Unprofessional Surveyor (Deeply Worried) :(

[SurveyorProblems]

Hi lovely Mumsnetters,
First-time poster, but long-term lurker :)

Sorry to bother you all just before Christmas, but I am desperate for some wisdom and advice and I thought AIBU might be the best place for support. :(

A few weeks ago, we asked a surveyor to do a Level 3 Building Survey for a property we would like to purchase. We have just received the completed report from him and the quality of the report is shocking.

As first-time buyers we didn't know what to expect really. So we spoke to friends and looked at examples of Level 3 surveys online.
Unfortunately, the quality of the report he has sent to us is shocking.

For example, he has misspelt our names (not a big issue in itself), but also there are numerous spelling errors across the whole report (including sections/descriptions which do not make any grammatical sense at all).

More concerningly, he boasted of taking lots of photographs.
However, the attached photos are of very low quality. The images are extremely blurry and sometimes it is impossible to determine what exact issue is being highlighted here. (Think taking a picture of the boiler from a weird angle and in bad lighting - so bad it is impossible to read the model).

He has requested that we pay him £700 for this report.
We are not sure if we are being unreasonable with our concerns. So any advice is really appreciated.

I would be happy to attach some sections which highlight the poor quality.

@Peas252 - if you re-read my prior comments I did not instruct the gentleman (my relative did). Unfortunately, I wasn't around to advise as I had suspected pneumonia :( I have just recovered and now this.

Thank you dear @Clymene
I agree that I am on thin ground as he hasn't really misrepresented himself. I suspected he just took advantage of my relative's naivety and unfamiliarity of the system.
As mentioned before, we are first-time buyers and relative is not from the UK. :(

I just googled the gentleman and it has made me feel a 100% worse.
There is an article in our local newspaper about him - 2.5 years ago, he was taken to court my his neighbours for causing damage to their property. Think along the lines of causing such mess that pest control had to be called.
So I am actually really worried about what he will do if we complain :(

I think you need legal advice.

Do you have cover through your house insurance or union membership etc?

The guy sounds like a total chancer. Basically pulling the wool over peoples eyes and letting them presume his work is legit when it’s actually worthless.

It’s like asking a car valetar to do a pre-mot. There no point if he’s not correctly qualified to advise on things. And if he only told you after the event that he wasn’t an mot’er you’d be well pissed off as if he’d told you that prior you’d have gone elsewhere.

Legal advice reqd.

@Elieza
Thanks a lot for your message.
Yes I have access to legal advice and I shall be reaching out on Monday.
So far the advice appears to be to speak to RIBA about his unprofessional behaviour as he states that he is registered with them.
Whilst I may not be able to accuse him of misleading us intentionally, I might be able to argue in terms of consumer rights - after all, objectively speaking the service provided is shockingly poor.

We had 97 pages in 2019 for a London surveyor at the same price. Something doesn't sound right.

Sorry have just seen your follow up messages. Yup sounds like a chancer. Get some legal advice even if you start with citizens advice in the first instance. Good luck and hope your purchase works out.

There are reasonable grounds to think he is not up to the job he was instructed to do, so don't pay him.
Spelling and content of the report is important but getting the right site map is fundamental. The photo is rubbish.
But you sound like you are anticipating a backlash from him if you don't pay.

Don't pay a penny. His lack of Christmas money is not your problem. You have been misled.

You need to be able to chase him up in the future if there was, for example, subsidence. His error in the report means you could make a claim.
Is he genuine with all of his insurance in place.

Do not pay his invoice until you have reviewed the issues with him.

As an engineering surveyor myself, there is absolutely no excuse for poor grammar, spelling mistakes and dodgy formatting on a final issue report. Certainly been rushed for a quick invoice before Christmas.

You need to review the limitations or exclusions of the report, as I suspect he will have covered himself if it goes legal. Did you get a full / formal quotation from him? Scope of works etc?

You don’t have to pay.
If he hasn’t carried out a proper inspection and filled in a false document he has broken the law. Doesn’t matter who he said he is. He was asked to do a survey he is t qualified to do.
Surveys can save your life, that’s the point, the surveyor checks the property is safe.

Ia he registered with RICS or not?
His name isn't John is it?

Ask him for a copy of his Professional Indemnity policy too as he may not be covered if he is not actually qualified to do surveys.

