A house with radiators and electrics stripped, water system drained down

river_kwai · 25 September 2005 at 10:49PM

I have seen a house with radiators removed, electrics stripped, and water system drained down, but the problem is that I liked the house very much!!!

All that's left for the radiators are the copper pipes which are clearly being sawn in order for the radiators to be removed. (Questions: is this the correct way to remove the radiators? If the copper pipes connecting the radiators are being cut by sawing, would re-installing radiators be a problem?)

Another area of concern is that the water system is being drained down, in what circumstances would this happen? How do u get water supply back to this property?

As for the electrics, even the ceiling rose are being removed but I think it should be quite straight forward to get them replaced, am I right to think so?

I really like the house in general but should I be worried about the problems I see so far? How much would it cost to get the radiators re-installed?

Please help.......

robnye · 26 September 2005 at 7:55AM

make sure that the item that are being removed are listed as not being included in the sale..... otherwise you could sue them.......

if all of the radiators have been removed, then new raditators will have to be fixed lower down on the wall so that they reach the pipe work, otherwise you will need to mess about adding bits of pipe to the remaining pipework, light switches/ceiling roses can be replaced fairly easily, make sure the electric is switched of at the mains before connecting any thing

river_kwai · 26 September 2005 at 9:30AM

For re-installing the radiators, I am thinking to get the central heating plumbers to do it, but I don't know whether sawing the copper pipes connecting the radiators would make the re-installation much difficult? I have counted and there are 12 radiators in the house, the big radiators in the master bedroom and lounge, some medium ones in the 2nd bedroom and kitchen, and the rest are small ones (based on the fitting marks left on the walls).

Anyone care to help me to estimate how much much would it cost to supply and fit all the radiators. (Would it be cheaper if I get al the radiators from Wickes and get a plumber to install it?) As I said, my main concern is whether the sawn copper pipes would be a problem. I have some photographs taken and can send to anyone if they need to look at the photos.

river_kwai · 26 September 2005 at 9:31AM

robnye wrote:

make sure that the item that are being removed are listed as not being included in the sale..... otherwise you could sue them.......

No, they are not listed in the description!

GDB2222 · 26 September 2005 at 10:54AM

There's a simple solution to this. You need to go round the house with a good builder, who can then give you a quote for the work. Before you do that, I suggest that you put in an offer allowing for say £3,000 to £5,000 of work. The builder can then give you a more accurate estimate, but there is no point in doing this if the vendor won't accept your offer in the first place.

There's a newsgroup uk.d-i-y that can answer your questions about the work, but there are practicalities involved - how close to the floor have the pipes been cut, for example?

river_kwai · 26 September 2005 at 11:04AM

GDB2222 wrote:

There's a simple solution to this. You need to go round the house with a good builder, who can then give you a quote for the work. Before you do that, I suggest that you put in an offer allowing for say £3,000 to £5,000 of work. The builder can then give you a more accurate estimate, but there is no point in doing this if the vendor won't accept your offer in the first place.

Yes, but I thought doing so would compromise my offer, as bringing a builder would show the EA that I really like the house. At the moment, I have put an offer in based on my amateur estimates but I am no builder or plumber, so need a bit of advice. Once my offer is accpeted, I will definitely bring builders and plumbers with me.

Would the EA be obliged to let me in the property everytime I request (The house is vacant). For example, can I bring 3 builders/ plumbers in at different times in order to get 3 quotes, each time making an appointment with EA? Or is there an easier way, for example, getting the EA to borrow me the keys for a couple of hours????

robnye · 26 September 2005 at 11:35AM

i was quoted £180 to supply and fit a new radiator, positioning it on the opposite sideof the room from the existing radiator.
I did it myself, a relative had a spare radiator/piping, cost me £20 for pushfit fittings and a few hours work.

Hunnymonster · 26 September 2005 at 11:42AM

river_kwai wrote:

Yes, but I thought doing so would compromise my offer, as bringing a builder would show the EA that I really like the house.

Talk to the builder beforehand - and take him along yourself (as a friend)... EA might have an idea - but the fact you're going back again is already telling them that you're interested surely ?

river_kwai · 26 September 2005 at 11:43AM

robnye wrote:

i was quoted £180 to supply and fit a new radiator, positioning it on the opposite sideof the room from the existing radiator.
I did it myself, a relative had a spare radiator/piping, cost me £20 for pushfit fittings and a few hours work.

Shouldn't radiators be fitted by CORGI registered engineer? Anyway, I will not tackle the DIY myself as I haven't got a clue of how to even drain the central heating system.

GDB2222 · 26 September 2005 at 11:44AM

river_kwai wrote:

Yes, but I thought doing so would compromise my offer, as bringing a builder would show the EA that I really like the house. At the moment, I have put an offer in based on my amateur estimates but I am no builder or plumber, so need a bit of advice. Once my offer is accpeted, I will definitely bring builders and plumbers with me.

Would the EA be obliged to let me in the property everytime I request (The house is vacant). For example, can I bring 3 builders/ plumbers in at different times in order to get 3 quotes, each time making an appointment with EA? Or is there an easier way, for example, getting the EA to borrow me the keys for a couple of hours????

LOL. Most people who offer on property really like it!

I think you have done right. Wait until your offer is accepted, then don't be shy about driving the EA bendy. The market is quiet, so he has plenty of time. Besides, if you drop out because he won't let you go round with a builder (and you should drop out if that happens), he will have to find a new buyer.

The EA is unlikely to lend you the keys. It would be unprofessional, but some EAs are unprofessional.

BTW, is this property a repossession, or has it been vandalised?

Ask the builders how long it will take to do the work, and see if you can negotiate access for your builders between exchange and contract for them to carry out the work. Otherwise, you will want to reduce your offer to allow for the time that the property will be empty because the builders are in. I assume that you will not be living there until the work is finished, which could take a few weeks?

GDB2222 · 26 September 2005 at 11:47AM

river_kwai wrote:

Shouldn't radiators be fitted by CORGI registered engineer? Anyway, I will not tackle the DIY myself as I haven't got a clue of how to even drain the central heating system.

Nope, CORGI is for gas, radiators run on water.

A house with radiators and electrics stripped, water system drained down

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