Buyers wish list

tigger123_2

We have rec'd correspondence from our solicitors that our buyers has following concerns following survey that they would like sorting out prior to completion.

- 1 Broken roof tile - not huge problem

- Electrics - my dad re-wired property (qualified electrician) and wants these all tested - again not a problem

- Gas & Elect meter are in same cupboard - Elect Meter at top of Cupboard under the stairs and gas at the bottom, seperated by a wooden shelf.
- They say they want us to get meter moved. Last year all the gas meters and pipes in the street/area were re-done by Morgan constructions and this was never pointed out as a problem.

We have contacted our solicitors but they are out of the office today, basically we want to know if we have to get the meter done by law, and if not, we don't feel that we should have to pay for this to be done as we have accepted a few thousand less than asking price and have included all our curtains/ wardrobes/ light fittings etc at no extra cost.

Any experience on the above would be great.

Thanks

welshy_2002

It's totally up to you what you do with your house. They can't make you do anything. In the end it all comes down to who's willing to bend the most - Do you just refuse, giving them a reason to back out. Or do you just get it done to make everything go smoothly?

Personally I'd tell them it's not happening. I see no reason to move meters before buying a property. If it's that important, they can do it themselves when they move in....

(I'm no expert on meters mind, so I cannot comment on regulations or safety)

jhe

cant give any advice but my meters are in the same cupboard as i think most peoples are.on seperate walls but nearby each other. surely its up to your buyer to get things moved if they buy your house. but maybe someone else with knowledge can answer your question
a house we have just bought also has meters in same cupboard on opposite walls but not much space between them and nothing was mentioned in our survey

tigger123_2

Thank you both for your replies.

We thought if it was a major problem that then they were replaced last year that it would of been dealt with then.

Will ask our solicitors tomorrow to throw it back to them and see what they say.

pie81

I had a similar "discussion" with my buyers last week.

Their survey found that one wall needed replastering (for this they wanted £1600 off the price). Their electrician found that a new fuse box was "needed" (£600), yes the current one is old fashioned but it works and is legal so a new one isn't "needed". Their plumber found various issues including power flush to heating system, thermostatic valves needing fitting etc (£1600 in all). again totally discretionary and not "needed".

I told them that we regarded these as minor/discretionary works and would not accept any retention/reduction in price for these. Sounds like you're intending to do the same.

In the end it all comes down to your bargaining position - how much do you need these buyers? - but I think it's unusual for sellers to agree to reductions for this sort of thing. (Seems to be increasingly common for buyers to try it on though).

tek-monkey

I know of no safety risks involved in this? In which case it is cosmetic, and a matter for the buyer. The other things mentioned were to do with the state of the building, both reasonable.

EDIT: When buying my place (still ongoing!) I recognised a need for several things, such as thermo valves on radiators and more insulation in the loft. I did not see these as things the vendor should do though, I'm buying their bricks and mortar and do not expect 'stuff I'd like' to come into it. I shall do these jobs myself once I am resident, I do not see why a vendor should bring a property up to my standard.

tigger123_2

Have just spoken to our providers technical department, they said that they had something similar come up the other day.

Basically they said the meters are fine in the same cupboard as long as they are not touching.
One of ours is at the top and one is at the bottom, divided by a shelf so we are ok.

They said that its just something the chartered surveyors are now doing to cover themselves.

have passed the comments from them to our solicitors office to be checked over tomorrow and take it up with our buyer.