Surveyors!!!!!!

[Snowbadger]

Apart from the oil tank issue my purchaser is saying that there is also a problem that the surveyor didn't inspect the loft as he was worried about the possible presence of asbestos.

SB

[quelquod]

More or less de rigeur for surveyors to avoid the loft unless you've specifically commissioned them to do that. Their reports generally caveat that along the lines of asbestos, safety, access etc. risks. A quick glance with a torch perhaps.

Unusually perhaps I once had a report which commented on the appearance of mould and attributed it to no lid on the CH expansion tank and lack of ventilation. Turned out to be a fair guess.

[swill453]

Apart from the oil tank issue my purchaser is saying that there is also a problem that the surveyor didn't inspect the loft as he was worried about the possible presence of asbestos.

Did the survey mention any other hazardous substances that they didn't find?

Scott.

[sg31]

I find most surveys and surveyor useless. Not all, just most.

I've bought and sold a lot of properties and in the vast majority of cases the surveyor has done no more than walk round the property for 1 minute and then back out the front door. In some cases they never entered the house.

One purchaser paid for a full survey and the guy hadn't got a clue what he was doing. He 'found' a few problems which didn't exist. I'm a builder so I know they didn't exist. In the end I told the purchaser to take it or leave it. They decided to send a builder they knew round and he confirmed there weren't any of the suggested problems.

There are so many areas not covered by surveyors

They rarely inspect the roof, drains, electrics, plumbing, heating, floors under carpets etc and recommend getting specific surveys from experts in these areas.

In your current case I don't see how the purchaser can hold you responsible for a problem that may not and most likely does not exist. If they want the roof space surveying then that is down to them. If a problem is found then you can discuss what to do about it. Until then I don't see that there is a problem.

(I once had a surveyor visit and I'd already put a ladder up to the loft space. He didn't want to inspect it in case there were spiders.)

[Snowbadger]

Cheers SG for the comments on both threads. The guy was so obnoxious when I showed him around that I almost threw him out! He is making me stew the weekend before announcing his decision from on high tomorrow, and yes you've guessed he's an engineer.

Let you know the conclusion in due course,


SB

[Mike88]

Surveyors use a lot of phrases such as loft was inaccessible, couldn't inspect the ceiling beams as they were covered in insulation, floorboards covered with carpet so couldn't inspect etc just to protect themselves against future problems. They frequently suggest calling in specialists such as Rentokil to inspect certain areas for damp and infestation again to cover themselves. I recall having one conversation with a surveyor about soakers (where an extension protrudes from the main building) and the so called expert had clearly never heard of them. One surveyor advised a Building Society not to loan money on a property because he said he could smell damp. The fact the property had been unoccupied for six months with no ventilation hadn't occurred to him. Overall I have not been impressed and didn't even bother having a survey for my current property. Asking a builder to do the job is a far better bet but of course if there is a mortgage the lender will rely solely on a surveyors report.

[Snowbadger]

Just been up the loft to look under the insulation rolls. There is a thinner much paler roll which was the original loft insulation when I moved in almost 30yrs ago. The newer much thicker layer is the peach coloured fibreglass laid about 10yrs ago. I am getting an asbestos report done. Surely the insulation company would have flagged up if it was asbestos when they did the work 10yrs ago.




SB

[bungeejumper]

We once fell in love with a 15th century thatched farmhouse (poor, sad, romantic fools that we are ), and having had our offer accepted, we sent our surveyor in.

He phoned us up from his mobile. "I'm in the loft, and I'm recommending you to cancel this survey here and now. The main roof trusses are collapsing, and the thatch is a bad cheapo job that will cost you a fortune to fix - and anyway, I dare not go any further into this roof space for safety reasons. If you instruct me to call off this inspection, I'll give you half your money back, and you can have my photos in case you decide to haggle hard with the vendor about a big price reduction."

Honest man! We took the surveyor's advice, and we also tried to take the vendor down by a sizeable sum (six figures, in today's parlance - those medieval roof timbers don't come cheap). But he wasn't prepared to budge an inch on the price. We walked away.

What a total plonker, and what a cheapskate too. Did I mention that he was a renowned historic architectural specialist who'd been involved in restoring Wells Cathedral? Good luck, Wells Cathedral

BJ

[supremetwo]

Just been up the loft to look under the insulation rolls. There is a thinner much paler roll which was the original loft insulation when I moved in almost 30yrs ago. The newer much thicker layer is the peach coloured fibreglass laid about 10yrs ago. I am getting an asbestos report done. Surely the insulation company would have flagged up if it was asbestos when they did the work 10yrs ago.
SB

The older glass fibre was thinner (about 1 inch) and a paler colour. I have it below the new insulation in my loft and about the same era.

I doubt that it is asbestos.

Get a blow torch, heat up a piece and it should melt. Asbestos won't.

[staffordian]

I doubt that it is asbestos.

Get a blow torch, heat up a piece and it should melt. Asbestos won't.

But preferably not whilst it's still in situ

[Snowbadger]

Too late!!!

[Snowbadger]

Good news. Asbestos man gave the all clear although he took a small piece of a remnant of the previous felt that should have been removed when it was replaced in 1992. He reckons it to be 99.9% not asbestos and if it is, it's very low risk.


SB also a Staffordian.