Hidden Costs Revealed: What Your Survey Might Uncover

Buying a home is a major financial commitment and for most of us, it's the biggest purchase we'll ever make. Whether this is your first time stepping on the property ladder, you're an existing homeowner or you're investing in a property for commercial purposes, checking things out thoroughly is always essential. One of the most effective tools to assist with this is a property survey but, what might a survey uncover and how will that affect your property purchase?

Damp

One of the most common problems uncovered by a survey is damp, especially in older homes. Damp issues can vary widely in severity, from a small patch of damp caused by condensation in a kitchen or bathroom, to rising damp that threatens the structural foundations of the building.

Often damp is caused by poor ventilation, but it could also signal problems with the roof or guttering, and if these problems are left untreated, they could cause rotting and other complex issues. If your building survey uncovers signs of damp, and its cause, you'll need to prioritise the repairs because it can quickly develop into a bigger problem.

Roof issues

Roof defects might simply show up as a few cracked or missing tiles, or they could pose a serious safety risk and need a complete replacement. Building surveys will include an inspection of the roof and high-level surfaces, provided they are accessible for the surveyor, so you'll have a thorough overview of the roof's condition before you buy.

Minor repairs can often be fixed relatively quickly by a competent DIYer, but you may need to hire a specialist roofing expert for more complex problems. Roof repairs can run into the thousands if the entire roof needs to be retiled, so it's worth getting a quote before you sign on the dotted line to ensure it's a cost you're happy to pay.

Subsidence and structural movement

Signs of cracks in the wall could be an indication of subsidence, so it's natural to be worried if these appear on a survey report. In serious cases, structural experts may recommend underpinning the property or installing reinforcement to prevent the problem from developing.

Underpinning involves strengthening the foundation of a building by extending it deeper into more stable soil, a process that typically requires extensive excavation and construction work. Reinforcement, on the other hand, might include installing steel or concrete supports to stabilise the structure.

These repairs are incredibly costly and labour-intensive, often requiring specialised contractors and significant amounts of time to complete. As a result, the presence of subsidence and the associated need for extensive repairs could greatly impact your purchase decisions. Potential buyers might reconsider their interest in the property due to the high costs and prolonged inconvenience of such repairs.

Japanese knotweed

While not strictly part of the property itself, Japanese knotweed is something you need to know about before you buy. This highly invasive and pervasive plant can cause serious damage to the building's foundations and wreak havoc on drainage systems. In fact, it's so problematic that most mortgage lenders won't approve a loan until a recognised removal and management scheme has been put in place. It's worth seeking specialist advice as soon as possible if Japanese knotweed is found on the property so you can proceed with your sale.

Asbestos

Asbestos has been banned for many years now as a construction material, so you won't find it in new builds, but in older properties it can still be identified. Cement, floor and ceiling tiles, insulation, walls and pipes can all contain asbestos, which poses a health risk if it's exposed or damaged in any way.

As long as the material is still intact and can be encapsulated and removed, it doesn't pose a threat to human health. However, it's important to always seek out a specialist contractor to handle any asbestos containing materials (ACMs) since there are strict laws and regulations in place that have to be complied with when it comes to removing and disposing of this toxic material.

Woodworm

Woodworm is something we associate with furniture, but it can pose a serious problem for houses too. Whether it's in timber framing of the structure itself or in floorboards and doors, woodworm needs to be dealt with otherwise it will develop further. The more wood there is in the home, the bigger the issue is likely to be and the harder it will be to resolve it. However, this is a rare case and providing the problem is found and treated early, it can be resolved to protect the property.

What Won't a Survey Show?

A property survey uncovers plenty of detail in a property, but it won't show you everything so it's important to know what won't be included so you can take necessary action. For example, drainage systems and electrical installations won't be covered by most property surveys, but you can request these to be inspected via dedicated surveys. It's worth noting that any inaccessible areas of the property won't be assessed during the survey. Wider local and environmental issues will also be covered by your conveyancer, since these searches aren't included in a structural survey.

How to Proceed With Survey Results

With any luck, your survey will come back with glowing results, but a bad survey doesn't have to mean you walk away from your dream home. Naturally, it's a personal decision but bad survey results can help you renegotiate the price if you're covering the costs of putting things right once you move in. Similarly, you can request that the current owner pays for the repairs or deals with the issues before the sale is complete.

It's worth remembering that not every property issue is equal — some may not pose a problem for several years, while others need to be remedied immediately. It's a surveyor's job to provide you with all the information so you can make an informed decision. With all the facts in front of you, coupled with estimates for the costs of repair, you can make a decision on how to proceed.

For this blog we’ve used a retro picture from our partners at Emoov. The new website is coming soon!