Who would have to pay for burst pipes?

centipeedi

Hi,
My husband and I are exchanging and completing on a house tomorrow, and we're a bit worried as the house is empty at the moment and the weather is set to be freezing tonight. Who would be responsible for paying for any pipes that burst because of the cold weather? Would it be the vendors as they should have maintained the property up until completion?

Thanks!

PasturesNew

Technically, the seller would .... but it's not good at all going down that route. Can you persuade them to pop in and turn the heating on low for you?

They have a duty to hand the house over on completion in the same state it was in at exchange.

If it helps ease your mind, my neighbour's house is completely empty and has been for about 6 weeks, no heating on. Yesterday the managing agent popped by to check and all was OK, but he's still not turned the heating on.

centipeedi

Thanks. Unfortunately the weather is so bad at the moment, I don't know if they'd be able to get to the house.
Would our house insurance cover any problems?

G_M

It does no harm to start your own insurance from Exchange. Are you a FTB? If not and you already have insurance on an existing property you're selling check your policy. It may already cover you for a new purchase from Exchange.

centipeedi

We've already started the home insurance as we didn't know what exact date exchange was so maybe that would cover it? Surely the insurance company would want to know why the heating hadn't been on and would maybe not pay out if it was someone elses fault?

G_M

centipeedi wrote: »

We've already started the home insurance as we didn't know what exact date exchange was so maybe that would cover it? Surely the insurance company would want to know why the heating hadn't been on and would maybe not pay out if it was someone elses fault?

Well that may be but not much more you can do about it. Speak to the vendors and ask but it's their house. You can't force anything. You can suggest they, or a friend, or the agent, or indeed you with their permission, go in and set the heating on low. They'll say yes, or no.

centipeedi

Thanks for your replies. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Fingers crossed.

dacouch

PasturesNew wrote: »

Technically, the seller would .... but it's not good at all going down that route. Can you persuade them to pop in and turn the heating on low for you?

They have a duty to hand the house over on completion in the same state it was in at exchange.

If it helps ease your mind, my neighbour's house is completely empty and has been for about 6 weeks, no heating on. Yesterday the managing agent popped by to check and all was OK, but he's still not turned the heating on.

It tends to be when pipes thaw that you get the problems

G_M

dacouch wrote: »

It tends to be when pipes thaw that you get the problems

Yeah. Ice in split pipes doesn't leak out. But water does!

nell53

I'm insured with Direct Line and I received a text from them this morning out of the blue with advice to keep heating on low even when you're out in this weather.

Hammyman

My solicitor advised us to get buildings insurance from when we exchanged which was a couple of weeks from completion.