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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:
DisforDarkChocolate · 22/12/2025 15:08

People pay for other people's surveys, they do not get them for free.

LAMPS1 · 22/12/2025 15:11

Just say …Sorry, the information from our three surveys is are not transferable according to the contract between us and our surveyor.

justasking111 · 22/12/2025 15:11

kirinm · 22/12/2025 10:32

This is the other point. It’s an empty house that was surveyed a while ago. Anything could’ve happened in that time.

It is all about your appetite for the work. You’re either prepared to take on an old house which is very obviously wrecked or you aren’t.

We used the surveyor for our current house too and he said he was so pleased we hadn’t gone forward with the wreck as it would be so expensive to fix.

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Absolutely this. There could have been further deterioration in the interim so your survey is not reliable.

I wouldn't share on this basis

Helpmefindmysoul · 22/12/2025 15:14

Gribbit987 · 22/12/2025 10:25

“Our surveys were invaluable and cost X. You are welcome to buy them from us for Y. Kind regards, Kiri”.

Exactly this! Sometimes when sales have fallen through the searches are sold on for a quicker turn around.

NoWordForFluffy · 22/12/2025 15:18

kirinm · 22/12/2025 11:59

I don’t have a hard copy anymore. I don’t even have the hard copy of the house I bought 3 weeks ago anymore. They are sent electronically though.

I think I said earlier, the thought I’m letting someone down makes me anxious so even though I don’t even know the name of this person, responding to the messages stressed me out (it is ridiculous I know). I don’t know why as professionally I am a contentious lawyer so have no problem doing it in a work capacity!

Edited
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I have nothing to add re the surveys which hasn't already been said.

I just wanted to empathise with the 'great at being forthright as a litigation solicitor but dread it in my personal life' issue! I'm a totally different personality at work. 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
kirinm · 22/12/2025 15:21

NoWordForFluffy · 22/12/2025 15:18

I have nothing to add re the surveys which hasn't already been said.

I just wanted to empathise with the 'great at being forthright as a litigation solicitor but dread it in my personal life' issue! I'm a totally different personality at work. 🤷‍♀️

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I sit at work all day refusing to give opponents anything without a second thought. At home I worry about not giving something to a stranger for a couple of days 🙄

OP posts:
bigboykitty · 22/12/2025 15:23

I would block the person who's after the surveys and tell my friend never to pass on my number without my agreement. If she doesn't apologise, I'd reconsider the friendship.

BillyBites · 22/12/2025 15:28

Friendlygingercat · 22/12/2025 14:07

OP says that one of the survery was of the drains. Well the status of this may have changed in several months. Drains which were clear a few months ago can become blocked by tree roots or rubbish from further downstream. So this is one reason not to share.

I had problems with an NDN who kept sending plumbers around to me when HER drains became blocked. She had Dynarod flush them out every few months. Eventually I commissioned an expensive camera survey of my drains which showed they were clear and undamaged. I photocopied the findings for her but would not allow her to see the entire document because she had paid nothing towards the work. Eventually the utility company did a full camera survey of the main drain and found that her "cooking oils" were the main problem in a build up of congealed fat.

Why shouldn't your NDNs have contacted you? We had problems with our drains recently and involved both our immediate neighbours with sorting it out as, ultimately, they're shared drains. One of the blockages turned out to be due to them putting wet wipes down the loos (to a drain that only served our two houses and it sure as hell wasn't us).
One neighbour offered to contribute to the cost. Wet-wipe ones did not.

ForPinkCrab · 22/12/2025 15:31

Well if it was me buying a run down house , I’d be more than happy to pay at least half of a survey ,someone had paid for, if not more .if it was legal and above board . I can’t believe the cheek of them asking you to just give it to them,acquaintance or not

Thelnebriati · 22/12/2025 15:37

In your shoes I'd be annoyed at your friend who passed your contact details to a pushy CF without your permission. You know for future reference she can't say no to other people, even if it inconveniences you.

Butchyrestingface · 22/12/2025 15:48

Apart from the fact I hate CF strangers who can't take a hint, I'd be concerned about any ramifications from handing over surveys months/years after the fact to such a person. Surely the surveys must be outdated by now? What if there have been changes since the survey was made? Will they try and sue you for providing them with an outdated survey which did not highlight structural issues?

