Survey - Asbestos - HELP!!

Tahiti

silvercar wrote:

If you walk away from this house you are going to have to pay for a survey and legal costs on the new property. It may not be £2,000 but it will be money you will need to spend before you even exchange.

It's the roof of the garage not the house roof, "imminently" doesn't have to mean immediately!

Very true about the costs of walking away. The roof is actually linked to our house, and the neighbours. If it was detached, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Having spoken to the surveyor who looked at it (and asking him to be frank), he reckons it's properly knackered though.

lynzpower wrote:

certainly worth a stab. you dont have that much to lose. I dont know much about it either, but if it says "repaired " and doesnt specifically deal with the bodged bit, then you have leverage, Id say.

Let's hope so. I'm happy to come to an arrangement over the costs as I wouldn't expect them to knock £2k off just like that.

Cheers!

Tahiti

Right, quotes have come in at between £1600 and £2200, so the Surveyor was on the money! Wish me luck with the negotiations...

robwend

good luck hun;)

Tahiti

Thanks. Will update as soon as I hear from them.

Knowing the EA involved, he will hold off calling me for a few days no matter what the response from the seller is. :rolleyes:

[Deleted User]

Much asbestos is stable. Don`t worry too much. (My DH is an expert on asbestos.)

Robwend is completely correct

Tahiti

Thanks for the comments. I've had three roofers in to look at it (a cowboy minus the lassoo :rolleyes: , and two pros, and they've all said it's pretty simple to sort out). The cost is the real issue now as it turns out there's further damage (asbestos aside) that needs to be looked at.

I've been calling friends of friends of mine, and due to the size of the roof, they reckon even at mates rates, it's still going to be expensive.

We will see...

MortgageMamma

Is the lender prepared to lend with an asbestos roof? I've been in situations in recent months where lender deemed asbestos roofing unsuitable security and would not lend until it was removed anyway. Have you received your mortgage offer yet? Have you enquired whether this would merit a retention by the lender? I personally would not give in right now, I know you have something to lose but Id push the seller a little bit more. Do you know the reasons there's no upward chain? what are his reasons for moving?

Tahiti

We've received the mortgage offer, and the survey was done via the lender so I assume they are aware of the issue. I won't be pointing it out to them though for various reasons, but I guess it could be used to exert a little more pressure if required. The asbestos is only apparent in the garage roof, and apart from the odd bit here and there (in ceilings for instance), the surveyor reckons that's it.

As for the situation with no onward chain, and reasons for selling, the owner passed away, and we are dealing with (via EAs and solicitors) someone who is acting on behalf of the beneficiaries of the will. Probate is completed.

Don't worry - I haven't given in yet. And I appreciate the encouragement!

MortgageMamma

If you are dealing with a legal professional and the beneficiaries and its gone through probate I'm sure they will want to see some money before long. i'd be persistent, but i do tend to take chances in life with such things, some may think I'm foolish but I'm a believer that if somethings meant to be it will be.

Perhaps you could ask them if they'd mind paying half the costs to remove the asbestos then they would see you are still interested and that you want to resolve the issue fairly. If it's going to cost £2k to sort and they drop the PP by half then I assume as beneficiaries they will be sharing the proceeds the small drop in the split my not seem so bad to them. Good luck!

onestep

hi

our garage roof has asbestos in it (built in the 1930s) and there are no problems - we've been in the house 5 years. I think as long as you don't start drilling or cutting it then there shouldn't be any exposure.

onestep