Pre Exchange Viewing - Leak

luckypotato · 6 March 2018 at 8:21PM

Hi all,

So my partner and I went to visit the property we are due to be exchanging on this week. It's a renovation and currently vacant so we thought it wise to view again especially because of the freezing weather recently. We arrived to find a pot of grout, blankets on the floor of the kitchen and bathroom, a new tap, and an old piece of split pipe. The heating was on full blast and a plug in heater had also been used. I thought maybe they were trying to dry something out. In any case, there's obviously been some sort of leak.

We tested the water/taps and thought the pressure was shot but discovered that the water had been turned off. The estate agent was none the wiser and will obviously contact the vendors asap to find out more. Hopefully we'll hear back tomorrow (we were due to exchange tomorrow and complete Friday.) The vendors obviously had no idea we were heading round again with the EA. I'm hoping it's now all sorted, however I can't help but feel a tad anxious. I'm keen to head back for another pre-exchange viewing once it's clear of the blankets, etc and the vendors state that it's all fixed.

Could there be a more serious issue? I'm a tad perplexed as to why there were apparent leak problems upstairs in the bathroom and downstairs in the kitchen?

Many thanks.

LandyAndy · 6 March 2018 at 9:55PM

luckypotato wrote: »

Hi all,

Could there be a more serious issue? I'm a tad perplexed as to why there were apparent leak problems upstairs in the bathroom and downstairs in the kitchen?

Many thanks.

Is the bathroom above the kitchen?

Gravity?

Davesnave · 7 March 2018 at 8:15AM

luckypotato wrote: »

I'm a tad perplexed as to why there were apparent leak problems upstairs in the bathroom and downstairs in the kitchen?

These are the places where pipework is usually more exposed, so most likely to freeze when a tight developer leaves the house inadequately heated over a spectacularly inclement period.

Given that the weather was predicted, your seller is possibly an idiot, and you were right in any case to make a pre-exchange inspection.

What kind of survey did you have on the place?

One assumes your solicitor is satisfied that the work done has been monitored by building control and signed off properly, but I'd still check and, of course, have another inspection prior to exchange.

Personally, I might well delay exchange, because if there has been a flood of some significance, damage may have been done that won't show up till everything's dried out. Depending on the severity, you might even expect a further inspection by your surveyor at the vendor's expense

luckypotato · 7 March 2018 at 9:22AM

Thanks for the responses. Building control, etc has definitely been signed off and we have all the paperwork. Our solicitor is also satisfied with this. We had a homebuyers report which came back ok - just a recommendation for a drainage survey as there are trees near the property which we had done. All came back ok.

The estate agent is trying to get in touch with the vendors for clarification on the issue of the leak. Another inspection on our part will definitely be warranted. We've just transferred deposit, etc to our solicitor who has also requested mortgage monies from our lender. Will delaying exchange require monies etc to be returned or will they just sit with the solicitor for a while?

Thanks again.

Davesnave · 7 March 2018 at 9:32AM

luckypotato wrote: »

Will delaying exchange require monies etc to be returned or will they just sit with the solicitor for a while?

Thanks again.

See David's answer below, but the solicitor could have a duty to inform the lender anyway. It depends on the severity of the leak, which none of us can see from here!

davidmcn · 7 March 2018 at 10:09AM

luckypotato wrote: »

Will delaying exchange require monies etc to be returned or will they just sit with the solicitor for a while?

The solicitor can tell the lender to delay sending the funds to them (the lender won't want the solicitor to be sitting on unsecured mortgage funds for more than a couple of days).

hazyjo · 7 March 2018 at 10:40AM

They'll prob need a dehumidifier rather than a heater. When I had a boiler/tank leak and collapsed ceiling below, I had to have a couple of them. You wouldn't believe the amount of water they sucked out!

I also had probs for a couple of years after until I moved. The door frame and skirting board below the bathroom (between kitchen and lounge) used to make an almighty cracking noise where it split when the weather was hot.

Make sure they get it treated correctly - or get your dehumidifiers ready for when you move in.

yoshiyella · 7 March 2018 at 10:54AM

Maybe it is just the weather caused a pipe to burst.

That is what has happened to us in the last week - nothing sinister at all.

martindow · 7 March 2018 at 11:15AM

yoshiyella wrote: »

Maybe it is just the weather caused a pipe to burst.

That is what has happened to us in the last week - nothing sinister at all.

I'm sure you're right. But the OP is about to buy a house that has had a leak of some sort and is rightly concerned that any damage is properly assessed and if necessary repaired.

I would not exchange until my surveyor had checked it out.

luckypotato · 7 March 2018 at 11:17AM

Thanks all.

We are viewing again next Monday. We've been told it was tap valves that blew due to the cold weather and that this has now been rectified by a plumber. My only quibble now is the fact that the water remains turned off - perhaps I'm wrong in thinking that it should be turned on to maintain the pipework?

On the viewing I plan on switching the water on (we have permission for this) and I'm going to run the taps for fifteen minutes or so and check the shower, flush the toilets, etc. Should I be doing anything else?

davidmcn · 7 March 2018 at 11:19AM

luckypotato wrote: »

the water remains turned off - perhaps I'm wrong in thinking that it should be turned on to maintain the pipework?

I think this proves it should be turned off to maintain the pipework! (at least until there's no risk of freezing or until someone starts keeping the property adequately heated).

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Pre Exchange Viewing - Leak

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