Buying a house can be an exciting time in our lives but with so many things to think about, it can be a little confusing.
One of the common questions asked, is “who organises the structural survey when buying a house?”
Daily life is hectic enough for most of us and it can be even more stressful when buying a new home. Adding pressure of house buying can be too much to bare. So who does pay for a structural survey on the property?
Generally speaking, the purchaser will be responsible for paying for the structural survey. In some situations, where there is a lack of building regulations approval for alterations, the vendor may agree to pay for a structural surveyor or contribute to the cost.
Generally speaking though, it is the purchaser who will cover the cost of the structural survey.
What is the cost of a Structural Survey?
Most structural surveys are categorised into two types
- GSI – General Structural Survey
- SSI – Specific Structural Survey
A GSI structural survey will cover the entire building and look to detect any structural defects that may affect the integrity of the building, whereas an SSI will focus on a specific area or areas only, such as a crack above a window or on a wall.
Who organises the Structural Survey when buying a house?
So the question remains who is responsible for organising the structural survey when buying a house? It will more often than not be the responsibility of the buyer unless the vendor agrees to pay some or all of the cost. Situations, where the vendor may be willing to pay would be if they are keen to sell and don’t want to hold up the process.
Generally though, the buyer will be the person who pays the bill for a structural survey