In 2024 I contracted SJM Surveyors to carry out a level 3 survey of a Welsh farmhouse I was later purchased. As documented below not only was the surveyor Stephen Massie negligent in conducting the survey but more seriously his son Richard Massie’s ‘investigation’ into my subsequent complaint constitutes a dishonest attempt to cover up his companies failures. He refused to revisit the property, failed to return my calls and has lied repeatedly.
I’m detailing some of the issues below in order to protect other people from SJM Surveyors. Currently RICS
Just a few of the failings of the survey:
● ‘Opinion of the property’ section was actually copied and pasted from another SJM Surveyors survey. Richard Massie sees no problem in this.
Stephen Massie’s ‘assessment’ of our house was actually a copy and paste from a different survey!
● Failure to identify highly visible roof/verge damage and decay/slipped plastic covered barge boards.
Mr Massie’s site photos and report demonstrate he never properly inspected this part of the property.
● Failure to report a rotten rafter visible in the loft. SJM Surveyors falsely claim lack of access but failed to make this qualification in the report.
● Failed to report absence of central heating in a main room. SJM Surveyors claim there was too much stuff in the room to establish wether there a radiator was present (as it is in all other rooms) but didn’t make this qualification in the report. The vendor was also present to answer any questions in regards to the heating and any other matter.
● Impossible claims of rising damp near a first floor dormer window (rising damp is at ground level). Makes other claims of damp but doesn’t say where it is!
● Claimed there was no site access in the adjacent field from where to inspect the roof but it’s a public footpath as you can see below!
● Failure to spot light fittings in the lounge with burn marks. Very concerning not only because of a fire list but also because they are sited on a major structural beam!
●Identified a shower as electric (it’s not see Mr Massie’s photo!) and told us to get an electrician to check it out!
Richard Massie’s response to date includes:
● Refusing to revisit the property:
‘I see no justification for this practice to revisit the property’
and then lying by stating in a subsequent letter that he did not refuse:
‘baseless – we offered no such refusal’
● Withholding the site photographs and falsely stating they contradicted my evidence in regards to the damaged gable end. I only received them after threatening to report him to RICS for professional misconduct. None of the photos contradict the evidence I sent them.
● Falsely claiming light fittings with burn marks were not present in the lounge at the time of survey (they are in the particulars for the sale and the vendor has confirmed their presence). Falsely implies I made this up.
● Denying my right for a ‘separate review’ as set out in his complaints procedure at the time of my complaint.
Beware also SJM Surveyors terms and conditions that wouldn’t stand up in court as fair. Like the one that says they can miss £3000 of damage and you are liable to pay it. I was only sent the terms AFTER they’d booked in the survey with the vendor. I would have run a mile if I’d spotted this in advance. Be warned.
Whilst any professional can