Getting vendor to complete work

KTJ_2

The mortgage survey revealed that the house we are buying has decaying floor joists and a beetle infestation. Apprarently its still under guarantee.

Do you think I am being unreasonable to expect the vendor to get the work completed prior to exchange of contracts. I dont want to work done when we move in as I have a 9 month daughter and could really do without having this on top of all the other upheaval that comes with moving house.

mjfusent

I do think its reasonable, but you need to get your solicitor to ask the vendor to have the work done prior to exchange, and make it a condition of exchanging contracts. Of course the strength of your position probably depends on timescales and chains but you're the buyer here - if you can't reach an agreement you're happy with you can walk away, or at least threaten to...

Tassotti

KTJ wrote:

The mortgage survey revealed that the house we are buying has decaying floor joists and a beetle infestation. Apprarently its still under guarantee.

What's still under guarantee? The house or the works completed.

If it's the works, is the company who did the work still in business?

Doesn't sound like they do very good work considering the reocurring problem

silvercar

If the vendors promise to do works prior to exchange and haven't done so, you can exchange subject to a retention of an agreed amount to be released when the work is done to the buyer's satisfaction. The sum of money is retained by the buyers' solicitor until the work are completed. (I know because we did it!)

Debt_Free_Chick

KTJ wrote:

Do you think I am being unreasonable to expect the vendor to get the work completed prior to exchange of contracts.

Well, that really depends on whether it's feasible or not. If the work is under guarantee, then the original contractor should do the work. They will, understandably, want to be satisfied that they are liable to do the work, for free (no doubt) under the guarantee. They may already have other work booked in.

Whilst I do understand why you want the vendor to do the work, it's not quite the same as him simply getting someone else in. he needs to get the original contractor in to protect the guarantee - and I assume this guarantee transfers to you, so you want it protected too.

So ... can you wait for this before you exchange? Remember, that there is a danger that another buyer could step in.

Would you not be better exchanging and then making completion conditional upon this work being carried out. Would you be prepared to drag out completion to wait for this?