First-time buyers 'neglecting proper checks'

The AA has claimed that many people on first-time buyer mortgages are getting themselves into difficult situations by failing to carry out simple checks before moving into their home.

According to research by the group, two-thirds of new buyers encounter a costly surprise within the first year of moving into their property.

This is caused by one in five buyers aged 18 to 29 failing to carry out basic assessments of their home before deciding to buy it, the AA claims.

The most common problem that buyers encounter is noisy or obnoxious neighbours, according to the research, with 17 per cent of homeowners experiencing problems with the people next door within a year of moving in.

Structural flaws are also a common cause of trouble, with leaking roofs (15 per cent), rotten windows (15 per cent), draughts (12 per cent), drainage problems (12 per cent) and rising damp (seven per cent) all posing a problem for many people.

Fewer than one in three respondents to the survey said they had an independent structural survey carried out before moving in and only 11 per cent said they had checked the drainage of the building or investigated levels of noise pollution.

James Molloy, head of AA legal services, said: "Young homebuyers are now taking out mortgages which they will be paying off for the next 50 or so years so they should feel confident about the investment they are making.

"Simple legal and structural checks not only give peace of mind, but could also avoid costly surprises."

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