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Surveyor recommends disruptive structural report which vendor won't entertain.

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  • Tancred
    Tancred Posts: 1,424 Forumite
    I would walk. I would not be prepared with a purchase when there is such uncertainty about remedial works. No point in reducing your offer by £10k if the remedial work ends up costing £50k.

    £50k??? Hello!!! :eek: Not bl**dy likely.

    A full loft conversion with an ensuite is around £30k.
  • bluedrop
    bluedrop Posts: 662 Forumite
    Blinkblink wrote: »
    They say buying a property is always a gamble!!

    I'd walk away -based on this statement alone. I'd also make a bit of a mess by twisting things for the agents pleasure - telling the seller that the agent told you that buying this property is like a gamble.

    Bloody agent, if im gambling, id rather do it vegas having a bit of fun than get into a shady property purchase.
    There is more to life than increasing its speed.
  • Tancred
    Tancred Posts: 1,424 Forumite
    bluedrop wrote: »
    I'd walk away -based on this statement alone. I'd also make a bit of a mess by twisting things for the agents pleasure - telling the seller that the agent told you that buying this property is like a gamble.

    Bloody agent, if im gambling, id rather do it vegas having a bit of fun than get into a shady property purchase.

    I think that the agent failed to express himself eloquently, but what he meant was simply that there is a risk in any house purchase - and that is indeed quite correct. Even the most perfect house can develop issues of one kind or another eventually.
  • propertyman
    propertyman Posts: 2,922 Forumite
    Look its simple, with this defect the lender is likely to not lend or request a very substantial retention.

    The vendor has to decide whether to cooperate as
    a; the next guy will have the same issue
    b; you likely cannot proceed anyway

    It has to be very special if want to go ahead on risk.
    Stop! Think. Read the small print. Trust nothing and assume that it is your responsibility. That way it rarely goes wrong.
    Actively hunting down the person who invented the imaginary tenure, "share freehold";
    if you can show me one I will produce my daughter's unicorn
  • chappers
    chappers Posts: 2,988 Forumite
    You have paid a surveyor for his advice and unless you have knowledge or know someone else who can advise you you should take his advice.
    If the vendors are not willing to comply then walk.

    However surveyors are very cautious beasts, Maybe a little bit more info;
    So there is a loft conversion , obviously in the loft(has it been completed to building regs).
    Where are the cracks? which floor are they on, which floor is the suspect opening on, and how wide is it.
    How big are the cracks and are they clearly in brickwork or render.

    If the structural elements turned out to be satisfactory would you be happy to procede with the purchase?
    If so you should maybe approach the EA and let them know that, but also point out that should they not be then you will be looking at a reduction in price at least equal to the costs of remedial works or will be walking away.
    Tell them that either way you are walking without the inspection.
  • Wow, I wasn't expecting such a huge response!
    A sincere "thank you" to all who took the time to respond!

    I appreciate that the most sensible course of action is probably to walk away.

    However, we really need to move and, on reflection, I am tempted to go back to the house with a Structural Engineer simply to discuss the issues. i.e. without removing plaster/digging holes etc.

    If he/she can assure me there's probably nothing to worry about I may be tempted to proceed. My concern then would be that when I come to sell on again could I be stuck with an unmortgageable property. (I am fortunate enough to be able to borrow sufficient funds from family members etc., without the need for a mortgage.) Is this likely to be the outcome?

    The selling agent tells me not as they have even sold properties with active subsidence to people taking out mortgages. (Not sure if I believe this either!!)

    Again, any thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
  • ognum
    ognum Posts: 4,879 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Blinkblink wrote: »
    Wow, I wasn't expecting such a huge response!
    A sincere "thank you" to all who took the time to respond!

    I appreciate that the most sensible course of action is probably to walk away.

    However, we really need to move and, on reflection, I am tempted to go back to the house with a Structural Engineer simply to discuss the issues. i.e. without removing plaster/digging holes etc.

    If he/she can assure me there's probably nothing to worry about I may be tempted to proceed. My concern then would be that when I come to sell on again could I be stuck with an unmortgageable property. (I am fortunate enough to be able to borrow sufficient funds from family members etc., without the need for a mortgage.) Is this likely to be the outcome?

    The selling agent tells me not as they have even sold properties with active subsidence to people taking out mortgages. (Not sure if I believe this either!!)

    Again, any thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    I think you would be wasting your money taking a structural engineer without the ability to view the problem, all he will say is I need to see the problem! he will not stake his livelihood on a glance!

    So you choice is simple

    Talk to the agent again either they will allow the needed checks or they won't, sadly if they won't you should not proceed.
  • Daisy70
    Daisy70 Posts: 133 Forumite
    The seller is being very awkward, really strange.

    I'd steer well clear to be honest and walk away. Also, ignore the agent, they just want their commission and sadly, would not care if the house fell down the day after completion.:(
  • rpc
    rpc Posts: 2,353 Forumite
    Tancred wrote: »
    £50k??? Hello!!! :eek: Not bl**dy likely.

    A full loft conversion with an ensuite is around £30k.

    And taking out the old conversion, repairing the damage it has done to the rest of the house and then redoing the loft conversion properly costs more than just doing it right in the first place.

    Without knowing the extent of the problems and damage, OP needs to take the view that putting it right is an almost unbounded cost. Expert assessment (such as the vendors are rejecting) will reduce the uncertainty.

    What is any mortgage company going to say when presented with a report stating there is a loft conversion with no building regs that may be damaging the structure of the building? They will either refuse to lend, massively downvalue the house or take a huge retention.
  • JimmyTheWig
    JimmyTheWig Posts: 12,199 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    If the vendor is refusing the engineer doing what the surveyor has said needs to be done, then I would assume the worst.
    How much would it cost to put right the worst thing that the engineer could find?
    Then take that amount off your offer unless you can get an engineer in there to have a look.
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