Nothing can be as disarming as discovering your property has issues as soon as it’s too late. Disasters can happen at any time, and be entirely unexpected. Thankfully, this article will explain what building surveyors do, as well as what risks they might identify. We’ll also cover how our team at Simon Levy can help, using our property surveying expertise.
When You Might Employ Building Surveyors
There are several reasons a person might choose to employ a professional to carry out a property survey. Building surveyors are fantastic at telling the inquirer important information about a property and any potential problems that may arise with it. We have listed a few common reasons a person might hire building surveyors.
Before Buying a House
While not a legal requirement, many solicitors recommend their clients get any potential properties surveyed before signing any contracts or agreements to move in. It could be that some details are hiding in the woodwork that were unknown before this.
Tenants Are Moving In
Renting out a property to new tenants can be an exciting prospect and a good way to make some money. To properly take care of your new tenants, it’s a good idea to have the building inspected for any issues before their imminent move. This way, you can deal with the issues quickly without the responsibility of tenants needing to be moved out.
The House Is Old
If you have lived in your home for several years, you may not think there is anything to worry about. It can be easy to have a false sense of security, as you feel that you know your home like the back of your hand. This is often, however, not the case.
Older houses were usually built with materials we would not use today. This could be for sourcing reasons, or because the materials pose a health and safety risk. Either way, it’s important to check these homes out.
The Property Surveying Process
The purpose of a Full Building Survey is to identify any risks in your property become they become an expensive or dangerous problem later on down the line. The inspection process itself should not take long. Having an understanding of what will happen at your property surveying appointment is a good way to prepare yourself for the measures a building surveyor will l take.
Inspecting Your Property
When it comes to inspecting a house there isn’t a definite list of the areas a surveyor will check, due to each property being entirely unique. Instead, a surveyor will assess which parts of the property are accessible to be checked, as well as which areas seem high risk.
The following accessible places may be inspected during a survey:
● Floors
● Walls
● Ventilation
● Staircases
● Thermal performance
● Sound insulation performance
● Any damp penetration
● Plaster
● Beams
● Fixtures and fittings
Alongside the internal and external checks of your property, the surveyor is likely to do some local research too. This could be examining the local Geological Survey Map, which can inform the surveyor of local geology issues. They may also check the history of the homes, to see if any major issues like flooding have happened previously.
Identifying Risks
Once all exploration of your property and other checks have been completed, a surveyor should be able to provide a full breakdown of the condition of your property. From there, they can provide advice on the steps you need to take to rectify any issues. They could also cover whether a price reduction is appropriate if the property surveyed is one you might like to own.
Examples of Risks
While the property advice varies depending on the professional, there are some risks that, if identified, should be monitored closely or resolved quickly. Read on to learn four examples of potential property risks, and how they can be fixed.
Asbestos
Once commonly used as an insulation solution, asbestos can be found in older homes. This material forms from naturally occurring minerals, crystallising to form fibres. It became a popular and widely used material due to its all-round resistant fibres. It cannot dissolve in water and is resistant to fire, chemicals and heat. It is also mechanically useful, which is why it was utilised in car brakes and boilers as well as insulation.
When breathed in, asbestos is considered harmful to human health. The material is now classed as carcinogenic, and all types have been banned in the UK since 1999. When still intact, asbestos is largely not harmful. When broken, on the other hand, the smaller fibres can be breathed in or swallowed, putting a person at risk. Asbestos issues can thankfully be resolved by being removed by a professional, who can replace it with modern insulation solutions such as fibreglass or wool.
Flooding
Unplanned water in your home can be a very dangerous problem. Flooding can destroy homes, as well as cause health issues for those trapped in flooding. For this reason, homes that are at risk of flooding often have more expensive insurance costs.
A building surveyor can generally help you learn whether you might be at risk of external flooding. Should this be the case, they might be able to provide property advice that helps with keeping your property safe from major damage. Unfortunately, flooding is largely unpredictable and is not easily prevented, however, you can take action against the level of damage it causes, and you can prepare for the flood itself.
Drainage Issues
When we think of drainage problems, we mostly think about blocked drains, caused by putting the wrong things down plugholes. Pipe problems are not always the homeowner's fault, however. Drainage systems that do not operate properly can happen simply with use, from incorrect installations, and from weather factors. Bent pipes and saggy guttering, for example, can snap and cause flooding issues outside.
Left undetected, flooding can cause internal moisture, which in turn results in dampness and mould. While building surveyors can only inspect accessible internal pipework, there are often a few telltale signs that flooding is happening undetected, prompting you to get in touch with a plumbing professional. Look for unexplained ceiling leaks in the rooms of your home, for example.
For drainage issues, it is best to seek the advice of a professional, to make sure it is fixed correctly.
Subsidence
This term refers to your property beginning to sink below the surface of the ground. It denotes an issue with the home foundations, creating further stability problems later on down the line. To help you learn about the causes of subsidence, we have listed a few culprits below.
Possible causes of subsidence:
● Types of soil
● Leaking from drains
● Tree roots too close to your home
● Property has been built on sites previously used for mining
Some signs indicate subsidence is already happening to the property, which a building survey will check the perimeter of your property for. Cracks are the major and most noticeable issue caused by subsidence and can be found on the inside and outside of your home. The appearance of wallpaper changing to look rippled around any joints is likewise a bad sign. Finally, doors and windows becoming jammed and stuck can indicate subsidence.
Get in touch with a professional for advice on resolving subsidence issues. It may be a simple solution, or a more intrusive fix, but is necessary for keeping your home safe.
Getting Property Advice
If you believe the building has been constructed incorrectly, you might be able to take action against the builder of the property. This is known as a building defect diagnosis, which can cause different resulting issues. This could include dampness, condensation, mould, structural movement, and distortion, putting your health at risk while living there.
If your home is brand-new and built specifically for your needs yet is somehow unsatisfactory, you may be able to seek construction dispute advice. This could be a quality of work issue, that might lead to further problems, such as though listed in the previous section. Getting a resolution is important, as it can be unpleasant to feel as though you have to live with the issue.
How We Can Help
Our team at Simon Levy are specialists in helping you determine whether there is anything wrong with your home, whether new or old. Our team offer high-quality
professional services, including
construction dispute advice, helping you get the home of your dreams with ease.
Visit our website to learn more
about us and
our team. We also have detailed information on our
other services, allowing you to find the perfect solution.
Get in touch today with our team to speak to our friendly staff.
