Structural Issues
When surveying any property, the most significant problem a surveyor needs to look for is structural issues. They’re not only the most expensive to fix, but they can be very disruptive and distressing to the homeowner. While it’s rare that buildings in the UK are ever on the cusp of a spontaneous collapse. Over time structural issues can be extremely damaging. They can even have knock-on effects in other areas of the property which could make it uninhabitable.
The RICS expects chartered building surveyors to have a good understanding of the causes of structural movement as well as the remedial options available. However, sometimes we see surveyors that either misdiagnose structural cracking as thermal movement, or identify structural movement and advise the client to contact a structural engineer.
Misdiagnosis
Misdiagnosis is the thing we’re most worried about here, particularly if the building carries on moving. Imagine moving into a property and being told the cracks in the ceiling are just thermal cracks. Only to discover six months later that they are getting wider. Once structural movement has been identified, there are usually signs that will point to the cause of the movement. In older properties, this would tell us that something’s changed recently. Perhaps a water leak somewhere, or added stress from the failure of another building element. The majority of structural movement can be diagnosed by a competent chartered building surveyor with a single inspection.
When a building surveyor suggests further investigation by other professionals, this can often be a worrying sign for the buyer. You might fear you’re about to open a very costly can of worms! It also often increases the cost of the purchase, since a structural engineer has to be paid for. It might even make you pull out of the transaction, which comes with its own increased legal costs. Neither of these is a good outcome, and both could have been avoided by using an experienced building surveyor.
Damp Problems
Most buyers are very concerned about damp issues – and for good reason! Damp problems can cause all sorts of problems, and often it makes a building more expensive to heat. If this encourages condensation to develop, it can also trigger respiratory issues, or make existing ones worse, thanks to the mould that grows.
Dampness is a very common issue, especially with older properties. Many surveyors encounter this, but it’s still easy to misunderstand, especially if the surveyor lacks experience. The signs of the cause of the damp’s cause are almost always visible if the surveyor properly knows how the building is constructed and where to look. It could be as simple as looking up! For example, a leaking gutter often causes ground floor dampness.
But many surveyors will choose to take the ‘easy option’, as it’s not uncommon to see them advise the client to contact a PCA (Property Care Association) contractor for advice on remedial work. PCA Contractors often face a conflict of interest, as financial incentives encourage them to treat the symptoms of dampness instead of the root cause. This means the damp could continue, often leading to the more expensive and disruptive work that is necessary. In theory, a chartered building surveyor should be more of a damp expert than a PCA member, so this recommendation is usually a sign of poor, inexperienced or lazy surveying.
Drainage Issues
Finally, surveyors often provide poor reports on drainage issues. This can be a result of either over or under–cautiousness on the part of the surveyor. Sunken ground inspection chambers or along drain lines often indicates drainage issues. Surveyors can easily miss these signs, leaving buyers unaware of potentially expensive hidden defects.
On the other extreme, some surveyors recommend that buyers commission a CCTV drainage survey on every survey report they write. This is a way for the surveyor to pass on some liability for properly inspecting a home – and it doesn’t line up with RICS home survey standards. This means that buyers will be in line for further costs to explore the drains, which can often cost as much as the survey itself. All this for no other reason than they have commissioned a surveyor with ‘slopey shoulders’, or without enough experience to inspect their home.
Misdiagnosis, or calling for external analysis normally (but not always) indicates one of the following:
• The surveyor lacks the core skills to properly complete the work
• The surveyor is too inexperienced to be preparing home reports
• Their employer has told them to do so in order to protect their professional indemnity insurance and to pass liability on to someone else.
• Surveyors are often under extreme pressure, with their employers demanding an unreasonable number of reports each week.
• In rare circumstances, the defect is truly extremely difficult to diagnose and needs further investigation
How Do You Avoid Them?
Sadly, there is no golden bullet to avoid misreporting in home surveys. But it does pay to do your research when you’re looking for companies to do the survey. A good approach would be to ask friends and family for recommendations, and to have a look at online reviews to ensure you’re hiring a reputable surveyor.
At Harrison Clarke we only employ experienced and pragmatic surveyors, which means our clients receive the right advice, helping them to de-risk their property purchases. If you have any concerns about the property you plan to purchase, our experienced team can be reached on 020 8153 1233. We will be delighted to discuss your survey options.
For more expert advice on surveying and property matters, check out our range of informative videos on our website or YouTube channel. Harrison Clarke Chartered Surveyors is here to guide you every step of the way!
At the time of writing, we have a total of 138 reviews across Trustpilot and Google. We are proud to say that the average rating is over 4.9/5.
