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Original poster

Friend of acquaintance wants surveys

211 replies

kirinm · 22/12/2025 10:18

We were buying a house and spent about £3k on surveys - we pulled out after 6 months after being strung along with probate and there being quite major structural issues.

The house is big and in a very popular area so it’s had a lot of interest since although I understand the later sale failed too - I expect because of the surveys. It is a very obvious wreck and it was always going to be a back to brick type of place. The structural issues are harder to spot and were identified on the survey - so we ended up paying for a structural engineer and drain survey which is why they all ended up costing so much.

Anyway, acquaintance contacted me to say her friend was looking at buying it and would she mind if I spoke to her. Before I’d responded said person contacted me. I explained very briefly that it’s a house that they should do lots of surveys on and check they have the money to fix the issues that they can’t see.

Next day - can we see your survey before we make an offer. I didn’t respond as I was busy and had work events.

Next day - sorry to pester but can I see the survey asap. i assume you have no use for them now.

Cheeky or not cheeky?

OP posts:
TonTonMacoute · 22/12/2025 10:39

I would imagine that no lender would accept a second hand survey, so if they are considering borrowing any money to buy the wreck they would have to get their own survey done anyway.

As PPs have pointed out, I don't think it would give them the same protection as their own commissioned survey, so it would be useful to them for information only.

DitsyDaisyDelia · 22/12/2025 10:41

Moonflower12 · 22/12/2025 10:38

You could claim you’ve been looking for them? But unfortunately you seem to have cleared them out ( of your inbox/loft) as you weren’t going to proceed with the purchase, so they were no longer any use.

Yes - OP’s hard drive crashed and the survey was irrecoverable.

JustMyView13 · 22/12/2025 10:44

The survey will state at the front who it is prepared for. This person will have no recourse using an out of date survey, prepared for someone that isn’t them.

CuriousKangaroo · 22/12/2025 10:44

Are you sure you are even allowed to give them your surveys? I’m sure our surveyor had a clause setting out that the report could not be shared with anyone without his express permission. It’s to do with legal liability. The prospective buyers are not just being cheeky, but extremely foolhardy to rely on a survey where there is nothing they can do if the survey is wrong.

Daygloboo · 22/12/2025 10:44

kirinm · 22/12/2025 10:18

We were buying a house and spent about £3k on surveys - we pulled out after 6 months after being strung along with probate and there being quite major structural issues.

The house is big and in a very popular area so it’s had a lot of interest since although I understand the later sale failed too - I expect because of the surveys. It is a very obvious wreck and it was always going to be a back to brick type of place. The structural issues are harder to spot and were identified on the survey - so we ended up paying for a structural engineer and drain survey which is why they all ended up costing so much.

Anyway, acquaintance contacted me to say her friend was looking at buying it and would she mind if I spoke to her. Before I’d responded said person contacted me. I explained very briefly that it’s a house that they should do lots of surveys on and check they have the money to fix the issues that they can’t see.

Next day - can we see your survey before we make an offer. I didn’t respond as I was busy and had work events.

Next day - sorry to pester but can I see the survey asap. i assume you have no use for them now.

Cheeky or not cheeky?

Entirely off the point and ranty but......I think the whole survey thing is a massive rip off. There should be a survey and everyone can see it instead of surveyors making money over and over. Just like estate agents and solicitors., and ridiculoudly inflated rents and house prices..........we're all being massively ripped off in this country. The whole industry is taking the piss.....You dont get all this house crap in other successful western european countries.

Flowerslamp · 22/12/2025 10:45

It is a bit cheeky, but also why wouldn't you?

You don't have any use for them now, the money is gone whether you pass it on or not. I might suggest a chair table donation would be nice, but I wouldn't follow up to make sure it was done.

I'm happy to do a favour when it's convenient. I find that although they might not come back directly, they do come back, and if you're someone who does favours easily, it's easy to ask for one when you need one.

Flowerslamp · 22/12/2025 10:47

JustMyView13 · 22/12/2025 10:44

The survey will state at the front who it is prepared for. This person will have no recourse using an out of date survey, prepared for someone that isn’t them.

No but it would help inform the decision as to whether to proceed and arrange their own surveys.

OldandTired66 · 22/12/2025 10:49

There’s probably a clause in your survey that they are not to be shared, so be careful.

Original poster
kirinm · 22/12/2025 10:53

Icouldwriteabookonmydisastrouslife · 22/12/2025 10:32

I would be worried about the complications if anything was to go wrong if they bought the property. The surveyors contract is with you not anyone else . What if they try to sue the surveyors and their insurance won’t pay out it could fall on your shoulders . I would direct them to the surveyors personally to cover your own skin .

It’s like buying something and photocopying it and giving it to someone else .

I also wouldn’t have given it to anyone without checking with the surveyor. I think technically it is ours but he prepared it for us and I wouldn’t want to cause him any difficulties,

OP posts:
HereforonedayonlytoavoidStrangerThingsspoilers · 22/12/2025 10:55

Has she seen your message yet, @kirinm?

Original poster
kirinm · 22/12/2025 10:55

Daygloboo · 22/12/2025 10:44

Entirely off the point and ranty but......I think the whole survey thing is a massive rip off. There should be a survey and everyone can see it instead of surveyors making money over and over. Just like estate agents and solicitors., and ridiculoudly inflated rents and house prices..........we're all being massively ripped off in this country. The whole industry is taking the piss.....You dont get all this house crap in other successful western european countries.

