Negotiate or not after survey?
I’m hoping for some advice because I’m a bit torn about what to do. I’m buying a 100-year-old house and I fully expected it to be a bit tired — things like damp, some leaks in the conservatory, an end-of-life boiler, and general cosmetic stuff didn’t bother me too much.
But the survey has come back with a number of additional structural issues I wasn’t prepared for, and now I don’t know whether I should be trying to renegotiate or if I should just accept it and sort things gradually after completion. Part of me is worried the seller might pull out if I start asking for a reduction, and I’m honestly not even sure what’s reasonable to ask.
Here’s what the survey highlighted:
1. Wall tie replacement
2. Re-rendering the rear elevation
3. Chimney breast support
4. Roof structural works
5. Bay timber repairs
6. Conservatory structural repair
7. Lintel reinforcement
8. Drainage issues affecting the structure
The house was originally £550k and I’m paying £525k, so I’m already under asking, but the extra structural findings have thrown me a bit.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? Should I try to renegotiate based on the survey, or just buy it as-is and tackle things over time? Any advice would be massively appreciated
Posted Dec 10, 2025, 2:59 PM UTC