Buiying House - Radon test has been done.. but report lost????

neas

Hi all as title suggests am in process of buying a house but the problem is that a Radon test has been perfoemd and (supposedly) the report has been lost.

My solicitior has asked for a duplicate of the report to be obtained and delivered to them/myself.

I am worrying though what the potential rammifications of a failure would be. I am currently in Devon at the moment and due to a large concentration of grnaite in the local area we have a high proportion of 'Radon' in this area. Normally this isnt an issue if a test hasnt been performed as everyone accepts the risk as part and parcel of everyday life.

BUT if a test has been performed and it shows a failure (i.e radon elvels too high) then shouldn't the vendor have acted on it and put in measures to reduce it?

What I am worrying about is, if i let it slide i am essentially taking on the same liability when i come to sell the house in terms of 'reducing'/fixing the problem with some sort of sump pump?

I have heard that sometimes in negotiations i can request the vendor puts in the necessary mods to make it rigght or if a test needs doing again the vendor pays money into a fund such that if it comes up as failure it will be used to fix problem or if it doesnt fail she gets her cash back.

Anyone have any idea of these things?

maninthestreet

How much does a radon test cost? For your peace of mind, get one done.

timmyt

they take time...so look at the radon website.

littlesnuggy

You can get 10 day screening tests done which will give a good indication as to what the levels are likely to be longer-term (doing a 3 month test allows you to more accuratenly estimate the average annual concentration). This company does 10 day tests for around £45 and the turnaround of the report can be within a couple of days.

You're right to be concerned about the future and when you come to sell the property on - more and more people are becoming aware of radon and asking for test reports, so you'd be best to sort it out before taking on the property. FYI doesn't cost massive amounts to deal with radon, think in terms of approx £1k (which when looking at the value of the whole property shouldn't be enough to make you pull out, even if works need doing and the vendor won't contribute).

neas

Well the woman says the test came back fine, but cant get a duplicate of the report. So now i am left with the decision to take on that risk when buying the property that my house is in the 2-3% range and that my seller was lying.

Speaking to my solicitor she reckons i wouldnt have any come back if the new test came up as above the action level as she answered 'to the best of her knowledge'.

So im not any closer. Dunno what to do, if i get a 7 day test done and wait 10 days extra to get it completed.. im talking approx 3 weeks addedd to completion time and the 7 day isnt the 3 month test.. so prob a buyer would want a 3 month test done at some point.

Im tempted to take it on at risk and get the 3 month test done when we move in just to get a report ready for when we sell etc.