Flat purchase turning into a big headache (help!)

darrinm81

We are within days away from agreeing dates for exchange & completion.

I went to inspect the property one last time. Fortunately or unfortunately I did!

The place was in a total mess. The owners' mates (tenants) had basically left and done absolutely nothing - great friends! While a lot of the mess is cosmetic, there are several things that I feel worthy of complaining about.

1) Damage to plaster near entrance door. It appears pieces of plaster have been knocked during the move out (evidence of fresh damage on nearby carpet).

2) One bedroom has water damage that has affected some of the skirting board and carpet. It looks like it was a one off leak, but the damage is showing to the underlay and wall.

3) Hardly any of the lights work in the property. Likely to be bulbs but not sure!

4) Electrical wall socket held on by sticky tape. Was earlier hidden behind wardrobe.

5) Bathroom looks like it hasn't been cleaned for a long time, but mould and damage around bath and shower.

6) General mess, dust and dirt around the place. Showing more that not part of the furniture has been removed. A good clean will fix most of it.

When we first looked at the property 10 weeks ago we saw general mess (tenants still in the flat), but on second inspection and with less furniture shocked.

Vendor has proposed arranging cleaning and removal to be done; plus offer £250 towards carpet clearing/replacement.

Where do we stand?

Getting quotes for carpeting and other repairs will around £500-£1000. Concerned about the extent of the water damage, but appears isolated.

779

Discuss with your solicitor.

darrinm81

I have. I also spoke to the agent. Trying to determine what is reasonable.

I always thought that if you have tenants, you hold a deposit to cover you for clean up and damage. However when selling it seems the seller can do whatever they like.

quintwins

in this case it's not really a case of whats reasonable it's a case of what you willing to accept and what there willing to offer, you could hold out for the full amount and risk the sale not going threw and being more out of pocket or just take what they offer or try met in the middle

G_M

It's a question of who is more desparate: you to buy this flat, or them to sell.

You could insist on a complete refurbishment: electrics checked/repaired, plaster replaced, re-paint, carpets cleaned/replaced etc etc or you will refuse to Exchange. It's not that unreasonable. Most LLs do some degree of refurb after each tenant leaves, so why not here?

Of course you need to decide what you'll do if/when the vendor refuses: walk away? negotiate and compromise on some works?

If the vendor thinks you are serious, and is desparate to sell, he'll agree to some (probobly not all). If he thinks you're bluffing, or is not desparate, he'll refuse and you'll have to decide if you were bluffing!

Ulfar

The dirt and stuff while annoying isn't what I would call a deal breaker.

The electrics and water damage are another matter. Go back do another viewing and take a couple of light bulbs with you, that way you can test whether the light fittings work. I say take two in case one blows or is duff, on second thoughts take 3.

I would also take something that you can plug in easily to test wall sockets.

Ask for the heating to be put on and run the hot water taps.

See any gas appliances like fires turned on.

check the doorbell/door entry system works. If you aren't the ground floor running up and down the stairs can get tiresome, if you are the ground floor and the entry system doesn't work its really annoying when people knock at you window/door asking to be let in.

darrinm81

There was an agreement made that flat would be professionally cleaned and all leftover belongings removed. An amount of money would be provided as an allowance to cover repairs not previously seen.

On second inspection the removing has been done, but a rather poor effort at professional cleaning. All that appears to be cleaned was part of the oven and all the dirt just swept into the outside (still visible).

We were not expecting a full refurb, but at least a hoover to be used.

Does this mean going back to my solicitor and asking for additional funds to be kept to cover cleaning?