Show quote history

The thing is, if the seller had to produce a survey, would you totally trust it?

Property law in this country and house buying is archaic and a nightmare but I still think id want somebody independent to survey a house for me.

OP posts:
DitsyDaisyDelia · 22/12/2025 10:57

HereforonedayonlytoavoidStrangerThingsspoilers · 22/12/2025 10:31

That's a really good point!

Show quote history

I used the same surveyor twice - new area, he had knowledge of local building materials etc. As well as the typed surveys he talked me through them on the phone. When the second vendor tried to rush me I told the surveyor to take his time because the searches weren’t back and he expressed concern that the vendor was trying to bully me. I did share the searches with the new buyer but the surveyor was self-employed and I thought he deserved to make a living.

Original poster
kirinm · 22/12/2025 10:57

Flowerslamp · 22/12/2025 10:45

It is a bit cheeky, but also why wouldn't you?

You don't have any use for them now, the money is gone whether you pass it on or not. I might suggest a chair table donation would be nice, but I wouldn't follow up to make sure it was done.

I'm happy to do a favour when it's convenient. I find that although they might not come back directly, they do come back, and if you're someone who does favours easily, it's easy to ask for one when you need one.

People sell things they no longer want or need all the time though. I might not need my car anymore as I’m getting a new one but should I just give it away? (I’m not getting a new car, it’s just an example)!

OP posts:
blobby10 · 22/12/2025 10:59

This happened to me - I told them I would be happy to forward the survey on receipt of £500 Grin. The survey had cost twice that but funnily enough they didn't come back to me again.

HappyFace2025 · 22/12/2025 10:59

Autumvibes · 22/12/2025 10:27

Why wouldn’t you?

Because it cost OP £3k? These CF prospective buyers appear to think they can have the surveys for free.

WildLeader · 22/12/2025 10:59

kirinm · 22/12/2025 10:33

You’d give things to a stranger?

Fancy giving me your survey then?!

Show quote history

If I had no use for the survey, why wouldn’t I give it away, with the proviso that they don’t take legal action against a surveyor they hadn’t contacted directly

I see it like i would a car park ticket, if there is time left on it, fill your boots. It’s no use to me anymore

BadgernTheGarden · 22/12/2025 11:00

If they rely on your surveys they may be back saying you caused them to buy a pile of problems. Say you binned them when the sale fell through.

AngelicKaty · 22/12/2025 11:00

kirinm · 22/12/2025 10:18

We were buying a house and spent about £3k on surveys - we pulled out after 6 months after being strung along with probate and there being quite major structural issues.

The house is big and in a very popular area so it’s had a lot of interest since although I understand the later sale failed too - I expect because of the surveys. It is a very obvious wreck and it was always going to be a back to brick type of place. The structural issues are harder to spot and were identified on the survey - so we ended up paying for a structural engineer and drain survey which is why they all ended up costing so much.

Anyway, acquaintance contacted me to say her friend was looking at buying it and would she mind if I spoke to her. Before I’d responded said person contacted me. I explained very briefly that it’s a house that they should do lots of surveys on and check they have the money to fix the issues that they can’t see.

Next day - can we see your survey before we make an offer. I didn’t respond as I was busy and had work events.

Next day - sorry to pester but can I see the survey asap. i assume you have no use for them now.

Cheeky or not cheeky?

Absolutely CHEEKY! You could respond along the lines of "Of course I have no use for them now, but they cost me £3k, so if you want to transfer £1.5k to me then I'll share them with you." (If this CF wants to share the benefit of your surveys, she can share the cost!)

WildLeader · 22/12/2025 11:01

HappyFace2025 · 22/12/2025 10:59

Because it cost OP £3k? These CF prospective buyers appear to think they can have the surveys for free.

Show quote history

That £3k saved her waaaaaaay more money. It was £3k well spent by the sounds of it

Original poster
kirinm · 22/12/2025 11:01

Also, the L3 survey on its own doesn’t tell you much. The other surveys and the phone calls I had tell you a lot more.

She was also trying to get me to give her an indication of how much money she would need to have to fix the problems. If you’re buying a 120 year old broken house and you can’t budget for a survey then you absolutely are not in a position to buy that house.

OP posts:
Original poster
kirinm · 22/12/2025 11:04

WildLeader · 22/12/2025 11:01

That £3k saved her waaaaaaay more money. It was £3k well spent by the sounds of it

Show quote history

It was definitely worth it. So it’ll definitely be worth this person spending the money too.

OP posts:
Goldwren1923 · 22/12/2025 11:04

Don’t the surveys state they are provided to you only as a client and you can’t just pass them on?

Jellifer · 22/12/2025 11:09

We pulled our offer on a house after the survey. The next prospective buyers were happy to pay us to share it with them and actually offered more than I would have asked for. Good way of getting some of our costs back but I wouldn’t have done it for free!

JustMyView13 · 22/12/2025 11:09

Is the easiest reply then:
Hi,
I don’t want to seem unhelpful, but it needed a LOT of work doing. We stopped adding it up in the end because it was totally unviable for us. The surveys didn’t really tell the whole story, and they’re x months old. So all things considered I actually think sharing these with you may in some ways be misleading. Not to mention they cost £3k. If you still want to buy them off me, you can, but you’re probably better off getting your own.

or similar

Picklelily99 · 22/12/2025 11:09

Bloody cheek of some people! Either ignore, or give the name of your surveyor only.