check-list for newer properties. If done by a crap surveyor, then results can be even worse.

Your friends problem is more likely to be related to the surveyor than the type of survey. In which case complaints should be made to his firm or the RICS - may come to nothing but may possibly stop other future clients getting a similar survey from that surveyor.

A client should have clear understanding of what will and wont be done for the price being paid - and the implications of the differing survey types - this should be stated in the confirmation of instruction.

The notion of 'RICS member = competent surveyor' is something that the homebuyer should blot out of their mind.

dg

[Al Reynolds]

Have they accepted the compensation?

Does it adequately compensate them for any loss they have suffered or costs which have been incurred by the poor survey? It sounds like not.

Also, are the defects which became apparent later ones which would never have been found by a non-destructive survey? (i.e. not removing wallpaper etc.)

If the answers are all no then they could consider legal action. If they have already accepted the compensation then there's very little they could do.

The important thing about the Homebuyer survey is that it is usually "non-destructive", so anything which couldn't have been seen without disturbing the fabric of the property is not covered. Usually there is a statement to this effect for any affected matters e.g. "the state of the plaster on the internal walls could not be verified because of the wallpaper; so we suspect they may be in poor condition..." etc.

In general, I think you need to find a surveyor you can trust, which will involve getting personal recommendations rather than just using the one your mortgage lender assigns.

Al

[Kenny of the Fells]

It's not necessarily a waste of money as long as the purchaser is aware that there may be major problems missed. Any problems it does turn up can be used to haggle over the purchase price. But beware (I learnt this the hard way) - if you do find major problems that you think the surveyor should have found, get an independent surveyor in - even if you have to pay a bit. Don't let the original surveyor's firm appear to agree with you while they "investigate", then turn round and refuse any compensation after you've made everything good and removed all traces of the problem...

KotF

[N. Thornton]

Search the ng archives and youll find talk of HB surveys talking about the gas installations in houses not on gas mains, not noticing 1930s lead wiring, etc etc etc.

NT

[John Woodhall]

Or like my parents surveyor who said the chimney was in need of pointing. But failed to notice that here was no chimney.

[Martin Angove]

The best advice I've heard on this matter was from this very ng (IIRC)

- find a trustworthy *local* builder and get him to take a look. The major problem of course is finding the builder unless you happen already to know one. While his "survey" won't be as legally binding as that of a registered surveyor, if there is no reason (e.g. mortgage company) for you to get a surveyor, the builder, who knows the area, may be your best bet. You'll get the best idea of what's going on if you can arrange to be at the property while the survey (whoever does it) is being carried out.

The other problem with surveyors is a direct result of their legal status - they tend to hedge their bets wherever possible saying things like "the wiring looks ok to me, but I'm not an electrician so I'd advise you to have the wiring checked." By the time you've had a sparky in to check the wiring, a plumber in to check the gas, a damp expert in to check the walls, a pest control expert to check the woodworm skins and a builder to check the tie-ing in of the extension it hardly seems worthwhile having had the surveyor in the first place.

Hwyl!

M.

[Paper2002AD]

Diolch yn fawr for that one!