Engineers report when buying a second hand home.

dodo87

Hi all,

I am in the final stages of purchasing a second hand bungalow in a rural location. Before we put a bid on the house we had an engineer come out and do a report on the house which cost 600+

We were happy to proceed with the house and our offer got accepted.

The solicitors have since reached out to the engineer asking them for additional information. I have asked if this is really necessary as I have already paid him 600+ and don't want to pay any further unnecessary Bill's but the solicitor is pushing back on me. I've tried to google is this required and I can really only see that it is advised to get a structural report and can't see anything further on the matter. Can I tell the solicitor I refuse to get the engineer to do any further work (in a nice way obviously)

Thanks in advance

Calahonda52

1: what did you get the first time?
2: what is being asked for now?
3: solicitor has no business going direct to your engineer, engineer is you client.
4: solicitors don't do nice so....

dodo87

Calahonda52 wrote: »

1: what did you get the first time?
2: what is being asked for now?
3: solicitor has no business going direct to your engineer, engineer is you client.
4: solicitors don't do nice so....

Thanks so much for your response!

I got a structural report the first time now solicitor is asking engineer to check the following:
1. Do a planning search for the property
2. To check if there are any plans to widen the road outside the house
3. check percolation area
4. Check if preservation orders that would accept the house

Gumbo

dodo87 wrote: »

Thanks so much for your response!

I got a structural report the first time now solicitor is asking engineer to check the following:
1. Do a planning search for the property
2. To check if there are any plans to widen the road outside the house
3. check percolation area
4. Check if preservation orders that would accept the house

How did you get a structural report? Did he open up areas to check foundations. Load bearing elements?

1. Planning search should have been done IMO. It’s standard practice for a pre purchase survey unless the buyer specifically tells you not to as they don’t what the bank/solicitor to know about something that would stop a sale.

2. This is speculative. Who will tell you? Council/NTA? They’ll just reply with a standard “not at this time”. That could change tomorrow.

3/4. Very rural specific queries so I won’t answer them as it’s not my area.

Calahonda52

dodo87 wrote: »

Thanks so much for your response!

I got a structural report the first time now solicitor is asking engineer to check the following:
1. Do a planning search for the property
2. To check if there are any plans to widen the road outside the house
3. check percolation area
4. Check if preservation orders that would accept the house

You did not get a structural report, you got a set of opinions based on, at best , a visual inspection.

muddle84

I've paid for 4 engineers reports while trying to buy various houses and they only cost around €300. There was not a structural inspection apart from visual inspection of any subsidence or cracks in the ceiling.and whatever was on show in the attic.
They all included a planning search and i think that should be included as standard. If you ever plan on selling the house further down the line if there is issues with planning, they will have to be addressed.
The precolation area should be checked that its in accordance with the planning and that the waste system meets current regulations. You could end up with a nice bill if it needs to be upgraded. In my case the house i bought was connected to a sewerage scheme so it was all good!