Negotiating after survey

pippa80

Hi All,

We're slowly getting there with our purchase!

Our homebuyers found that there was something a bit dodgy looking with the electrics, so we've had an electrician in. He says that mostly it's fine, but that the fuseboard doesn't meet current standards and needs replacing (plus a few other minor things that don't worry us too much). He's included a quote for £650+ VAT for the fuseboard and £920 + VAT to do everything.

How do we go about using this to negotiate?

Do we send the report and quote to our solicitor and ask her to ask theirs to reduce the price to take into account the work that is needed?

Thanks for all your help!

Pippa

lossofbargain

go via the agent and suggest 50/50

pippa80

Thanks! Will let you know how we get on!

G_M

He says that mostly it's fine, but that the fuseboard doesn't meet current standards

1000s of properties have perfectly good fuseboxes which do not meet current standards.

If every time a new standard was introduced every property in the country had to upgrade, a) home-owners would all be bankrupt, b) electricians would have 5 year waiting lists and c) manufacturers would be unable to meet demand!

Unless the electrician says the box is dangerous, no upgrade is needed. Change it if/when you do any major electrical work in the house, or just live happily with it for the next 50 years.

ps - if I were the vendor, I would not reduce the price on the basis of this.

pippa80

Oh really? Thanks - it looked a bit scary to us. Well, let's see what they say...

Reassuring then, that it's pretty well fine electric wise!

john_white

As has already been said the standard changes frequently so most houses won't be up to the new regs. As long as they were met when installed and and DIY bodge jobs carried out then it should be fine.

Isn't a new consumer unit about about 60 quid ... so even if it does need changing 650+VAt seems expensive to me.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/39585/Electrical-Supplies/Consumer-Units/Volex-Consumer-Units/Volex-10-Way-Fully-Insulated-Dual-RCD-Consumer-Unit

I also would not drop the price because of this.

Jackinbox99

Agree with all the above. Its like the walls on the house. Some of the houses ive been looking at have very narrow wall thickness, due to being built before the regulations came out that you have to have all that insulation in them.

I wouldnt dream of asking the owner to knock the walls down and replace them just because they dont meet current standards.

Pretty much all the houses ive looked at recently have ancient fuse boxes, probably fitted when the house was new. Electricians love this, because a brand spanking new consumer unit / fuse box costs about 30->50quid. They then charge people a small fortune to swap it. Easy money for them!!!

timmyt

pippa80 wrote: »

Hi All,

We're slowly getting there with our purchase!

Our homebuyers found that there was something a bit dodgy looking with the electrics, so we've had an electrician in. He says that mostly it's fine, but that the fuseboard doesn't meet current standards and needs replacing (plus a few other minor things that don't worry us too much). He's included a quote for £650+ VAT for the fuseboard and £920 + VAT to do everything.

How do we go about using this to negotiate?

Do we send the report and quote to our solicitor and ask her to ask theirs to reduce the price to take into account the work that is needed?

Thanks for all your help!

Pippa

no, you buy the property and do it yourself over time. you expect a survey to reveal something. its not a new build after all, and not meeting current standards would apply to most houses. annoy the seller (because they have already been good and not held out for the asking price) and you may lose and the seller withdraws the contract from you

pippa80

Hi all,

Thanks for all your replies - the electricians made it sounds like it was dangerous! I guess this is an easy source of income for them. Am now happy that the building is fine (the survey also said gas and damp weren't ideal, but were what you would expect for a property of this age (it's Victorian)).

Just waiting for the freeholder to produce evidence of the buildings insurance and we're set to exchange!!

Thanks again, it's been so useful to be able to get advice here!

Pippa