DitsyDaisyDelia · 22/12/2025 15:51

Butchyrestingface · 22/12/2025 15:48

Apart from the fact I hate CF strangers who can't take a hint, I'd be concerned about any ramifications from handing over surveys months/years after the fact to such a person. Surely the surveys must be outdated by now? What if there have been changes since the survey was made? Will they try and sue you for providing them with an outdated survey which did not highlight structural issues?

I agree- I can’t see a lender being happy to mortgage a property based on a secondhand survey either.

Original poster
kirinm · 22/12/2025 15:54

Thelnebriati · 22/12/2025 15:37

In your shoes I'd be annoyed at your friend who passed your contact details to a pushy CF without your permission. You know for future reference she can't say no to other people, even if it inconveniences you.

She’s not even a friend. She’s a mum at school who we say hi to in passing.

OP posts:
housethatbuiltme · 22/12/2025 15:57

Absolutely cheeky.

However you can SELL your survey onto the next buyer, its not unheard of.

Sometimes an agreement is made, helps the ex-buyer recoup some money they lost and a discount for the new buyer.

Say if it cost you £1k for the survey and it will cost them £1k for the SAME survey you could offer to sell it for say £600, they save hundreds and you make a little of that loss back. However it could also cause issues as any contract is between you and the company not the new buyer so they likely won't have any warranty.

I certainly wouldn't have them TELL me to send them over ASAP.

Thelnebriati · 22/12/2025 15:58

Imagine demanding something you didn't pay for and isn't any use to you. I almost admire cheeky fuckers, I wish I had half their nerve.

housethatbuiltme · 22/12/2025 16:01

DitsyDaisyDelia · 22/12/2025 15:51

I agree- I can’t see a lender being happy to mortgage a property based on a secondhand survey either.

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Mortgages don't care about RICS surveys etc... you don't have to do them they are a choice for the home-buyer.

Mortgages do their own surveys which are computer based and go just off values, past sold prices and market prices. They only care if the amount they are lending can be reasonably recouped in a repossession not the 'state' of the house (which is why repossessions sell well below market rate usually, the bank only wants their money back).

Ewock · 22/12/2025 16:04

Frogbear · 22/12/2025 13:16

Well no. If they had any sense, they would still do their own surveys but yours would help give them an idea whether they should proceed to that step or if the issues raised in your survey are too much of an issue for them.

If they don’t get their own surveys and rely on just yours, well that’s their risk. And best case they save a couple grand as a result - but so what? How does that affect you?

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There is no well no here. They are profiting. They want the surveys. If they're going to do their own, why on earth would they ask for ops.

Butchyrestingface · 22/12/2025 16:07

kirinm · 22/12/2025 15:54

She’s not even a friend. She’s a mum at school who we say hi to in passing.

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How did she have your no? Are you in a class WhatsApp group together?

Original poster
kirinm · 22/12/2025 16:18

Butchyrestingface · 22/12/2025 16:07

How did she have your no? Are you in a class WhatsApp group together?

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Yep. School WhatsApp group (the mum not her friend - don’t know if she has kids / what school they go to).

OP posts:
GooseberryGreen · 22/12/2025 16:21

As a lawyer you must know there is a risk in sharing them? I mean no contract with the surveyor but they could come after you in tort if say the house is in worse shape than the survey shows particularly given you stopped when it became unviable without fully exploring other things that could be wrong? Or if you sell them then the contract is with you. Just text that you are not prepared to provide the surveys and stop agonising..

SecretNameAsImShy · 22/12/2025 16:24

I would offer them to her but they have to pay for them. Perhaps 50% of the original cost?

DitsyDaisyDelia · 22/12/2025 16:29

OP, just text that you have researched case law and you’re not prepared to do this for legal reasons.

Grammarninja · 22/12/2025 16:29

Oops

Charlenedickens · 22/12/2025 16:32

This would not remotely bother Me, the survey now holds no value to me, and I paid as they provided value at the time I’d be very happy to pass them on as for me they would now be worthless. I can’t imagine saying no or trying to sell them.

LittleBearPad · 22/12/2025 16:34

I don’t really get the angst about sharing. I’d have asked the surveyor if he was willing for me to hand them over and on what basis. Non reliance letters could be put in place to protect him.

The survey has no value to you now and could have been helpful.

I doubt you’re quite as ‘over’ this list house as you suggest.

The fact you’re a lawyer isn’t surprising.