What to do with your building survey report

Firstly, read it! Carefully! It sounds silly but it is worth thoroughly reading the building survey report and not just the summary section. There may be areas that you don’t understand or want explained in more detail. Most reputable surveyors will be more than happy to arrange a call to explain any items you are unsure on.

Regardless of the level of survey, surveyors generally do not test the electrical or gas installations. This is because they aren’t qualified to do so, you will usually see a recommendation to obtain the appropriate certification. Likewise, surveyors do not undertake intrusive investigations. So they may recommend that you obtain building regulation sign off to reassure you that hidden structure has been checked.

If the building survey report identifies any items that require certification or further investigation, you should understand the implications of why this is being asked for. It’s up to you whether you are happy to take the risk of faults being discovered at a later date. Or request that the seller produces the appropriate certification prior to purchase.

Building Survey Report Concerns

If your building survey report identifies any causes for concern you’ll have a decision to make on what to do. Unfortunately, this is not a decision the surveyor can make for you, as everyone’s circumstances are different, as are people’s attitudes towards risk. If you consider that the problems are too serious, you may wish to consider withdrawing from the purchase. Surveys should be undertaken prior to exchange of contracts, so this could be your last chance to withdraw without significant financial loss other than the cost of the survey and any legal fees incurred so far.

If you consider that the problems are significant, but not so much so that you need to withdraw, you may wish to negotiate on price or request that the seller undertakes the work. Your ability to negotiate will be very much dictated by the market conditions. In a seller’s market your position is weak, in a buyer’s market your position is strong. We take the view that it never hurts to ask if you are concerned about something. The sellers may be able to reassure you, or may take your concerns into consideration and be willing to negotiate.

Whatever the outcome, remember you are not yet committed to the purchase and your best course of action could still be to walk away. If the repair bill is likely to be unmanageable for you without a significant reduction in selling price, a good question to ask yourself is, can you live with that defect until you can afford to repair it?