Review on builders and insurance companies not understanding older properties and how our report helped

 

Independent Building Surveyors

If you have any property issues 1stAssociated.co.uk can provide help and advice with regard to property surveys, engineers' reports, structural reports, specific defects report or any other property matters.

What do the circles and ovals mean in our structural building surveys?

In our building surveys and structural surveys the circles and ovals are a system that we used to highlight property problem areas so that you are not left wondering what the property problem is. In addition to this if the survey photographs do not we believe explain the property problem enough together with our survey report we also add in one of our own survey sketches.

Having an independent building survey is essential

Unlike many Surveyors we are experienced in dealing with historic, Listed Buildings and properties within conservation areas. We like to meet you at the property during the survey to explain anything that you do not understand regarding the property and its characteristics. We are also more than happy to talk to you afterwards about the report. Please free phone 0800 298 5424 for a friendly chat with one of our surveyors.

Always have an independent building survey as this will highlight any property problems. Caveat emptor means buyer beware and is why you need to have a building survey to find out if there are any problems within the property; the estate agent certainly will not advise you of any.

Remember the building Surveyor that you employ will be the only person working for you with your interests at heart.

Our client was fortunate to be covered with buildings insurance and made a claim for the damage caused by the leak. To resolve the leak the property had to be dried out thoroughly, plaster ceilings and walls had to be stripped back and re-plastered as well as parquet flooring and carpet being replaced.

The builders carried out work in accordance with the insurance companies instructions adhering to their loss adjustor's findings.

Dampness in older style properties

As independent Surveyors we are experts in all eras of properties across many types and styles and as such can give you help and advice on property issues. Dampness occurring in older properties is often seen as a characteristic of the era of property. In this case we advised our client that the builders had not carried out work in accordance to the age, type and style of property.

Lime every time

The property originally would have had a lath and plaster ceiling with a lime plaster and lime plaster walls. The older style lime plaster will allow a property to breathe but we could see unfortunately the builders had used carlite/gypsum plaster which could not cope with the damp conditions to the same extent as the older style lime plaster.

Negotiations with an insurance claim

Our client on forwarding our Expert Witness Report to their insurance company was delighted when after a period whereby the insurance company refuted the work had not been carried out correctly that the insurance company then decided that there was an issue and that an error had been made. Lime every time – the in house insurance expert confirmed this should have been adhered to and agreed to replace the carlite / gypsum plasterwork with lime plasterwork.

Happy Ending

It is always good to hear a client's happy conclusion to a property issue which has unfortunately caused property issues.

Independent Surveyors are independent and as such can help with many different property issues some of which may go to court.

We have written articles with regard to insurance companies carrying out work in the way that is best for them and not necessarily best for you the client and how often the person who has the insurance company problem feels they have to go with the insurance companies' experts. However, in our opinion, these experts are employed time and time again by the insurance company because they look at the problems with the insurance companies' point of view to protect the insurance companies' interest.

How, in our experience, insurance companies deal with cracks in properties

Taking the insurance company to court was the only option

Insurance company unwilling to pay out for claims based on building contractors opinion of own work!