Home buyers report, who to share it with

[notarehearsal]

Have had an offer on my house and just had a report completed on a house I'm wanting to buy. The owner of the house is a property developer and it has been indicated by his estate agent that he would be willing to look at any works that may need completing as he's currently having works done on the chimneys of the houses and a lot of the work that needs doing is roof stuff. Ive been emailed the report today and now wondering whether to email the whole report to the estate agent. I know it makes sense but I just feel a bit twitchy that I paid £600 for this, if I am to drop out of the purchase for whatever reason, the estate agent then has 'my' report which, I'm guessing she can 'pass on' to any future purchasers without it being sold to them by me iyswim. Can anyone advise please?

[notarehearsal]

Oh and rather than the seller 'would be willing' it was put to me that he 'may be willing'

[specialsubject]

there is often something on the front page of the report that says 'confidential' which means you shouldn't show it to anyone else.

so that's more the issue.

just send an email listing the issues flagged up by the surveyor in your own words.

[CheeseBadger]

But you wouldn't "lose" anything by giving the estate agent the report even if the sale fell through. That £600 is gone now either way. Other buyers would need to get new surveys done for their lenders.

When I bought the current place 5 years ago, I gave the homebuyer's report, the chartered structural engineer's report, the timber and damp survey and a builder's quote to the estate agent as part of a price renegotiation. Don't see any problem at all with it.

[notarehearsal]

Thanks, I'll email it to the estate agent then. At least it gives the seller something concrete to work on should he wish to sort out some of the work

[wowfudge]

I'd be wary - usually there is statement that only the person who ordered the report can rely on it, but more importantly I would want to know the work was being carried out correctly to building regs, etc. If there are things that need doing then it's a bargaining tool for you. It should be given away freely - scan and email the relevant paragraph if you must.

[notarehearsal]

Bugger, had sent the whole thing already. Good point about making sure work is carried out correctly. I'll get a builder to come and see with me and give me quotes for the work

[wowfudge]

Obviously I meant it shouldn't be given away freely!

[CheeseBadger]

I don't understand all the caution about this. The confidentiality statements are garbage. If you've paid for the report you can share it with whoever you like. And the vendor needs to know you're not just flying a kite - making up issues that don't exist with which to bargain.

[specialsubject]

you signed a contract with the surveyor when you ordered the survey, saying it was confidential.

facts. Uncomfortable stuff sometimes.

[TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams]

If you've paid for the report you can share it with whoever you like.

Er no you can't, not if the contract you signed says otherwise. Usually it can be shared with someone acting on your behalf [ie employed by you] either entirely or in part [sections copied]. You need to check the wording or get explicit consent in writing from the surveyor.

It certainly can't be "relied on" by another party so if the sale fell through and another buyer got a copy from the estate agent, they could not sue your surveyor for inaccuracies within the report. So it becomes a useful aide memoire but a new buyer would be wise to contract for their own survey and be at risk if they do not.

[CheeseBadger]

Speaking of awkward facts, my report explicity said "The report is provided for your use, and the surveyor cannot accept responsibility if it is used by anyone else".

Which is kind of what I was saying in my first post. Other buyers would still need their own surveys. But it's provided for my use. I don't understand why it would be a problem if I decided to use it to back up my argument in a renegotiation.

No confidentiality clause of any kind, by the way.