Chiltern Associates

Talk To Our Friendly Team
nina@chiltern-associates.co.uk
07973 306505
  • Home
    • Nina Robinson
  • Services
    • RICS Survey Comparison
    • Building Surveys
    • HomeBuyer Report
    • Commercial Surveyor Suffolk
    • Maintenance Reports
  • Listed and Historic Buildings
    • Listed Building Advice
    • Timber Framed Building Surveys
  • Save £1000s
  • Testimonials
  • Areas We Cover
    • Ipswich
    • Suffolk
    • Aldeburgh
    • Felixstowe
    • Framlingham
    • Halesworth
    • Kesgrave
    • Saxmundham
    • Southwold
    • Stowmarket
    • Woodbridge
    • Leiston
    • Manningtree
    • Martlesham
    • Orford
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

September 11, 2018 By Chiltern Associates

4 All Too Common Problems Found During a Survey

Dry rot in building timber

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Ask any surveyor to tell you a few horror stories and they will no doubt regal you with tails of subsidence, blocked drains and all sorts of nasty stories. But apart from the real nightmares they will also be able to rattle off some sadly all too common problems that many home buyers simply are not aware of. This post is all about just some of the common problems surveyors find Suffolk towns as well as across the UK. If you do have a survey that show any of these issues you must seek further professional help from your surveyor and anyone they recommend.

Asbestos

There is certainly no mystery about this material and most people are well aware of how dangerous it can be. For homes built before 2000 there is a risk that asbestos may have been used. Often it is the “shed roof” kind that is mixed with concrete and far less dangerous. This can often be left in place with very little risk of problems. However, if it needs to be removed or disturbed you must consult a professional service. The more dangerous types of asbestos are uses inside buildings and it is critical to act if a survey shows this is present. You surveyor will advise on how to move forward and get it sorted. It may be an additional cost to the property that makes it a bad deal but the existing owner could potentially help with the cost as part of negotiations.

Japanese Knotweed

This rather aggressive plant is becoming more and more of a problem in the UK and many other countries. It was introduced in the 19th Century and has since made the UK a home. It kills other plants and grows very fast, it can even grow into the structure of a building itself.  It is illegal to grow or to ignore Japanese Knotweed on your property and as such mortgage lenders take a very dim view of lending against a property with this issue.

If your survey does show this plant is present, once again, seek professional advice on eradication costs and times. Then speak to the seller and see if a deal can be reached to help mitigate the costs; Do Not Ignore It!

Radon Gas

No, it is not a type of weapon from Star Wars it is in fact a very common naturally occurring radioactive gas. Whilst it is common it normally just floats away into the air, however if it leaks up from the ground into a house the levels can reach a point where they can cause lung disease. During a survey and solicitors checks the UK radon maps will be checked. If the home is in a high radon area there should be suitable special ventilation in place. If this is not then once again the property should be seriously reviewed along with the price to include the work needed to make it safe.

Dry Rot

This rather unhelpful fungus is able to weaken timber in a house. This timber could be in the floor, stairs, roof or window frames and can be a very serious issue especially in timber frame buildings. If the survey shows dry rot it is important to get more information about the extent of the issue and be aware it can spread very quickly. In some cases it is only a small amount and can be eliminated but larger levels can mean a great deal of cost, disruption and time to fix and often this means people pull out of a sale.

If you are looking at a property in Suffolk then get in touch for a skilled local surveyor who also specialises in listed and historic buildings.

 

 

Filed Under: Surveys

Contact our Friendly Team For a Free Quotation

  • Privacy Policy and Data Use
    We are committed to your data protection under the GDPR. For more information please see our Privacy Policy - Link Shown Above. We do not sell data, engage in e-mail marketing or tele-marketing.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

RICS Chartered Surveyor

Reviews on Really Moving

Reviews on Local Surveyors Direct

4.8/5.0 based on 11 Reviews

Testimonials

Speedy, friendly response. Approachable and accommodating. No fuss survey and report and competitively priced.No fuss execution of survey and clear written and online report. Very competitively priced. Approachable and helpful. Kept me up to date. Did best to fit in with my timelines.
Dear Nina, Just a quick email to notify that purchase of 2 Nunns Mill Terrace was completed and we moved in 2 weeks ago. All the significant items identified in your snagging report were addressed to our satisfaction and none required clarification. Many thanks for your help. Best regards Smail June 2018
Dear Nina Thank you very much for everything. We really appreciate you getting this over to us so quickly. Best wishes Dirk and Emma February 2019
Many thanks for a very complete report which I have now forwarded to my legal advisor
Greg Peck, National Procurement Manager at National Firm of commercial agents
Thank you for being so thorough in your survey. I shant hesitate to contact you again if and when the time arises. Tom
Thanks Nina, read your survey; very detailed.A lot of things to consider – A client’s comment on a building survey for a 1950’s bungalow. Despite being in the building trade himself he clearly found a lot of things to consider.   2017
I would like to thank you for your excellent services and easy to read report. I value your report greatly and I am holding out firmly for a price around your estimate”
Paul Slater
5 out of 5 stars. I thoroughly recommend Chiltern Associates and their services – our surveyor (Nina Robinson) was professional, fast, thorough, and communicative. She also provided additional observations and advice beyond the usual. And all this for a reasonable price. Andrew May 2018
Hello Nina, Many thanks for the report and the prompt way you dealt with our request. Best Regards, John
John
Yes survey all very satisfactory  – thanks again. We are proceeding with the purchase  – but still await the final answers on the searches . Hopefully soon completed and we can exchange/complete. So VERY many thanks for a job well done.

Copyright © 2021 Chiltern Associates - 24 Garden Square, Rendlesham, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 2GW - 07973 306505 - Privacy Policy