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The rule of thumb is that because no vendor will give a surveyor permission to conduct an invasive survey they put any potential problem, no matter how small down as something along the lines of "requires further investigation". They do this to cover themselves from a legal standpoint.
If I were you I'd want to Quantify how much remedial works will cost. As you have already said it is not in your interest to get a free quote firm to quote for this. I know someone who is good at this type of thing (he's a registered surveyor in remedial works) but he's busy and normally only works in and around Ealing. If you want I can ask but the answer will likely be no.
Bobbo-
If I were you I'd want to Quantify how much remedial works will cost
Tough to do that without the invasive investigation part (short of obvious problems ljke cracked render, holes in the roof or broken guttering).
If you just want to sell, are utterly immoral and have no qualms abiut dicking people over, get a rising damp chemical injection monkey to quote for a couple of grand, split the difference on the asking price, and take a backhander from the damp "expert"...
NotThamesWater
Walthamstow. I know they want it so could play hardball but don't want to seem unreasonable. The report was vague but said it wasn't extensive but should be looked into. Could be an oversensitive surveyor?