surveyors report

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nuttybud

Registered User
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Hi

Im in the process of buying an old hse which needs upgrading. Ive got back the surveyors report and its 8 pages long!

Most of it seems trivial eg. smoke alarms, new vents etc but for things like insulating the attic, am I to do it or do the sellor do it?

He recommended that I get someone in to look at the electrics & plumbing.The bank now want a report before it will go any further- Is this a standard practice?

(Its old fashioned wiring and plumbing but I plan on rewiring etc when I get in)
Is there a set report/ set tests/paragraph they are looking for? Can I just get any electrician (my brother) to say its sound and in working order?
He's qualified but has never done a "report" before.

Also there is a small extenstion (scullery 6ft x 3ft) to the rear of the property and the engineer has it noted on its report and has "provide architechs cert for single storey extenstion to rear". This must be around the same age or thereabouts of the orginaly house so is it not exempt? Do I have to get something from their solictor?

Could someone recommend a plumber to carry out a survey? Any dealings Ive had with plumbers etc are ppl doing nixers.

Ive posted this in both forums because im not sure which is more appropiate.

Thanks for your help.
 
nuttybud said:
...
Most of it seems trivial eg. smoke alarms, new vents etc but for things like insulating the attic, am I to do it or do the sellor do it?...
Click to expand...
You do it - it can be used as a tactic to reduce the asking price, apart from obvious safety and environmental / energy-saving considerations.
nuttybud said:
...
He recommended that I get someone in to look at the electrics & plumbing.The bank now want a report before it will go any further- Is this a standard practice?

(Its old fashioned wiring and plumbing but I plan on rewiring etc when I get in)
Is there a set report/ set tests/paragraph they are looking for? Can I just get any electrician (my brother) to say its sound and in working order?
He's qualified but has never done a "report" before.
...
Click to expand...
IMHO, this is what you paid the surveyor to do - what is his / her opinion as expressed in the report of the state of the electrics / plumbing?

If you want / need to re-wire, why would you want a report that says they are OK?

Why not use this additional report as bargaining power if you plan on going to the time trouble and expense of rewiring? Again, IMHO, you want an independent report that says its going to cost to bring it up to modern standards.

nuttybud said:
...
Also there is a small extenstion (scullery 6ft x 3ft) to the rear of the property and the engineer has it noted on its report and has "provide architechs cert for single storey extenstion to rear". This must be around the same age or thereabouts of the orginaly house so is it not exempt? Do I have to get something from their solictor?
...
Click to expand...
If your surveyor says a "compliance cert" is needed then it is up to the vendor to supply this via an architect / engineer, confirming compliance with the local planning regs. The decision as to whether it is exempt or not is up to the local planning authority. If a retention certificate is required, it is up to the vendor to supply and pay for same, otherwise lenders will not approve a mortgage.
 
I had a problem with an old property, long engineers/surveyor's report, but I never let the bank see it, the bank's valuer mentioned something about it being quite (very) an old house to the bank and they rang me and I said I had relations in trade who had looked at the house for me and they would be doing the work etc to bring it up to standard, try negotiating with the bank mentioning your brother will be doing the work etc, it will go easier on you if you know what you are talking about. Don't understand though why you need another report if you already have one. Seems the surveyor is trying to say he's not qualified to deal in electrics/plumbing.
 
thanks for replies
Yes- I thought the surveyors report covered all of that too but apparently they just give an overview re elec/plumbing and now Ive to get a qualified person to do a detailed inspection aswell because its so old? Ive been in the house and the lights work etc?
This is the bank's surveyor.

There was also another line saying that they couldnt get into attic and it was inaccessible or something like that. What do I do there? What if there is a problem in the attic?

Im unsure about it myself. I havent said anything to the bank that I intend to rewire it etc so I assume this is why they want an inspection?

What do I do next?
 
Hi.
My question has some similarities as the OP.
Surveyors report says that there is
* a small wood worm problem in the attic joists (he thinks it might have been brought in as there is some plywood being stored there). He said that is needs treatment.
* the attic isn't insulated and needs doing.
* the wiring is dated and he recommends rewiring

I was wondering if we should considering trying to renegotiate with the vendors in order to get this seen to by them rather than us.

There are a few other items that we took into account when negotiating the cost of the property initially - i.e. getting rid of the very very dated gas fire, modernising the kitchen (possibly extending) and replacing the single glazed windows and windows.

SO are the above items negligable or would you negotiate hard? Any thoughts?
 
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