Water problems

Seraphim

I'm in the process of buying a house. When I went to view the house, the vendor was up front about the flooring on the ground floor (which is all being replaced before we move in). He said that due to faulty plumbing, he (and the house next door) suffered a flood early last year. The problem has been rectified, and as the house is still quite new, it's still under the NHBC so everything appears fine.

However, I discovered that he has posted on an internet forum stating that the damage wasn't caused by faulty plumbing at all - it was caused by water seeping upwards from the ground. The internet posting also states that the damage that was done was far greater than he made it out to be. Not best pleased that I've been lied to about the water, but I'll just gloss over it for the time being.

Obviously, I'm now concerned about what possible damage could have been done to the house itself. Again, according to the posting, the first floor is creaky whereas it didn't creak when he moved in. Obviously, we are getting a surveyor to see the house. However, in the meantime, is there anything else I personally should be on the lookout for in terms of tell-tale damage?

The problem is I love the house. Any other one and I would have walked away due to the problems with this vendor, but I can't make my mind up whether to stay or go on this one....

maninthestreet

Get your solicitor to ask, in writing, for confirmation of the cause of the water damage, and the extent of the damage; the vendor is unlikley to lie in writing.

prudryden

maninthestreet wrote:

Get your solicitor to ask, in writing, for confirmation of the cause of the water damage, and the extent of the damage; the vendor is unlikley to lie in writing.

Very good point. The vendor would be subjecting himself to a potentially large damage suit, if he lied in writing.

clutton_2

if this man lied about this, what else has he lied about ? i would definitely want a structural survey .....

i would also ask your solicitor to get something in writing from the NHBC .- water rising up thru floors may have compromised the foundations.. That should focus their minds if they claim to have sorted this out.

Quite frankly i don't trust any "trade body" - in my view they are there purely to protect their members interests' and generally dont give a stuff about the customer - but if they are asked to reply in writing to a solicitor, they will be Very careful about how they word it - from their reply, your solicitor will be able to judge whether they have actually "sorted" it, or whitewashed it.

Seraphim

Thank you for all your advice. I think I'm going to walk away - there's a lot of things which don't 'feel' right about the house. I adore the house, but there are just too many problems with it

Oh well...I guess the house hunt continues!!