Survey results

[afrikat]

We are getting close to exchange on a great house, we are in a 4 house chain. The top of the chain is totally ready. Our buyers are almost there. Our purchase was pretty much sorted. We then realised we'd forgotten to sort a proper survey - the mortgage company did a basic one and didn't offer an upgrade and it had completely slipped our mind to sort it out. We got the survey done on Monday with the hope nothing significant would be found but its just come back with two major concerns, one around an unsupported former chimney and another about the boiler flue not complying with regulations.

What now?? It could be weeks before we can get quotes for how much this would be to sort out. Should be ask for a reduction in price with a guesstimate of how much the works will cost? Delay for a few weeks to get quotes (the top of the chain is chasing daily so would be v unhappy)? Suck it up because we left it so late?

I don’t think you should worry too much about the boiler flue, that won’t be a huge job. What’s the concern about the unsupported chimney? Is it definitely a problem or something that needs further investigation to check whether there’s a problem?

Thanks Bit. It states that the chimney does not comply with building regs and needs proper gallows brackets or there is a risk of collapse

Neither of those sound major.

Given how late in the day it is, I'd expect the seller to be pissed off if you try and negotiate a reduction in the price at this stage. I'd certainly assume you were acting in bad faith and trying to use the time pressure to put me over a barrel. It would make me very reluctant to negotiate with you.

Have you asked a structural engineer to come and have a look? It doesn’t sound like a massive job but it will be easier to get a quote if you have calculations.

Cohle I agree about being too late for negotiations, I've had a check online and don't think they will cost too much so just going to go ahead and sort once we are in. Ta

So the people living there are in danger from the boiler flue?
Rubbish.

As to the chimney, it's not enough to start all the bad feeling which will come from messing about with your offer price.

Heaven save us from petty, arse-covering surveyors.

No one knows if the chimney is a serious issue or not. The surveyor is right to raise it. Some things surveyors mention are not important but others are. It’s not arse covering to state that a chimney needs correcting in order to be safe.

When I get my gas boiler serviced, the flue is checked and we have had it altered to comply. It’s not a big job and if the owners ignored advice or never had the boiler serviced, then they lived with it. Their choice but not wrong that the surveyor picked it up. It’s what you paid for.

In your circumstances, just get on with the purchase! It’s not worth falling out over.