Survey - fire damage

[Alcesalces]

The surveyor has reported fire damage in the loft. We can find reports of a chimney fire on the right street 6 years ago. The current owner says he has no knowledge of a fire and the property was built by his uncle. We don't have the full report yet but the surveyor says everything in the loft is covered in soot. He's concerned that a beam is warped. But he also acknowledged it was very dark and he couldn't see clearly.

What happens next? Has anyone experienced fire damage and likely cost of fixing it?

I would walk away, sorry.

Get to the bottom of this, & be prepared to walk away unfortunately

How long has current owner been in the house? You are already in conveyencing, ask your solicitor to directly ask these questions as they are legally binding via a solicitor

that said, loft in my own place was covered in 'soot': no fire, just many decades of filth & coal dust. I'd be concerned about a warped beam as I expect most people would

Ask if any fires, any insurance claims etc - going back to date of purchase. If its less than 6 years I would walk away

(could it have been sold/transferred within the family to avoid disclosing any fire damage, as it was prior to prev owners time?)

Ask the surveyor why the f they didn't have a powerful torch with them- standard bit of kit- and would they like to go back, properly equipped, and finish the job you've paid them to do.

@Evidencebased I did think this too.

The house was built in the 70s by vendor's uncle. He inherited the property in 2018. He's been sorting it out since then which makes me wonder how he can't know about a soot covered loft. Solicitor is looking into insurance claims. We have found an article about a chimney fire on the right road in 2015. Obviously might not be the same house. We're going to see what the solicitor can find out.