Mortgage: Independent survey V Bank survey?

[lightf]

Hi there,

We are (hopefully) buying a property that is quite old and definitely needs a full structural survey.

I'm wondering whether to go with the bank's surveyor (no doubt cheaper as package deal with the valuation) OR, if it's better to go with an independent surveyor.

This article about bank-engaged surveyors doing a shoddy job as they are paid less concerned me citywire.co.uk/money/rip-off-valuation-fees-hurt-buyers-and-surveyors/a696623

Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thank you!

[adp73]

I don't think the Bank Surveyor does a full survey it is just a Valuation survey so they don't look at the property in detail just from the point of view that if the Bank lends you the money the house isn't going to fall down! I don't think there is any come back on them either if anything were to go wrong or be found to be wrong.

We have always had a full structural survey done by an Independent Surveyor.

[Chillisauce]

We paid for the survey company that came with the bank to do an upgrade on the survey.

1 was the free mortgage survey
2 was a home buyers survey
3 was recommended for listed buildings or houses that predate 1880

We went for the upgrade to number 2 option, the survey company recommended that one too.