I need EA advice URGENT!!

noddynoo

Can anyone advise me on the following.I have sold my house with agents and am also buying with them The problem is this They rang me after I had an offer on mine to say there was a maisonette coming on in a road they know I was interested in.They took us round and we liked it immediately and offered the FAP of 220k.There were no details or anything as it was so new and we were told the details were being done that day.It is a 2 bed maisonette but we have seen no building regs for the room in the roof although the EA and vendors solicitors say there is sufficient paperwork but we have yet to see it and because of this our mortgage co have only valued it as 1 bed plus loft room which is 45k less (175k)and will amend valuation when they see paperwork.This has been going on for weeks now Our solicitor suggested we try to renegotiate but agent keeps saying things will be fine They know if we pull out they will lose the sale of our house too so they are dragginjg on.I want to know if they have to provide details?Agent says he was reluctant to until he was sure it is a 2 bed but when we viewed and offered they insisited it was and even said they sold it to him in 1997 and it was all above board then.I don't know what to do.We love the place but can't even organise buildings and contents insurance as we don't have a definitive valuation!Today is d day to be honest as we are getting fed up.Can I force the agent to produce a set of details with an accurate valuation that is actually based on facts so that I can sort things with my mortgage co.

seggy1

Hi Go To Your Local Planning Office To Confirm What You Are Being Told You Must Not Go Ahead With This Untill You Are Told By Local Planners Its In Your Estate Agents Interests To Show You Proof For Your Solicitor To See And Buidling Society, Dont Go Ahead Untill You See Proof Always Another One Will Come Up. The Estate
Agent Only Wants The Commision , On Both Properties.

As I Said Go To Planning Office Or Go To Rate Dept In Local Town Hall Ask To See What That Addrress Is Paying In What Council Tax Band. For How Many Rooms.

Good Luck Arthur

noddynoo

I went to the planning office last week and there is definitely no planning permission although she did say it could be permitted development.But there don't seem to be building regs either and agents initially said that they could get an indemnity policy but I refused this as I need documentation to say it is a 2 bed flat for the mortgae insurance and also resale.They had me on their books as looking for a 2 bed and this is what they showed me!

Jorgan_2

Did the agent describe it as an attic room or a bedroom? The agent may have been told by the vendor that there was paper work in place for the property and as there was very little time between instruction being taken & you viewing the property, had no chance to clarify the situation. Loft conversions are always a grey area, some require planning, others don't. At the end of the day, your surveyor has valued it as a one bed with attic room, that is the basis that you need to go on.

noddynoo

The estate agent was told by the vendor that it was 2 beds so I realise it wasn't his fault but we are well along the process now and still no proof Our solicitor is pushing for this but also suggested we try to renegotiate the price .I tried this and the EA said the vendors solicitor assured him they had sufficent paperwork but still we haven't seen it.This is all costing us money and time They will now lose 2 sales if I pull out which I think i will if I hear nothing today

seggy1

Just Give Them All 24 Hours To Come Up With Documention You Are In The Driving Seat Dont Go Ahead Mate A Friend Of Mine Was Going To Buy A Property With That Indemity Insurance Its A Night Mare If You Want To Sell Latter.
As I Said Always Another Flat You Can Get.
Dont Gohead Unless You See The Facts.
Is It Down For Coincil Tax As 2 Bedrooms You Can Check That Out In The Rates Office

noddynoo

I have spoken to the valuation people re council tax and they can give me the band which they did but this doesn't really tell me anything.The valuation office in Eastbourne say they have it down as a 2 bed but they only go on what they see and have no hard evidence although he says there was one planning application which once I checked was for roof tiles in 1980 and nothing else.So have now spoken to EA who is surprise surprise on the other line.Do you think if I pull out of this I can also pull out of my sale and stay where I am as prices have gone silly since we started this process and we might as well stay put!

Jorgan_2

You can pull out of your sale & purchase at any time, upto the exchange of contracts. If you are not happy with the information, or lack of it, that is coming forward you do do not have to purchase the property. As Seggy says, give them a deadline to get the information to your solicitor, put some pressure on the vendor. Don't accept the info going to the EA, get it to your solicitor who will know exactly what info he/she is looking & is acting in your interests.

noddynoo

Thanks for all your advice I have taken note of all of it and would put it into practice if the EA or solicitor ever got in touch or returned my calls!The agent recommended the solicitor although I don't think that should matter I just think they are hoping this paperwork is going to appear whereas I am more pessimistic the longer this goes on.Can I force the agent to produce a set of details though?

Jorgan_2

No, you can't force the agent to provide a set of details. Was the property ever placed on the internet or advertised in the local paper? Keep the pressure on the seller & there solicitor, in your OP you say that there is sufficient paperwork, let them produce it & if it is sufficient, the matter will be settled.

It may be worth trying to speak to the surveyor, not always easy, sometimes impossible, to ascertain why he valued it as a one bedroom property. Was there something that he saw that wasn't correct in the conversion that led him to believe it wouldn't have had building regs or planning? If the solicitors do come up with the relevant paperwork you still have a mortgage valuation for a 1 bed property at £45k less than you need.

noddynoo

If the paperwork appears the surveyor will amend the valuation.He made the assumption based on things like fire doors etc and also the absence of any paper work