Building Survey Cost

[sparklesandmoresparkles]

We’ve in the process of buying a house and want to have a building survey done on it. We found out was that they had breached the planning permission on the extension they had built, and I don’t trust that they haven’t cut corners elsewhere.

We’re struggling to find a company that will actually do it (most only seem to do home buyers now), but the one we’ve found that does, wants to charge us £2k for it It’s a full day survey and 4 days to write up the report, but AIBU to think that’s extortionate? I’d read they would be about £600 so had it have been anywhere up to about £800 it would have been fine. But nearly 4 times that makes me reconsider! We’re in West Yorkshire if that makes a difference?

Paid £840 for building survey five years ago in North Yorks. Don't think it took a whole day and I wasn't that impressed with it.
This time paying about £1800 in Gloucestershire, which feels expensive. Two surveyors for the day with report a couple of days later. They said most opt for homebuyers for a house of the age we're buying but better safe than sorry. Prices have likely increased due to exceptional demand.

Ours was £1k about 10 years ago and about 300 pages. It was only the one surveyor but he was amazing and knew everything about the house and it got us £10k off so more than paid for itself.

I'ld be wary of proceeding if they've breached planning permission though maybe ask solicitors advice.

Mine was £700 + VAT = £840 in May this year 4-bed house semi-detached

I'm a building surveyor, charged out at £62/hour, so on that basis 5 days you've been advised would be £2480 + min 5% profit on top. However I'd question the time needed unless you are buying a very large property? I'd allow 1/2 day to survey, 1 day to write up, 1 day for any research into planning/building regs related issues, maybe an extra 1/2 for anything unexpected, so 3 days, so £1600 ish.

Forgot to mention I'm associate level, someone higher grade would be closer to £70/80 per hour, someone lower £40/50 per hour and obviously depends where you are?

It’s a 5 bed detached but not that big - it’s been extended from a 3 bed. It’s an upside down house so looks like a bungalow from the front and the bedrooms/bathrooms are downstairs. Value is under £350k.

This is probably totally outing for anyone that knows me, but the breach of planning was only putting in doors after the extension was built, when the permission had been granted for windows. So not a major breach, but definitely has given me cause for concern, hence the building survey rather than the home buyers one.

We have been sent a sample report which looks very comprehensive and the surveyors email style is very, very long and waffley! So I wonder if that’s part of the reason for the length of time to report If it’s the surveyor we’ve been liaising with, he is highly qualified so that may also go towards some of the costs? I’m in West Yorkshire.

Just be mindful that they often come back with lots of caveats about ‘might need’ and recommendations that you appoint specialists to look at potential problems (that may or may not exist). That can run into hundreds more outlay.

Can you post in your local towns Facebook group and ask for local recommendations?

Our report was so long that I had to phone surveyor and ask what he really thought needed doing and cost estimate and what price he thought was fair. That was a lot more use than the 300 page report which was full of caveats.

I think that’s what we’ll have to do gingerbreadfox I’ve also put in a request in a quote engine to see what that brings up given we’re struggling to find anyone who actually does it. Interestingly their benchmark was around £850 for that price point, so it will be interesting to see what comes back.

I’m sure we’ll be doing something similar KoalasandRabbits. We won’t be spending loads on additional specialists for things that might need doing, but I need to know the key things about damp, structural soundness etc.

@sparklesandmoresparkles That does sound pretty pricey, we just had a building survey done on a 5 bed detached in the South East for £800 + VAT. They spent 1/2 a day at the property and the report was pretty thorough.

We’ve just had a full structural survey done on Monday on a detached 3 bed. It cost £740- I’ve not had the report yet though!!

[quote Lilothblos]@sparklesandmoresparkles That does sound pretty pricey, we just had a building survey done on a 5 bed detached in the South East for £800 + VAT. They spent 1/2 a day at the property and the report was pretty thorough.[/quote]
@Lilothblos can I ask how long the report took before you received it? I’m hoping ours will be with us by Friday so we can peruse it this weekend. (Survey was done on Monday)

@Shadowboy we’ve just had a quote for the same amount so we’ve gone with that one, as it seems to be within the ballpark expected for that price point (rather than a very cheap option compared to most).

Thanks everyone for your input!

@Shadowboy we had the survey done on a Wednesday morning and received the report on the Friday afternoon the same week, so hopefully you’ll get yours by the end of the week!

I've had quotes this week in Hertfordshire. One place was £650 for homebuyers. The other was £375 for homebuyers and £625 for structural but recommended I just do the homebuyers. Went with them!

Did one last year. We live in London. 4 bedroom semi. Full building survey just under £1,000

We had a structural survey done in September on the 4-bed detached we’re (hopefully!) buying and they charged £900. We’re in the south east.