mickbrown Posted November 7, 2005 Posted November 7, 2005 Bought a house 5 years ago and the structural survey was ??150. I'm moving and have been told by the mortgage people that a structural survey will now cost nigh on ??700. What the feck's that about? Am I being robbed?
jayjayoghani Posted November 7, 2005 Posted November 7, 2005 You sure the original survey entailed a structural survey? That is suspiciously cheap. A chartered structural engineers hourly rate will be minimum ??50 a hour. We charge about ??400 for a structural survey assuming nothing out of the ordinary. Before you ask, we don't do them at the minute. Our firm try to avoid them as getting paid can be a major pain in the ??rse. You could try ringing up a firm of structural engineers to get a quote and use that to arm wrestle the mortgage company.
Ani Posted November 7, 2005 Posted November 7, 2005 Bought a house 5 years ago and the structural survey was ??150. I'm moving and have been told by the mortgage people that a structural survey will now cost nigh on ??700. What the feck's that about? Am I being robbed? there are two types of structural survey. a cheap glance over and a full in depth one. (or as note above says not really a structural survey) i would go for the full in depth on every time, as a % of the cost aint that much and potential problems that could be missed by first one can cost ??000s. Might not seem like it but in my opnion the mortgage company are looking after your best interests.
mickbrown Posted November 7, 2005 Author Posted November 7, 2005 It was an above ground one - which I'm guessing means they don't go rooting under the floorboards and stuff. Maybe the ??700 quid one they get their miner's helmest on and go underground. Just rang the people who did the original one 5 years ago and they told us they'd do one for ??240 plus VAT. We'd still have to pay ??190 for the mortgage people to do a valuation but even so, its till cheaper than ??700. Do we need to check what's going on below ground level?
jayjayoghani Posted November 7, 2005 Posted November 7, 2005 I'd say not. A structural survey can only survey the "viewable" structure which is why the standard survey is "above ground". If there is a structural problem below ground, it manifests itself quickly enough above ground anyway. e.g. foundation subsidence is usually symptomized by cracking in brickwork
mickbrown Posted November 7, 2005 Author Posted November 7, 2005 So ??240 plus VAT for an above ground structural survey is preyty good price then?
jayjayoghani Posted November 7, 2005 Posted November 7, 2005 Yes ??240+VAT is a good price. I would confirm that the person doing it is either MIStructE or MICE i.e chartered. These things have to be worth something. Unfortunately there are plenty of people pretending to be structural engineers
Zozzy Posted November 7, 2005 Posted November 7, 2005 Yes ??240+VAT is a good price. I would confirm that the person doing it is either MIStructE or MICE i.e chartered. These things have to be worth something. Unfortunately there are plenty of people pretending to be structural engineers I wouldn't have MICE doing my underground survey [-X
Ani Posted November 8, 2005 Posted November 8, 2005 Will do. Ta very much jayjay. Before you do have you checked with your mortgage company that they will lend with only the small survey ? (assume you have). Is it really not worth the ??300 or so extra to know your house is structurally sound ? Any work you do once you are in will cost you a lot more.
mickbrown Posted November 8, 2005 Author Posted November 8, 2005 Will do. Ta very much jayjay. Before you do have you checked with your mortgage company that they will lend with only the small survey ? (assume you have). Is it really not worth the ??300 or so extra to know your house is structurally sound ? Any work you do once you are in will cost you a lot more. I know that but the company who did our original one are doing a full structural for ??240, I think the mortgage company were taking the piss at ??700.
Recommended Posts