What to do about poor quality survey report?

[Michael55]

I thought it would be so simple. I had a report on a purchase I want to make and it's bad to the point I'm not really sure I can trust it at all

- it describes the house as having a two storey bay window when it only has one
- the front elevation faces ..... and rear faces ...... - supposedly proof checked.
- photos with nice numbers but no description and not referred to in the report
- some of these photos have a finger point to the middle of it. Guesses please?
- no rooms mentioned in the photo title
- had to wait weeks longer than originally told just before instruction.

After complaining (not formally) to surveyor he "stands by" it.

I wanted to move quickly and complete by Christmas but this has thrown a complete spanner in the works and means it won't now happen. As the property is 130 yo I'm not sure if I can trust the findings of the report given such poor service and basic errors.

First time buying so what should I do? Get another survey and ignore that one? Surely this is not normal behaviour from a surveyor as my previous experience has been thorough and e.g. they stated any questions please ask when presenting the report. This one just said, here's your report. Good luck!

 

[Cubist]

Presumably you've already paid this bandit? If so, I wouldn't bank on getting your money back but you might consider a complaint to any trade association or body he/she is accredited by. I would be tempted to find another surveyor with whom your bandit competes and hire that person while giving them a copy of the report you have and telling the new guy you expect better - together with helpful explanations of the observations made by the bandit.

 

[Michael55]

Unfortunately over £800

 

[Kearn]

Unfortunately over £800

That is at the cheap end, at least. The figure should have been a red flag. There’s a lot of equally crap level 3 RICs reports costing many multiples more.

There is a route of return and dispute. But sadly, it is a road to nowhere.

 

[Michael55]

Civil case? Unfit for purpose? Maybe even a chargeback due to the glaring errors? I've had emails ignored when asking when my overdue report will be done, dates given that passed etc. From experience the company is acting like they're going bankrupt