When buying
a property, there are several important steps which must take place to ensure
the home you are buying is fit for purpose. One of the most important processes
is having a house survey performed. But what do you need to keep your eye on
when you get the results back? Here, we take a detailed look at some of the
common issues you can expect to see on your house survey and what to do about
them.
What is a
House Survey
?
A house
survey is an examination of a property which is designed to spot various flaws
and issues with a home before a purchase takes place. Carried out by structural
surveyors, these surveys ensure that a property is fit to be bought and
highlights any problems that the buyer should be aware of. There are three main
types of surveys that are performed to spot flaws and issues.
A condition
report is the most basic survey and spots whether a home has any urgent
structural or legal issues that the buyer should be aware of. A homebuyers
report will test the same things as well as provide advice on suggested repair
and maintenance work and the market valuation. The most thorough survey is a
building survey which provides a more in-depth identification of the home’s
condition and all of the required repair works.
When
spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on a home, you must understand
precisely what you are buying, which is why a house survey is always suggested
for homebuyers. Below, we take a look at just some of the issues that might
come up on your report.
Damp
Damp is,
unsurprisingly, one of the most common issues when it comes to surveying a
property. Water can quite easily make its way through a home - via the roof,
the walls, the floors or due to a flood. If damp is allowed to work its way
through a home, it can cause rot which can damage the structure of a property.
If you’ve
had a house survey come back detailing signs of damp, it’s well worth getting
in touch with a damp specialist. They will be best-placed to analyse the full
extent of the damage and provide advice on the necessary repairs.
Issues With The Roof
Roofing
issues are another common structural problem with homes. Exposed to nature, the
wind, the rain and storms, roofs take the brunt of the damage on the exterior
of a property. You might just have a couple of cracked tiles that need
replacing, guttering that is blocked or more severe issues which require urgent
attention.
If any
unsettling signs of serious roofing issues arise in your survey, it’s vital to
seek professional services from a roofing contractor. Anything more than a few
cracked tiles should be looked into more thoroughly.
Electrical Safety Issues
When
purchasing a property, it’s critical to ensure that the house has adequate test
certification for electrical appliances. Electrics should be tested once every
decade in a home. The survey will check this and could highlight small issues
or larger problems which may require a complete rewiring of the property. If
the issues highlighted are urgent, you will probably have to get an Electrical
Installation Condition Report.
Structural Movement
Structural
movement is an issue that has the potential to be very serious and may require
immediate attention. As the name suggests, structural movement describes an
issue whereby the physical structure of the home is slipping or moving. The
main signs of this are cracks in the walls and other symptoms of structural
damage.
In the very
worst cases, structural movement can lead to collapsing walls, so it’s
certainly not something you want to see in your survey. If your house survey
does come up with evidence of structural movement, you’ll need to call in the
experts right away. The costs for severe repair works can be astronomical and
could even impact your decision to buy the house in the first place. Once you
have a second expert opinion, you’ll know the best way to move forward.
Cavity Wall Ties
Cavity wall
ties are small pins which bring the two layers of a cavity wall together and
ensure the structural stability of a home. Without them in place, the structure
of a property can be in jeopardy. The vast majority of buildings since the
1920s feature cavity walls and, therefore, wall ties. However, before 1978, all
wall ties were made from galvanised mild steel. It was thought that these would
last for life, however, it’s since been noticed that they tend to corrode after
about two decades. So, if you are buying a house which was built before 1978
and your survey returns with wall issues, it may well be down to these ties.
Getting an expert in to take a look can save you plenty of time, energy and
stress.
Invasive Plants
If you see
the words: Japanese Knotweed in your survey, you should take serious note.
These plants can slowly destabilise the structure of a property. However, even
more, worrying than that, they are incredibly hard to get rid of. This type of
invasive plant is so notoriously difficult to get rid of that some mortgage
providers won’t even give you your mortgage if its present on a survey. If you
find this, you’ll need to contact specialists and ensure that the weed is
completely removed before buying. Otherwise, you could be in serious trouble
later on down the road.
Drainage Issues
The drainage
in your property is critical for the safety and structural integrity of your
home. If you have faulty drain pipes, water can collect and cause damp and
rotting. A survey should include details about the quality of the drainage in
your home. If the house survey comes back with information detailing faulty
drains, you should have a specialist drainage company take a look to ascertain
whether you require immediate action. If you do, it’s important to have this
completed or investigated further before buying.
Problems With Your Windows
House
surveys also look at the quality and condition of your windows. Windows play an
important role in the insulation of your home. Your survey may come back
suggesting that your windows need updating or replacing. Especially if your
windows are made of wood or are old, they may require some attention before
buying. If the windows of the property are ill-fitting or won’t close properly,
this could be a symptom of structural movement or other, more serious issues.
Insulation
Finally,
your house survey should provide some information on the quality of your
insulation and whether you require work to be completed in this area of the
property. All homes should have adequate insulation installed to reduce heating
bills and protect the environment. Most homes will come with an Energy Performance Certificate
which provides information on the
quality of thermal performance of the home. Your house survey may come back
with details of missing areas of insulation. If so, seek further details so
that restorative action can take place.
For a Professional House Survey in Borehamwood,
Watford and Greater London, Look No Further Than Simon Levy
Here at
Simon Levy, we’re expert structural engineers who can provide you with a house
survey when you require one in Greater London. As professionals with years of
experience, we have worked with countless clients and provide a range of
services. From providing a house survey for clients to services for party wall
disputes, planning matters, witnesses and much more, we can help you with
whatever your requirements are.
Established
in 1986, we’ve become one of the most well-renowned chartered surveyor
companies in the area. We are spearheaded by Simon Levy who is a published
expert surveyor, whose knowledge and experience trickles down through every
facet of the organisation. If you need experts for your commercial, domestic or
industrial construction project in Greater London, look no further and get in
touch today.
To find out
more about our services, please feel free to contact us
today. You can find us at Link House, 49 Theobald
Street, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 4RT. Alternatively, call us on 0208 207
6100 or email us at info@simonlevy.net.
