The old phrase " Buyer Beware" applies to a house purchase. If there is found to be anything wrong with the property after the exchange of contracts the seller is not liable and the buyer will have to pay for any necessary repairs.

If you have a mortgage, a valuer will inspect the property, on behalf of the lender. It is not advisable to rely upon the valuation report alone because the condition of the property is not considered in detail. However, it is often possible, for an extra fee, to arrange for the same valuer to carry out a more detailed inspection called a "Home Buyers Report and Survey" or even a full structural survey, if the property is very old and needs extensive repairs or alterations.