Hi everyone,
Me and my partner are first time buyers and have just had a survey done on the property we’re hoping to buy. Results are quite promising considering the age of the property, the only issue we may have found is with the roof/chimneys.
We have found the process relatively straightforward so far, but we’re stuck as to whether to negotiate as we have no idea what is reasonable and what isn’t! So just looking for opinions really on whether it is worth negotiating based on the following:
- Weathered and recessed mortar beds and areas of vegetation to be growing in the masonry of 3 redundant chimney stacks. The surveyor advised repointing and masonry repairs to be undertaken in the short term. The surveyor also said “you should anticipate areas of the lead flashing, which is in place between the roof covering and the chimney stack, to be redressed in areas.”
- Several slipped, damaged, or cracked roof tiles need refixing in the short term.
- There are some sections of cracked and broke away mortar noted on the mortared fillets between our roof and the neighbouring roof, which surveyor recommended to be “detailed and made good”.
- The are further slipped and damaged roof tiles noted on the lean-to roof covering at the building. Surveyor recommends these should be replaced at the time of works to the main roof covering. In the same area, ridge tiles are bedded into the mortar, to the surveyor says to anticipate these tiles to need repointing and re-bedding.
As I’ve said, we really don’t know whether it is reasonable or not to ask for a negotiation on price (or ask for work to be done before we exchange and complete, if the seller prefer). So honest feedback would be really helpful here :) Thank you!