First time buyer in need of advice

trenchwars

Sammy85 wrote: »

What made you offer £129k? Thats going to cost you £1290 in stamp duty. In my experience, buyers who price properties around £130-135k expect to get bashed down below stamp.

Well it was originally on for £140k and I did try under stamp but it was rejected.

trenchwars

david29dpo wrote: »

Have you checked if its in a stamp duty relief for Disadvantaged Area? http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sdlt/reliefs-exemptions/disadvantaged-areas.htm

! I did check this and it isn't. I had a look at the list of "disadvantaged" areas and it includes parts of Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster!:huh:

trenchwars

Thanks for all the advice - in the end I went with a solicitor recommended by a friend at work and I found a local surveyor through the RICS website.

trenchwars

Looks like as a FTB I won't have to pay stamp duty after all!:j


I had the results of the survey back. The surveyor didn't downvalue it but raised a number of points:

1. Evidence of dampness around the chimney breast beneath the roof covering - the suveyor suggested the seal between the roof and the chimney was leaking and needed replacing.
2. Staining to the roof boarding lining the underside of the roof covering indicating that the roof has leaked in the past.
3. The gas meter is in the same area as the electricity meter, which apparently is a safety hazard. Does anyone know what the implications are for this?
! 4. He also said that the electricity meter and consumer unit was dated and potentially unsafe - is this just something that surveyors say for any older electrical installation?



I suppose I will need to get a builder or roofer in for a quote for 1 and 2.