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Property Surveys

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 5:00pm
6 replies164 views3 members subscribed
JRS

JRS

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How do these fit in to the purchase process in Spain?

I presume most people get them done?

Are offers made subject to survey?

Who does them and how much do they cost?

How quickly can you get them done?

Is a similar thing to a land registry search undertaken to check for motorways (!) / new building, etc?

Any info or advice welcome.

Thanks

Jon

Kelvin1960

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 5:55pm

Kelvin1960

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Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 5:55pm

We had a structural survey written into our purchase contract before we parted with our 3000 Euros.

The 3000 Euros was held by our solicitor, not by the seller's estate agent.

The 3000 Euros was only transferred to the vendor on satisfactory completion of the structural survey.

Our survey cost 500 Euros. It included a written report (in Spanish) and a video (narrated in English). Coincidentally, we were able to meet the surveyor on site. He spoke perfect English, and was able to explain the construction of the house to us (Spanish houses use some unfamiliar construction techniques). I think the lead time for the survey was around 10 days. If you want, I can pm you the surveyor's contacts.

Your solicitor should do the land registry (equivalent) check, but development plans/motorways/approved consents etc. are much more hit-and-miss in Spain than in the UK.  

JRS

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 6:20pm

JRS

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Location: Moraira

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Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 6:20pm

Thanks Kelvin.

Very useful.

PM details would be appreciated.

Jon

Kelvin1960

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 6:46pm

Kelvin1960

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Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 6:46pm

pm sent

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Movingon

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 8:38pm

Movingon

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Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 8:38pm

You presume wrong and I suggest that Kelvin will have been in a very tiny minority.

Typically property transactions are be done on an 'as seen' basis where the buyer satisfies themselves that the details provided are reasonably accurate and reflect the condition of the property.

Kelvin1960

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 9:29pm

Kelvin1960

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Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 9:29pm

Movingon wrote on Thu Jan 30, 2020 8:38pm:

You presume wrong and I suggest that Kelvin will have been in a very tiny minority.

Typically property transactions are be done on an 'as seen' basis where the buyer satisfies themselves that the details provided are reasonably accurate and reflect the condition of the property.

You might be right. Maybe I was in a tiny minority.

There are a two issues which need to be separated ....

1. Property condition/structure ... our surveyor provided a structural report. Had a structural problem emerged, we were covered by his professional indemnity insurance

2. Do the deeds of the property actually match the property as you see it ? .... this is for your Spanish solicitor to sort out. It is not unusual for a homeowner to gain planning consent for (say) an extension, or a pool. He then gets the extension/pool built. He is then supposed to present his as-built drawings back to the local authority who update the deeds on payment of taxes. But - you guessed it - that last bit sometimes doesn't happen. The taxes aren't paid, so the deeds don't reflect the property that you can see. We had this issue - we had a legal extension and pool, but the taxes had not been paid and the official deeds had not been updated. It was the responsibility of the vendor and his solicitor to get this fixed prior to completion. The purchase process often entails stage payments .... 3000 Euros deposit, then another chunk of money a few weeks later, then the final balance on completion. That middle chunk is often used by the vendor/his solicitor to pay the outstanding taxes. If you don't get this sorted out, you (as the buyer) inherit the back-tax liability.

JRS

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 10:05pm

JRS

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Posts: 110

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Location: Moraira

Joined: 19 Jan 2020

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 10:05pm

Movingon wrote on Thu Jan 30, 2020 8:38pm:

You presume wrong and I suggest that Kelvin will have been in a very tiny minority.

Typically property transactions are be done on an 'as seen' basis where the buyer satisfies themselves that the details provided are reasonably accurate and reflect the condition of the property.

That seems a little cavalier and a risky strategy to me. I would be interested to hear whether others did not bother with a structural survey.

Jon

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