Jennifer Brookes rated SDL Surveying 1 stars
Edited 2 months ago
SDL were instructed by YBS to complete the valuation of our property, and we paid £229 to cover the cost of a level two homebuyer survey.
The Homebuyer Survey should includ a visual inspection of all major features including ceilings, roof, walls, and bathrooms, as well as permanent outdoor buildings and features including roofing, pipes, gutters, walls, windows, and doors.
To say it was a waste of money is an understatement.
They gave our main roof a condition rating of 2 stated there were a few broken tiles and some which has been replaced. After a few broken tiles fell onto our drive, a roofing contractor told me that the condition of the roof from ground level inspection alone was appalling. Upon greater inspection we had over 50 broken tiles, some tiles glued together with adhesive, guttering that was filled with rubble and broken tiles, and ridge tiles being held in place by friction alone. Our roof should have never been given a good or satisfactory rating and is in fact in need of urgent repair. We have since had to fork out over £9,396 for a new main roof. There goes the bathroom renovation.
We then discovered that the roof on the extension of the property (given a condition rating of 1) had been pitched at the wrong angle. Again, a qualified (and decent surveyor) would have been able to make this conclusion from eye level. It's a matter of time before damp and leakage issues occur through the VELUX windows because of the pitch, and we are looking at over £6000 to have this roof re-pitched and replaced.
Not to mention, the surveyor completely missed a hole in the side of our exterior wall, from an old soil pipe. We are again, having to fork out over £1,000 to get this fixed and we don't know if further damp issues are going to arise.
We would not have purchased the property had SDL's survey been accurate. I requested the site notes and photographs and SDL refused to release them (which is one, illegal as we paid for the service, and two either demonstrates that the photos show that the damage was there or no sufficient photographs or site notes were taken by the individual who inspected the property).
All they have been prepared to offer us was a £250 'good will' gesture which covers some lf what we paid for the survey - nothing more.
I also reported them to their governing body. But as their terms and conditions state sometimes mistakes are made and things are missed - they legally completely get around situations like ours.
As first time home buyers we have been unable to move into the property until building work is completed and it has shattered our experience of buying our first home.
Avoid SDL at all costs. Just get a builder, electrician & roofer you trust to inspect your property so you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into.
