If you’re looking to buy a property, it’s likely you will need the services of a chartered surveyor to examine the condition of a house. Not only does a RICS HomeBuyer Report give you peace of mind, but if ordered, provide an accurate property market valuation and a reinstatement value for insurance purposes.
Whether you’re a first-time buyer or existing homeowner, assessing the risk of such a huge investment can help you make an informed decision. So, here are some of the most common house survey issues you’re likely to find.
Damp
This is one of the most common house survey issues. Excess moisture from leaky roofs, damaged guttering, rising damp and poor ventilation are just some of the reasons behind damp sneaking into the house’s interior.
It can vary in levels of severity. It can be a cosmetic consideration or on some occasions it can cause wet rot and dry rot in timber which can lead to structural problems.
This can normally be rectified, although in some older houses this can be notoriously difficult to completely eradicate.
Roof issues
A sound roof, is a sound house. However, this part of the property is extremely susceptible to environmental factors such as heavy rain and wind. From cracked or missing tiles, to overflowing gutters and blocked ventilation, these can be incredibly costly to fix.
Structural movement
Another common house survey issue is structural movement or subsidence. Indicators of this are cracks in the ceilings and walls, sometimes caused by defects in the building’s foundations.
Most older houses have suffered from some structural movement and normally it is historic and nothing to be overly concerned by. A comprehensive survey will identify if movement could get worse.
Japanese knotweed
The notorious Japanese knotweed can grow rapidly and be extremely difficult to remove. Its deep roots are known to cause damage to buildings and driveways through cracks in concrete and brickwork, as well as potentiality interfere with drainage.
If identified by your house surveyor, then it is necessary to eradicate it using an accredited specialist.
Mortgage lenders take a very broad brush approach when dealing with houses with knotweed and this can make selling or mortgaging very difficult
Electric & Gas
Finally, faulty electrical wiring and lack of certification are other common house survey issues not to be overlooked. Chartered surveyors are normally not able to test the utilities in the property, they can only visually assess surface mounted fixings. However, it is highly recommended that an EICR is carried out to make sure your new home is safe.
A recent boiler test certification is also important to check all appliances and pipework are working accordingly, and vendors should be able to provide a Gas Safety Record as proof.
Book your next Homebuyer Survey
If you would like to find out more about one of our detailed HomeBuyer Surveys, please do not hesitate to contact our team of Chartered Surveyors in Altrincham at Torus.
Call us on 0161 929 7892 or request an instant quotation.
You can find out more about what to do after a bad house survey, by reading our latest blog here: https://www.house-survey.co.uk/what-to-do-after-a-bad-house-survey/