Social Homebuy Scheme

I am at the early stages of purchasing my housing association home that i have lived in for 15years (thru the new 'social homebuy scheme').  It is a late 80's traditionally built one up, one down.  I have worked in the construction Industry for almost 20years and currently manage the building of new houses for a national housing developer (ie. I know my stuff etc...!)  This is a non-typical case, not involving an estate agent, a chain - and hopefully not inflated prices etc..!  My questions are:

1)  The Housing Association arrange and pay for an Independant Valuation.  Should I carry out my own survey/condition report and present this to the valuers prior to their valuation?  (In short, I want to buy the house for a least as possible, highlight items where maintenance by the HA has been lacking, and where in the past I have carried out repairs and improvements at my own expense.)

2)  Conveyancing : As stated above, I have lived in the house i wish to buy for 15 years. what would the pitfalls (if any) be for me to carry out my own conveyancing?  (I have dealt with Land Registry, Local authority etc...on other items relating to this house, and am willing to do lots of research, form filling and chasing info./documents from stakeholders concerned.)

Good idea to waylay the surveyor with your own report! Even if they say they can't, they may feel obliged to look at it and take it into account. The Housing Association refer to an Independent Valuation which will principally establish value and any defects that affect that. I always tend to believe that the person who pays is the person who the report is really for. As you are in the business I am sure you will be capable of doing your research as to value. You can always take soundings from local estate agents etc. How major can the maintenance items you refer to be?

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