Does the buyer usually get a copy of Property Survey/Search reports?

[tell-me-more]

When a buyer pays to have a survey (or a search) done for the lender before buying a property, is it usual for him to receive a copy of it?

My estate agent's mortgage advisor, who's arranging both, is acting like this is not normal procedure, but I think for the best part of �300 a photocopy is not too much to ask for.

[lauratee]

I am assuming you have a solicitor? In which case they should provide you with a copy of the search results and your lender should provide you with a copy of the survey.

[tell-me-more]

I've been told there's no guarantee I will receive a copy of the survey report and in fact I probably won't, because it is purely a Mortgage Valuation Report.

Seeing as it's being done through the Estate Agents' mortgage advisor, seems there's not much to stop them p1551ng my �300 up the wall then just driving by the flat and saying "yeah, still standing" and making up a report to the same effect to give to the lender. After all, it's not in their interests to reveal what the valuation is if I've paid more, and it's in their interests to make sure they value it high enough to secure the mortgage.

Am I over-reacting, or am I right to be concerned that it's just money for nothing?

[Loosehead]

You are paying for the survey you are the customer to the surveyors, you get a copy. I have always had a copy of a survey without having to ask for it. Demand a copy and threaten to go elsehere if you don't get it, the surveyor should give you a copy even if the estate agent don't. They will actually do the survey because the lender will want to see it. The Estate agent is just being and ar5se.

[lady_p_gold]

A survey and a search are two separate things, one is usually a builder's survey which can be a very basic one or a full one depending on how much you pay. The local authority search is from your local authority and again there are two sorts of searches, a basic one called a personal search (�11) or a full one usually in excess of �100(although not many people know this and pay for the full one without realising they are getting the �11 one). Of course the buyer should receive a copy of both, so that the buyer would know firstly what his money went to paying for and secondly whether the survey and search showed up any problems, i.e. subsidence, building or planning regulations that may have been breached, rights of way, road changes etc. and all those things that might make them either adjust the price or not proceed with the sale.

[lady_p_gold]

Having read more information I would say that your estate agent has a nice little thing going with his mortgage advisor. I just got a mortgage and all the legal fees were free and the mortage valuation so best to shop around.

[Oneeyedvic]

You may well be getting a 'drive by' survey. If you want a 'proper' survey, then you should pay for one yourself. This will ocst betwen �500 - 1500 depending on what you want.

Although you are paying for the survey, it is not actually done for you and you will often have no recourse - it is done for the finance company to show value.

lady_p - if you think you are getting a 'free' survey then you are sadly mistaken - there is nothing free in this world, and often a paid for survey can result in lower interest rates.

[lady_p_gold]

No it was only a mortgage valuation, don't worry I had the full survey done before I bought the property, the expensive one! This was because I got the mortage through my bank's chosen mortage provider and they did the valuation free (it was a re-mortgage) and also the solicitors as an incentive for me to use their finance company. I agree there is nothing really free !