Hi - we are in the process of buying a house (3 bed semi) built c. 1958 in central Sutton Coldfield. The homebuyers report has valued the house at the agreed price (and we have received the mortgage offer) but it has come up with a number of issues, and we will need further surveys/checks (damp, electrics, gas etc.) and probably quotes for various bits of building work, but we think nothing too serious/unusual for a house of this age. However the surveyor has also suggested concrete floor testing, cavity wall tie testing and drainage system testing, all basically due to the age of the house, but with no evidence of any defects (i.e. concrete floors appear basically level, no obvious signs of cavity wall tie failure, and no evidence of significant drainage defects).
Can anyone advise if these are really likely to be necessary? Or is it just the surveyor covering their back / trying to get additional business? I think the floor testing is the one that most concerns us, as we know that if sulphate was an issue it can be expensive to rectify. Is anyone aware if sulphate attack is a common issue in houses near the centre of Sutton Coldfield? We are aware that a couple of houses in the Streetly area where we also looked have been affected, but this is a few miles from where we are buying. We will try to speak to the surveyor, agent, vendors and possibly neighbours to see if we can find out more or if other houses in the area have been affected but any advice would be appreciated. Thanks
Can anyone advise if these are really likely to be necessary? Or is it just the surveyor covering their back / trying to get additional business? I think the floor testing is the one that most concerns us, as we know that if sulphate was an issue it can be expensive to rectify. Is anyone aware if sulphate attack is a common issue in houses near the centre of Sutton Coldfield? We are aware that a couple of houses in the Streetly area where we also looked have been affected, but this is a few miles from where we are buying. We will try to speak to the surveyor, agent, vendors and possibly neighbours to see if we can find out more or if other houses in the area have been affected but any advice would be appreciated. Thanks