Anyone willing to share survey details?

[LulaK]

We're looking to buy a 150yo property. Level 3 survey has been pretty scary, lots identified that needs doing. We know it needs love, it was a rental for 10y then empty all winter.

How do we tell if this property is a massive money pit, or if the surveyor is just pointing out every single thing to cover themselves? Eg one of the "red flags" is only "we couldn't see the gas safe certificate for the boiler", but one was "the attic bedroom floors might not have enough support". How do we tell what is a real issue? Anyone got examples of a terrifying survey on a property that was actually fine, to reassure us? Thanks...

Edited to add: the headline of the survey is "requires a number of general repairs" not "is too dangerous to live in".

Red flags that are along the lines of "we couldn't check this"

are usually not red flags.

Lots of stuff they cannot check.

Look for what actual issues they found.

Thank you, yes. The issue is it's all maybes. The attic floor might not have enough support. There is quite a lot of damp - but it's an old house that's been closed and empty all winter. Uneven living room floor "may mean suspended floor is sagging". I guess we'll have to pay out more money to get a builder consult and estimate what it might cost? People have been living there fine, we just have to find a way to decide if it's too much risk to take, or if this is all perfectly normal for a house of that age.

Have you had a phone call with your surveyor to go over the results?

Would that help? We've got a 109-page report, I can't imagine they have much else to say. They're not to going to be able to say "actually it's all fine". They'll presumably tell us, as per the report, to seek advice from builders/plumbers/electricians.

To compare we had a terrible survey for a house that looks like its about to get condemned by the council. Basically everything flagged, we knew it needed the roof doing but other than that it had looked visually and cosmetically fine.

The red 'immediate' fixes where:

• chimney stacks
• roof covering
• rainwater goods
• walls
• joinery
• concrete ground

The survey started:

'This property has not been maintained over the years with numerous issues needing immediate attention. ingress of water is now damaging internal structure, issues such as walls not being plumb and floors not being level require attention. We would therefore recommend seeking further advice from a Structural Engineer.'

The survey ended:

'Health and safety advice:
Structural movement:
Structural movement was noted to inside and outside walls. Structural movement was also noted to floors.
Flooding:

HIGH risk of flooding within 15m radius of the property.
HIGH - means +3.3% likelihood of flooding within 15m radius of the property.'

We did not buy it and 2 years later and ground subsidence has just hit that area and the street is now closed off as part of the road collapsed.

All surveys will says gas and electrics not checked, that means nothing. I think you should ask about the attic, is it boiler plate to cover their ass because they couldn't lift the floor or have they noticed bowing or movement etc...

I had my boiler serviced and the gas certificate issued back in October. I must have sent copies to at least four people on the buyer's side. It was referred to in the property information form, too, with the date given.

It still came up as an issue in the survey and the buyer went into a spin. I ended up sending it to him yet again via the EA, along with ten years' servicing details.

It's frustrating.

Oh and the surveyor claimed there was a high risk of flooding to the house, which was completely untrue and easily proved so by linking to the official gov-uk flood risk page.

We had a structural survey done concentrating on one particular issue (drains) that had caused the concrete pad to drop. Surveyor explained, gave detailed description of how to remediate (fix drains and dry out, then remove and replace concrete to building regs) and gave us an estimate of costs.
He then spoke to DH and said once you've fixed the leak and let it dry out, you'll be able to sort it with self levelling compound.

150 year old solid wall house, unloved and unmaintained with damp identified? Yes, it’s going to be a money pit.
If the attic rooms are original, then they’ve been up 150 years, most likely ok. If it’s a conversion, he may have a point.
Sagging floor? Usually technically not that difficult to resolve, and a good opportunity to insulate.
What is the EPC? What does the report say about damp and the cause?

I’ve found phone calls with surveyors really helpful as they will express opinions they won’t put in writing, including on how much to worry about things and whether they’d advise you to buy the house or walk away.

I agree. It's always helpful to actually talk to the surveyor afterwards.

Thank you, all, this is all hugely helpful. I shall ring the surveyor in the morning, and see if I can get a builder to visit again with me and quote us for the stuff that needs doing.