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a house with one door and many other queries
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dawyldthing
Posts: 3,438 Forumite
I was wondering if anyone knew anything about it, so thought i might as well ask.
I've been looking into a house, 3 bedroom etc. Theres a few problems:
1) its a repossession (which i don't mind)
2) its only got one door (as the last person took the door out and just put a large window in, which i think looks perfectly fine but apparently it might be a fire hazard. I've lived in houses where theres only been one door (in Leeds) and i saw a house not far away from the one i looked at that says it only has one door, so was wondering if its a problem and would the council make us take the window out and put a smaller one in with a door?
3) The window is 'bowing' apparently, as the estate agent said something along the lines of the bricks over the window lowering slightly. Do you think it will be a major problem?
4) the rendering at the front has come off - is it an urgent thing to have done as i wouldn't be that bothered to be honest but if its going to cave into the house then it may be a different matter.
5) it says on the piece of paper it doesn't know if its freehold or leasehold - i'm guessing land registry will know this - will it be just a case of asking them?
6) theres like a straight staircase leading to the attic 'space' is it allowed to stay?
To be honest for the price its a steal, just want to check it all out before looking into it all a bit more tbh
I've been looking into a house, 3 bedroom etc. Theres a few problems:
1) its a repossession (which i don't mind)
2) its only got one door (as the last person took the door out and just put a large window in, which i think looks perfectly fine but apparently it might be a fire hazard. I've lived in houses where theres only been one door (in Leeds) and i saw a house not far away from the one i looked at that says it only has one door, so was wondering if its a problem and would the council make us take the window out and put a smaller one in with a door?
3) The window is 'bowing' apparently, as the estate agent said something along the lines of the bricks over the window lowering slightly. Do you think it will be a major problem?
4) the rendering at the front has come off - is it an urgent thing to have done as i wouldn't be that bothered to be honest but if its going to cave into the house then it may be a different matter.
5) it says on the piece of paper it doesn't know if its freehold or leasehold - i'm guessing land registry will know this - will it be just a case of asking them?
6) theres like a straight staircase leading to the attic 'space' is it allowed to stay?
To be honest for the price its a steal, just want to check it all out before looking into it all a bit more tbh
:T:T :beer: :beer::beer::beer: to the lil one 
:beer::beer::beer:
:beer::beer::beer:0
Comments
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Check the Title at the Land Registry here on Monday for £4.
Get a survey done. How can anyone comment on a bowing window and other issues without seeing them. Could be serious. Could be nothing.
Check the council to see if there was a Buildings Regs certificate for the door/window work and attic work.0 -
The issues need looking! Render and bowing sound bad0
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thank you for your help, will look some more into this as it is a bargain, just need to check it all out really.:T:T :beer: :beer::beer::beer: to the lil one :beer::beer::beer:0
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It sounds like they put the window in with no lintel - which would explain the bowing. The old lintel for the door might still be there, so it might not be a huge job - but then again it might.
Get a builder to look over it with you.If you haven't got it - please don't flaunt it. TIA.0 -
Far from me trying to teach you to suck eggs but just do plenty of homework beforehand.The estate agent isn't going to thank you for buying a house with potential pitfalls, bargain or not.He's then got his commission and off to fleece another customer.
Use the 'pitfalls' of the house as a bargaining tool.Not sure whether you intend to buy and stay in the house or do it up and sell...but make your money 'going in' to the house (ie negiotiations) and not necessarily upon selling.
good luck though Am the proud holder of an Honours Degree
in tea-making.
Do people who keep giraffes have high overheads ?0 -
Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »It sounds like they put the window in with no lintel - which would explain the bowing. The old lintel for the door might still be there, so it might not be a huge job - but then again it might.
Get a builder to look over it with you.
Absolutely right. It's quite a big job to put a new lintel in, as the brickwork above has to be supported, so the house will not really be liveable in whilst that is done.
The pebble-dashing is important, as it is part of what makes the house waterproof.
You could be looking at say £5k+ for the two jobs, plus all the making good, but a builder can give you an estimate.
There could well be other problems with the house, so this is one that's worth getting a full survey on before buying.
You'll have to think about what order to do things in. I'd probably get an offer accepted by the sellers and only then get the builder round, and depending on what he says the surveyor.No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?0 -
The price being asked might suggest that the seller is well aware of inherent and expensive problems. I'd second the suggestion above of having a walk around with a builder.dawyldthing wrote: »To be honest for the price its a steal, just want to check it all out before looking into it all a bit more tbh0 -
its been reduced 3 times now, but definately needs work. I think i'm going to try and ask a builder in the next few days as although its a good price its still not worth what its on the market for now tbh so would need to add all the work to it too. It is something I want to buy to live in tbh, just don't want to buy then find even more problems. But have looked on a website and apparently to get a full building survey done on it could be around 360, which i don't think is too bad so may go for that option too.
Thank you all for your help though as its much appreciated.:T:T :beer: :beer::beer::beer: to the lil one :beer::beer::beer:0
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