[quote SurveyorProblems]@DynamiteFilledRadish
@SummerWhisper

Thanks so much for your messages, guys.
He is an independent surveyor so not attached to any company (works as a sole trader), but he does have an RICS no.
I have arranged to speak to him on Monday regarding some of the issues I have had with his report.
I explained the issue with the photos and he has emailed back a sob story about how he needs the money as Christmas has been cancelled now at his house and he has recently spent a lot of money on electrical repairs...
Attached is an example of the quality of the photographs we have received.[/quote]
The sob story about needing money is a massive red flag! Do not pay him. He’s not even a surveyor, he’s an architect. Are you going to put your purchase of A HOUSE, tens of thousands of pounds, the biggest purchase of your life in the hands of an amateur AND pay £800 for the privilege? Give your head a shake, tell him you’re not happy, you’re not paying, and move on.

It’s your own fault for not doing your homework properly and finding someone reputable, but that’s done, don’t compound your mistake now by wasting time and effort trying to massage a decent report out of him, move on and find a competent professional!

HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds even!

Honestly I would pay him and chalk it up to experience. Being a homeowner requires a lot of due diligence as the money involved can be significant.

[quote SurveyorProblems]@Peas252 - if you re-read my prior comments I did not instruct the gentleman (my relative did). Unfortunately, I wasn't around to advise as I had suspected pneumonia :( I have just recovered and now this.

Thank you dear @Clymene
I agree that I am on thin ground as he hasn't really misrepresented himself. I suspected he just took advantage of my relative's naivety and unfamiliarity of the system.
As mentioned before, we are first-time buyers and relative is not from the UK. :(

I just googled the gentleman and it has made me feel a 100% worse.
There is an article in our local newspaper about him - 2.5 years ago, he was taken to court my his neighbours for causing damage to their property. Think along the lines of causing such mess that pest control had to be called.
So I am actually really worried about what he will do if we complain :([/quote]
Look, fuck all that, the fact is he sounds like a chancer. Sounds like the issue with his neighbours was caused by his evident incompetence/unprofessionalism. It’s up to you whether you take it up with his professional associations, but at the least tell him you’re not happy and not paying, if he chases you for the money (doubtful) ignore until the small claims court (again doubtful) where you will certainly win. Also if you’re inexperienced, seek recommendations/advice from estate agents/solicitors/mortgage brokers.

I think his “report” is worthless.

Not sure if you have any recourse

Check the ARB website. I doubt he’s even an architect.

@lilythemink
Honestly I would pay him and chalk it up to experience. Being a homeowner requires a lot of due diligence as the money involved can be significant.

Why on earth would you hand over £700 to someone who has done a crap job and is clearly trying to rip the op off.
Jeez it will just encourage him to try and take advantage of more people.
Don’t pay he doesn’t deserve it.

He is not legitimate and l think you have grounds to say he is a con man. Contact solicitor and governing bodies for advice. I don't think you have to pay for a service that has not been delivered. 'I lived here for 35 years is not a qualification.'

Might be one for Trading Standards if he is advertising doing building surveys- with double checking the wording on his website?

I explained the issue with the photos and he has emailed back a sob story about how he needs the money as Christmas has been cancelled now at his house and he has recently spent a lot of money on electrical repairs...

What a consummate professional he is!

Don't pay.
Tell his his report is substandard & not a trustworthy vehicle to base your house spend of several £100k on.
Get in touch with RICS, tell them about the shocking quality of the report & his unprofessional response.

If you want to buy this house, FFS stump up for another surveyor. Or better yet, get a highly recommended & very experienced local builder to survey for you.

@SurveyorProblems

He also added the location plan for an entirely different property to the report... So I am not exactly convinced he is very detail orientated.

There you go. 100% reason not to pay. He can't even be relied on to locate the property, let alone survey it satisfactorily.

Can I ask before you do anything, what report was it that was actually requested? And when your relative put the 'wanted' ad up, what did they ask for?

For all we know, he did what was advertised and requested.

It might be worth paying a proper RICS building surveyor for an hour of their time and get them to list what they would expect to include in such a survey and the cost, and how your report fails. They may even do it for free if they get the follow-up work.

A RICS member (I am one myself) wouldn't want their profession being brought into disrepute, even indirectly by someone implying they are chartered/qualified/capable when they aren't.

Then refuse to pay this chancer. You have evidence to support that action in the unlikely event he tries to sue you.