PARTRIDGE & WILSON
——— SOLICITORS ———

SURVEY

If you have not already done so, you should arrange to have the property you are purchasing surveyed.  The law provides that the seller does not have to disclose patent defects in the title or the property, which means that he is not obliged to tell you anything which you could find out by your survey or a physical inspection of the property. It is up to you as the purchaser to check the condition of the property (through your surveyor) as you will take the property as it stands and will have no redress against the seller following completion, unless you are buying a new house from a builder.  For this reason you should give careful consideration to the need for professional surveys.  There are three types:

The Mortgagee’s Survey
This is a survey carried out on behalf of your lender.  It is a basic valuation so that the lender can decide whether the property is good security for the loan.  It is very limited in scope and a purchaser would be unable to recover any compensation if the lender’s surveyor misses a serious fault.

Homebuyer’s Survey
This is a more comprehensive survey given by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.  It is slightly more expensive than a building society survey, but not as expensive as a full structural survey.

Full Structural Survey
This is the most comprehensive survey.  If the property you are purchasing is an older property or a more unusual property it would be prudent to choose this type of survey.  It is normally possible to combine one or more of the detailed surveys with your lender’s survey to avoid duplication of fees if you advise your lender at the time of your mortgage application.