We're planning on buying a 130 y/o semi. We viewed it a couple of times and on the basis of the viewings we wanted to get a good homebuyers survey. Found a well recommended guy, and had him do the the survey. Some bits and bobs came back as expected, but in general he was happy with the integrity of the building, and it;s sale value.
The lender (Post Office) carried out a basic/free valuation, and have come back and said it's structurally unsound. I haven't been able to talk to my broker yet (you know, the guy that gets paid), but I'm wondering how receptive lenders will be to accepting a structural engineer's report (which I'll now have to get done) along with my own homebuyers survey.
Anyone have any experience of this type of stress inducing ballache?
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We hadn't seen anything particularly off while looking round the property so we paid a surveyor to do a proper damp survey and report back to us. He said there was signs of condensation damage on some of the internal walls, most probably caused by regularly drying washing inside with inadequate ventilation - and he spotted a couple of things like plants covering vent holes outside the house. There was also a leak in the bay window at the front. He couldn't see any signs of rising damp. We sent a copy of that report to the mortgage lender, and on that basis they were happy to give us the amount we'd asked. That was three years ago, the plaster's not falling off the walls yet.
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It is unusual that they valuer would state it is an unsuitable security for mortgage purposes without an engineers report.
I note you are based in Manchester. I know an excellent structural engineer in the area.
I’m so bored I might as well be listening to Pink Floyd
If the OP wishes to PM me - I used to be professionally involved in this stuff.
I would NOT invest in an engineers report before a) you know whether the post office will change their view if it is favourable and b) you have explored whether the seller will meet the cost.
Our own full survey basically said get the bay tied back into main structure.
Old houses cost money and need a lot of maintenance!