Conveyancer wants end of “dense, unreadable, poor v...

A conveyancing company has thrown its weight behind reforms to surveys outlined by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

As Estate Agent Today reported earlier this week, RICS plans to introduce simpler language, more transparency and greater uniformity into surveys by using a new industry standard from next June.

The aim is to make surveys be recognised as essential to more buyers, and for them to be more understandable for those who receive them.

Now the move has received the backing of a major conveyancer - Convey Choice.

It says there is existing research at the RICS suggesting the public see current surveys as “dense, unreadable, poor value, confusing, full of caveats and lacking real detail on costs and deliverables for a homebuyer.”

Convey Choice has released a statement saying that any change to enhance survey reports that are vital to consumer process when purchasing a property will assist and drive consumer confidence in the purchasing cycle and enable them to feel secure in their purchase.

“The property market needs to continue to adapt and make these milestone changes to support the consumer and guide them through what could be the largest investment they will ever make” says the firm.

“Offering expert advice and products which meet a defined standard and are easy to understand, with clear guidance is refreshing and will ultimately deliver more credibility to the reports and the value they add.”

RICS says its proposals to change the guidelines will lead to better respected and understandable surveys, but will not change the overall difference between the basic Condition Report, the Homebuyer’s Report, or the Structural or Building Survey.

Here is our original story on the new RICS standard.

Debbie DoesALot
22 November 2019 12:05 PM

I quite agree Lee, they worry buyers unnecessarily. I'm sick to the back teeth of buyers being ripped off to the tune of £500+ for a homebuyers reports that lack commitment and defers findings to 'specialist reports' at yet a further cost to the buyer. I've seen one report recommending no fewer than 3 specialist reports - what the buyer was paying for in the homebuyers report I really don't know. If the surveyor isn't confident carrying out the work he is paid to do then he shouldn't be taking on the job!

Matthew Payne
22 November 2019 13:34 PM

Mainly to guard against litigation similar to the old Caveat Emptor used by Agents to admonish them from having accurate sales particulars. The surveying industry doesnt want the responsibilty of underwriting all these areas, so these recommendations are get out of jail free cards to protect them from the buyer and lender if later there are issues.