Do I really need a structural survey to buy a house

Mskimee

Hi all,
I’m at the very end of a house purchase and I have 4 weeks to draw down after a long and arduous process. We applied for a mortgage and have had constant delays and now we are finally exchanging contracts. Solicitor has raised a few points but both solicitors are aware we need to be done in 4 weeks or I have to reapply and we won’t get the mortgage approved again due to age etc.
We are buying off my family, I know the house and have lived in it, was around when it was built etc.
My solicitor say it’s essential we get our own survey done. The banks are happy without one, I can’t have another delay and I just want this done. Can I go ahead with a purchase without one? We have already told her we don’t want it done and I’m buying as is off family.
Any advice anyone? Can I insist we just press ahead without it?

chops018

You can of course proceed without one. But Caveat Emptor also applies to house purchases. Would you spend the likes of €10,000 on a second hand car privately without having a mechanic check it out? Similar situation here. A house purchase is probably going to be the biggest purchase of your life. Even though you're buying from family I'd still get it surveyed.

mickdw

If the bank are happy, then you can do it. The solicitor will likely make you sign all sorts 're being advised about survey.

Just be careful.
It is possible that you are buying a perfectly good house structurally yet not saleable in future so a survey would be worth it's money to check this.
For example, does it comply with planning? If not, can it be made comply reasonably easily?
Building regulations- again any serious breaches?
Boundary - does it match land registry and the site as granted planning?
It's all too easy to walk into a sticky situation and chances are you won't be able to find a buyer that wont survey in future.

Sparkey84

was in very similar situation some years ago with an unfinished house sale and had alot of hastle with my solicitor. i was buying the house "as is" with no possible come back if it fell down and my solicitor twice contacted the seller demanding the terms be changed for more favourable ones. i very nearly lost the sale over it.

now i fully understand why he was cautious it was a huge risk. but he should have either refused to represent me or respect my wishes and proceed. i had to almost accuse him to his face of misrepresentation before he would finally do what he was told and go through with deal.

long story short if you listen to your solicitor you will get a better more professional and protected service, but you have to make an informed decision as to how much risk lies on each side of the coin.

an undiagnoised structural problem could cost you thousands in the long run.

missing out on a sale and then morgage refusal will cost you tens of thousands in rent in long term.

i took on a lot of risk and it was fine but i did alot of homework and it still could have gone bad.

the_syco

Mskimee wrote: »

We are buying off my family, I know the house and have lived in it, was around when it was built etc.

You need a fresh pair of eyes, as otherwise you may miss a few obvious things that you never thought to question.

lalababa

I thought a survey was mainly structural only??
Didn't know it included planning permissions etc. Thought solicitor did that.
Strange I think for bank to approve mortgage without survey?? No?
I know you know the house and area and when it was built..and that would be fine by me. If it's there a few years with no issues, or there along time with a few small cracks that haven't changed then 'tis grand by me. But I thought the banks demanded surveys?
Anyway I feel your pain. Just tell your solicitor to do what you instruct:D Goodluck to you.

Victor

You don't need a structural survey, but I would recommend a survey.

While you may be familiar with it and happy with it, for all you know there is a serious issue like non-compliance with the building regulations or that your drainage percolation area is on someone else's land. Down the line, your partner or family may be stuck with a lemon.

December2012

A survey won't delay things by 4 weeks. Surely you can get one done next week if you book it now?

You can exchange contracts subject to the satisfactory survey.
You should have done it at the beginning.