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Original poster

Buyer wants a survey of our new build flat- need to worry?

27 replies

cheasypeasypie · 11/03/2022 12:50

Hi all, hoping you could put my mind at ease. We moved into a new build flat 6 years ago. The whole building (3 storeys) is still within the 10 year new build guarantee/warranty period. Our buyer (FTB) has recently booked for a homebuyers survey of our 2 bed flat that just doesn't make sense to me and I'm panicking (we've been gazumped, gazundered so many times that I'm dreading what comes next). There's the usual wear and tear in our flat from everyday living but nothing major to worry about. I wonder what the homebuyers report will say? Maybe the buyer is using this as a convenient excuse to pull out? Our building conforms to all recent safety legislations so there's no cladding issues, etc. Reassurance needed please.

OP posts:
WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe · 11/03/2022 12:56

Seems like a perfectly reasonable thing to do IMO you’re over thinking it

SatinHeart · 11/03/2022 13:01

We got a homebuyer report done on a 4 year old house. It didn't really throw up anything but we were FTB, spending a lot of money and very inexperienced with houses so it was a nice reassurance for us.

The 10 year NHBC warranty doesn't cover all the things a survey looks at so it's not that strange to get a survey done.

Duracellbunnywannabe · 11/03/2022 13:02

Very sensible. I wouldn’t buy a property without a survey.

throughtheair · 11/03/2022 13:04

I wouldn't buy without a survey!

Thursday37 · 11/03/2022 13:08

Our 3.5 year old warrantied home has just had a homebuyers survey by our buyers, perfectly normal thing to do.

Original poster
cheasypeasypie · 11/03/2022 13:21

Thank you all. My previous experiences are clearly clouding my judgement in all this. I just thought people would be keen to save money where they can. I don't think I would pay for a survey on a new build that was still within warranty but maybe that's just me.

OP posts:
Smallinthesmoke · 11/03/2022 13:23

It's the opposite really- they are paying to find out more about your property. I would see it as a sign of commitment.

CasperGutman · 11/03/2022 13:26

I'm not sure I'd pay for a survey on a leasehold flat which was also a new build within the warranty, but you're not selling to me! It's not an inherently daft thing to do.

If your buyer wanted to pull out they could do so any time they wanted. It would make no sense at all for them to pay hundreds of pounds for a survey to give them an excuse to do what they're perfectly entitled to do any time on a whim anyway!

MartinMartinMarti · 11/03/2022 13:27

I’d question a buyer’s commitment (and sanity) if they didn’t do it.

They probably see it as a potential cost saving. If it flags a problem, they can either negotiate on price or pull out. Obviously that’s not what you want them to do, but it’s a no-brainer for them.

Knowing the shoddy way lots of new houses are built, there is no way I’d skip one.

DaffodilDandilion · 11/03/2022 13:28

You’re buyers surely wouldn’t spend the many hundreds of pounds a survey costs as an excuse to pull out? If the building is sound you've nothing to worry about!

Blossom64265 · 11/03/2022 13:29

I would question the sincerity of a buyer who wasn’t getting a survey, not the reverse.

SheWoreYellow · 11/03/2022 13:30

They could just pull out if they want. They don’t need to spend hundreds of pounds on a survey to justify it.

vickyc90 · 11/03/2022 13:31

I think it depends on your assessment and appetite for risk. I recently got flamed for saying indemnity insurance on offer now is great! Personally I wouldn't bother (we haven't on a renovation project as it was already a good buy) but it seems like a lot of MN need the reassurance of ticking the boxes.

I would take it on the chin and be prepared to say no if they come looking for silly money off. Our buyers did the same but they didn't ask for any money off which to be seemed a waste of money paying for the survey.

Toddlerteaplease · 11/03/2022 13:32

I'd rented my house for ten years before I bought it. I still got a survey!

MargotEmin · 11/03/2022 13:32

I just thought people would be keen to save money where they can.

Not on the biggest purchase they are likely to have ever made, no.

I wouldn't have a full structural survey on Leasehold or new build flat (not even sure if that's possible). But I would one million per cent get a Homebuyers Survey - especially with some of the shoddy new builds around today.

RealRaymondReddington · 11/03/2022 13:34

Some mortgage providers also make it a requirement to have a survey.

FavouriteFortnight · 11/03/2022 13:36

@Smallinthesmoke

It's the opposite really- they are paying to find out more about your property. I would see it as a sign of commitment.
Yes this
WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe · 11/03/2022 13:41

Given the way most new builds are slammed together I would definitely have a survey done!

MarinoRoyale · 11/03/2022 13:48

I wouldn’t buy without a survey, they have no way of knowing if you’ve done something dodgy since it was built (bodged some electrics, removed a load bearing wall, have a damp problem etc). Take it as a sign they’re serious!

TheTeenageYears · 11/03/2022 14:05

Have you tried to get anything done under the 10 year warranty? We've bought a couple of new properties over the years and getting the snagging done by the builders was horrendous. I'm sure some people just give up and therefore a survey might reveal some issues. Just because it's a new build doesn't mean it's been well built and free from issues - a survey is very sensible in any and all circumstances.

Lilac57 · 11/03/2022 14:07

You’d be a fool not to get a survey done on a property you were buying. Even if it is under warranty, who wants the hassle of dealing with nasty surprises? It’s a sign they’re a serious buyer IMO.

Orangesox · 11/03/2022 14:32

@cheasypeasypie

Thank you all. My previous experiences are clearly clouding my judgement in all this. I just thought people would be keen to save money where they can. I don't think I would pay for a survey on a new build that was still within warranty but maybe that's just me.
Then you've clearly never had to claim on the NHBC or LABC warranty Wink. It's not like a manufacturer's warranty on a car or a TV, and is barely worth the paper it's printed on unless there are MAJOR structural issues that can't be attributed to acts of god, changes in the wind direction, and any other such silly clause that they'll find.

There's not a chance in hell that I would buy a house of any age without at least a homebuyers survey, it's a sign to me that they're serious about the investment that they're hoping to make on your property (and in many cases, can be a condition of their lender to release the funds regardless).

HomeHomeInTheRange · 11/03/2022 17:04

Perfectly normal!

They are about to spend the most money in their life on your flat, it would be mad not to do it. Plus their mortgage provider probably demands it.

TheLette · 11/03/2022 19:25

I've done a survey on a totally brand new house before. Actually quite a lot of risk for a house that's never been lived in. Need to check it's been built to appropriate building standards and that everything is set up right (survey may not roofing / wiring / plumbing issues) given that no one has tested it out in practice.

NeedAHoliday2021 · 11/03/2022 19:43

We did a survey on a 4 year old house. The first few years are where structural issues crop up and ime solicitors advise it. It’s not expensive in the scheme of moving.