Negligence claims against surveyors have risen dramatically in some parts of the country, according to some professional negligence lawyers.
For example, there is evidence that such claims are up by around 20% in the Sheffield area.
However, as has been noted in earlier posts on these pages, a rise in negligence claims related to property purchases should hardly come as a surprise. After all, with so many areas of the UK experiencing a dip in the housing market, with many properties down in value by 20-30%, it would make sense that property investors who have fallen foul of bad advice should look to claim something back.
Things may look good in places like London, where property prices seem to be on an ever upwards trajectory, but even a desirable city like Brighton has seen prices fall by around 15-20% in some parts.
Understandably, the largest source of negligence claims against surveyor work is coming from those buy-to-let investors who have found that their nest eggs have gone rotten.
“The increase in buy-to-let property investment ahead of the credit crunch has been well-documented,” said one professional negligence lawyer from the city.
“Many of these landlords have since struggled to find tenants due to an over supply in some cities, and this in turn has forced many to sell in order to avoid defaulting on their mortgage.
“Landlords rely on surveyors to provide an accurate valuation of the property as well as the likely rental income that will be achieved. It appears, however, that an increasing number are alleging significant discrepancies between the true market value and the figures provided in surveyor reports.”
This can indeed be a distressing scenario. However, it is not one that always makes the possibility of a successful negligence claim straightforward, as claimants must prove, among other things, that the negligent surveyor owed a duty of care when proffering figures and values.
For more information about how Healys’ professional negligence solicitors can help you make a claim against a surveyor click here.
