Structural Engineers report is flawed, house bought What Next??

[Frank1]

Hello there,



I bought a second hand house and to be sure what I was buying I got a structural engineer to have a look,the house was bought and now the about 4 months on we are having problems.

In the report all seemed fine but I was getting a patio door installed and low and behold , I’m told the that the flat roof is Knackered and need a new roof,

The patio door was to replace an existing back door which had water coming through it at the ceiling ,the house is 15 years old,

So where do I stand, cut my losses and get roof repaired or take on the Engineers in court??



Regards Frank

 

[ajapale]

What did the structural engineers report say? Specifically what did it say about the roof and windows?

aj

 

[MHSpurs]

Hi

What exactly is the problem? is the structure about to collapse? has the joists/rafters sagged or deflected excessively? Or is it that there are leaks in the covering?

Structural surveys are normally carried out under the following conditions:

(a) Visual inspection only
(b) Reports do not cover defects that were masked at the timne of the inspection.
(c) The report comments on the general structural integrity of the property and not servicability ie weather proofing, insulation etc.

Most reports state these as conditions of the survey.

So basically if the defect was there at the time and was clearly visible and is of a structural nature, then you may have some grounds.

However, if you can not prove that it was visible then you are unlikely to win any action that you may take.

Check also if the report states that the survey is purely a comment on the 'general structural condition' of the property. If so, what you paid for is a structural opinion on the general condition. Not a detailed structural survey of the structural fabric (this would have cost a couple of grand and involved pulling off plasterboard, lifting joists etc).

Getting an engineer to look at a house is similar to getting a mechanic to look at a car. It is unlikely that a mechanic will stand over every component of the vehicle. What he is providing is a general opinion.

Finally, get a second opinion on the problem. Perhaps the roof is not beyond repair!