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Property defects and why you need a survey to spot them

Written by Posted On Thursday, 13 June 2019 06:15
Property defects and why you need a survey to spot them

A property is one of the largest purchases you’re ever likely to make, so you would think that home buyers exercise extreme caution before committing to such a long-term investment. But shock, surprise – over half don’t commission an independent property survey before proceeding with the purchase. The main reason? It’s not worth spending the money, apparently.

And yet, compared to the high cost of renovating an unsatisfactory house or flat, or remedying nasty surprises after the purchase, the few hundred pounds spent on a survey can save you from an unwise purchase decision, or at the very least alert you to potential problems and defects. Depending on the level of investigation the building in question needs, there are different types of home survey available – from an entry level Condition Report to the most comprehensive Building Survey.

Here are some of the important issues with flats and houses that are notoriously difficult to spot, especially to the untrained eye.

  1. Damp issues

Damp is an ever present threat to our buildings and among the most common problems encountered. The scale of the matter can be minor or widespread, ranging from the occasional bit of condensation or mildew around windows, to eating away at the fabric of the building causing rot and structural damage.

Damp can result in a number of ways. When viewing the property, look out for roof defects and faulty guttering, poor ventilation and blown window seals, water ingress through external cracks, damaged or non-existent damp proof courses, plumbing leaks and sudden moisture build-ups. The solution may be as straightforward as opening windows regularly, or it may require thousands of pounds of remedial and renovation work.

If you suspect damp, you should instruct a surveyor to take a closer look or even commission a specialist damp report to look deeper into the affected areas and give professional advice on how to manage and eradicate the problem.

    1. Roof problems

    Take a long, hard look at the roof, your new home’s first line of defence against the elements from above. Even the smallest defect can quickly become and entry point for water, dirt or pests, and early effective intervention is always the best policy, potentially saving you from costly repairs.

    Get a feel for the overall condition as well as individual defects. Budget in the region of £100 to replace a few cracked or missing tiles, while a complete roof replacement may set you back around £4,000-£7,000 for a standard family home.

    Also check sheds and garages (as well as interior artexed ceilings) for the presence of asbestos – a common building material until it was banned in 1985. Known to cause severe respiratory illnesses including cancer when asbestos fibres are inhaled, in many cases it is actually safer to manage materials in situ, while removing asbestos has to be done by a specialist contractor.

    1. Structural movement

    Terms such as subsidence, settlement and heave can strike fear into potential home owners. Structural movement in a building is a very worrying issue as it weakens the integrity of the building and can even lead to collapse. What may appear to be a minor crack in the wall or ceiling could be an indication of more serious damage.

    Clay subsoils can be particularly susceptible to shrinkage as a result of droughts, tree roots or even heavy frosts, while leaking drains can turn the ground into a soft, squelchy mess. Nearby excavation work, for instance to extend a neighbouring building, can also be destabilising.

    The recommended course of action is to underpin the foundations, excavating to stable ground and pumping tonnes of concrete into the void. This can be both expensive and disruptive, and cause additional problems for period buildings. If you suspect structural movement in a property you are thinking of buying, it is essential that you seek the urgent advice of an experienced surveyor.

    1. Faulty Electrics

    In a survey carried out by Electrical Safety First, only a third of buyers had the electrics checked before purchasing their home. Nearly half were unaware that any checks were needed at all. If your surveyor mentions concerns about the electrical circuits in a property, this is not something that can wait, since unsafe electrics constitute both a fire hazard and a serious health risk.

    Rewiring a house can cost in the region of £3,000 for a typical house and the work will take a qualified electrician at least a week to complete. While it’s an expense you may like to do without, the only way to avoid dodgy electrics without spending any money is to rethink the purchase.

    1. Woodworm

    Older, timber framed buildings such as barn conversions and historical homes are susceptible to woodworm infestations. Wood boring beetles can be a major problem, especially if the tiny telltale holes they leave behind in timber beams or other wooden elements are showing signs of being fresh.

    If you spot signs of woodworm in the property, a timber treatment specialist should be your first port of call. Ask them to inspect the affected area and report back on the nature of the problem, the type of infestation and the degree of advancement. If the beetles are found and treated early on, woodworm is unlikely to pose a serious threat to the building.

    Common furniture beetles can be eradicated by coating the affected wood with a special treatment. Deathwatch Beetle infestations are more aggressive, requiring a much more involve process to regain control.

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