Damage to property: where do we stand?

Natwee

Natwee

Natwee

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4 Jan 2011
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So, we were driving through the area of the house we are buying tonight, and decided to drive past just because we are quite excited and wanted to see it again (sad I know)


The extention on the side of the house has a flat roof, and my bf had expressed concerns about the roof being flat might cause problems, but the vendor assured us it had had one leak 3 years ago, which was repaired and it had been fine since.

This week there has been one day of quite heavy rain, and as we passed, the upstairs window was lit up so we could see in..... and in there we could see wallpaper hanging off the ceiling and a hole in it.

The vendor has not contacted the agent to let us knw, so presumably they were hoping to cover it up and then it would be our problem when we move in.

Where do we stand on this?
 
What did the surveyor say? What kind of survey did you get, especially if concerned about the roof?
 
MisChief said:
Ah that's good then, at least you can demand they repair the damages or reduce the price of the property otherwise if they don't you could just pull out of the purchase.
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Yes this is what I was wondering if we could do. obviusly we dont want to pull out as we have spent ages looking and thought a lot about this one.

We already got them to knock £30,000 off the asking price so not sure if they will agree to reduce further.
 
Ask to see the property again or ask your surveyor to take a second look at that specific part of the property (It may cost you however). Then if you believe there is an item of work that needs doing reduce your offer (assuming you're prepared to pull out if they refuse).
 
Your offer was on the house and its condition at the time. If the condition has changed then so should your offer unless they remedy the problem to original condition.
 
[FnG]magnolia;24982974 said:
Your offer was on the house and its condition at the time. If the condition has changed then so should your offer unless they remedy the problem to original condition.
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exactly.

they rejected our first offer and said they wanted 5k more. we said our offer was what the property was worth so we wouldnt go higher. They asked if we could go higher, so we told them we could but werent prepared to.

3 days later they accepted our original offer and aid ti was because we can proceed quickly.
 
Don't get a surveyor.
My advice is to get a proper joiner/roofer out, and have him get up on ladders and assess it for you. He'll know if its bodged, if the ridge tiles are cracked, laid wrong, or if its some easily fixed by some additional (not cheap) lead flashing.
He'll likely charge you a bit to check it our properly, but if you get someone decent, then he can price it, you get them to knock x amount off the price and then get your own man to fix things properly after you've exchanged.

Or get them to fix it, using your man before the exchange with them footing the bill. Either is acceptable, as long you know you've a good man doing good work.

Renegotiate!
 
GSWAudio said:
If they knocked 30g off then they are perhaps a bit desperate to sell? Could there be more problems?
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the house only has an old man in it who is apparently keen to move to a flat as he doesnt want to have to look after a big house anymore.

The agent said that they accepted our offer because we are cash buyers with no chain as we are keeping the current house, and it meant he could move quicker.

But who knows really? he lied to us about the roof so who nows what else they are lying about.

My concern is what else are they hiding?
 
Hikari Kisugi said:
Don't get a surveyor.
My advice is to get a proper joiner/roofer out, and have him get up on ladders and assess it for you. He'll know if its bodged, if the ridge tiles are cracked, laid wrong, or if its some easily fixed by some additional (not cheap) lead flashing.
He'll likely charge you a bit to check it our properly, but if you get someone decent, then he can price it, you get them to knock x amount off the price and then get your own man to fix things properly after you've exchanged.

Or get them to fix it, using your man before the exchange with them footing the bill. Either is acceptable, as long you know you've a good man doing good work.

Renegotiate!
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Its a flat roof, there are no tiles :)
 
Natwee said:
Its a flat roof, there are no tiles :)
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Ok, but you said upstairs ceiling was down?
Is it a two story extension with a flat roof?

Either way, I'd be wanting a proper roofers to look at that, and all I've ever heard regarding flat roofs is they will leak. Anything without a decent lean will over time, water always finds a way.
Expect maintenance.

Have you had the main roof checked out at all?
I'd be looking there also, to see if things are tied in correctly.
 
Hikari Kisugi said:
Ok, but you said upstairs ceiling was down?
Is it a two story extension with a flat roof?

Either way, I'd be wanting a proper roofers to look at that, and all I've ever heard regarding flat roofs is they will leak. Anything without a decent lean will over time, water always finds a way.
Expect maintenance.

Have you had the main roof checked out at all?
I'd be looking there also, to see if things are tied in correctly.
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yes sorry should have been more specific!

to the side of the house is an extention that is the garage with a room above. it has a flat roof. this is what has fallen in.

we were prepared for maintenence, but not a whole new roof immediately which it now looks like it must need.
 
so glad you have to do a walk through of the property less than 24 hrs before you sign here. I walked through and checked my house then went to sign the contract.
 
Natwee said:
Its just so dishonest :(
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To be fair you don't know when the ceiling came down, for all you know, the old duffer who lives there couldve spotted a bit of loose wallpaper, pulled on it, & brought the ceiling down the very same day you spotted it.

Now as youve not exchanged contracts nothings been lost, if it was me, ide go back pronto armed with a camera & take a picture, then go see the agents & say "you know that offer we made, we're revising it, & heres why" & shove the picture under his nose.

Or just walk away from it altogether, eithers good tbh.
 
VoG said:
To be fair you don't know when the ceiling came down, for all you know, the old duffer who lives there couldve spotted a bit of loose wallpaper, pulled on it, & brought the ceiling down the very same day you spotted it.

Now as youve not exchanged contracts nothings been lost, if it was me, ide go back pronto armed with a camera & take a picture, then go see the agents & say "you know that offer we made, we're revising it, & heres why" & shove the picture under his nose.

Or just walk away from it altogether, eithers good tbh.
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even f it had come down today, he hasnt contacted the agents to tell them. thats dishonest. and i hghly doubt that pulling on loose wallpaper has brought the cieling down.
 
Natwee said:
Yes this is what I was wondering if we could do. obviusly we dont want to pull out as we have spent ages looking and thought a lot about this one.

We already got them to knock £30,000 off the asking price so not sure if they will agree to reduce further.
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you've got fairly reasonable grounds to ask them to do exactly that - find out how much it will cost to fix and knock that amount off tbh.... why on earth should you guys pay for it when you based your previous offer on there not being a problem with the roof
 
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