"Do Not Use" stickers

Fizzymartini

I'm buying a property that's currently tenanted.

The surveyor went in last week: the report came back relatively OK, specifically noting instantaneous hot water via combi boiler. Which I was pleased about, as I'd missed checking this myself on first viewing (I'd assumed I'd be back to check it on a more thorough second visit, unaware that I would not get this opportunity).

Cut to my eventual second viewing two weeks later, and the remnants of "Do Not Use" stickers have mysteriously appeared on the toilet, boiler and other appliances. There's no hot water. The tenants are still there.

I'm confused; I'd usually only associate these warning stickers with repossessions. What can this mean? Has the boiler conked; will I have grounds to renegotiate if this is not fixed prior to exchange?

BobQ

Could mean anything.

You should get the boiler checked as soon as you move in.

There is no way the owner can legally prevent the tenant from using the WC even if they are taking legal steps to repossess it. The landlord cannot stop the tenant using gas appliances either unless they have been deemed unsafe by a Gas engineer.

I would ask my conveyancing solicitor to seek assurances from the seller as to the condition of the boiler and the reasons for these signs. It could just be the tenants trying to put you off buying or causing trouble for the landlord. Or something more sinister.

But my biggest concern would be that the landlord is evicting the tenants. If so you need to be clear that they are indeed out of the house before you complete. Another reason to discuss with your solicitor.

olly300

The tenants may have put them on and turned the hot water off.

Someone who viewed or even the EA may have gone around trying things out. As the property is the tenants' home this would upset them.

Tenants cannot live in a property without a toilet.

agrinnall

Fizzymartini wrote: »

I'd assumed I'd be back to check it on a more thorough second visit, unaware that I would not get this opportunity.

Why are you not getting this opportunity? You are about to spend many thousands of pounds, I would never do so without being certain of what I'm getting for my money, and I would be insisting on another viewing. Reluctance to grant that would ring alarm bells with me.

G_M

BobQ wrote: »

....
But my biggest concern would be that the landlord is evicting the tenants. If so you need to be clear that they are indeed out of the house before you EXCHANGE. Another reason to discuss with your solicitor.

Indeed frankly, unless you have firm assurances from the tenants themselves about their intentions,I would not waste your time offering on a tenanted property.

Indeed, even with those 'assurances' I'd be wary.

Tenants can take a long time to evict if they are reluctant,or unable, to leave their home.

Fizzymartini

agrinnall wrote: »

Why are you not getting this opportunity? You are about to spend many thousands of pounds, I would never do so without being certain of what I'm getting for my money, and I would be insisting on another viewing. Reluctance to grant that would ring alarm bells with me.

Just the circumstance- I didn't want an upcoming open day to go ahead, and communication with the tenants is difficult due to an impenetrable language barrier, so the EA found that access to the property was virtually impossible to organise (so probably hence the 'open day' scenario). I got my second viewing now... just later in the process than would have been ideal

DaftyDuck

I would guess (note it's only a guess) that the stickers were put on by the tenants as a selling deterrent - particularly if similar "do not use" stickers had appeared on such disparate items. Wouldn't impress a new viewer, and has disconcerted you. They'd probably switched the boiler off themselves as well.

The worrying thing to me is not that there are stickers (pretty meaningless really), but their placement would indicate the tenants want to stay/the sale to be as slow as possible/will be difficult.

If/when they are forced to leave (whatever stage of sale that occurs in), what damage will they leave? It'll make your purchase difficult, to say the least. I wouldn't progress further until they are out, and I'd then do a very careful check of the property (and still expect some nasty surprises).

If you do go through, ensure you change the locks.

Fizzymartini

G_M wrote: »

Indeed frankly, unless you have firm assurances from the tenants themselves about their intentions,I would not waste your time offering on a tenanted property.

Indeed, even with those 'assurances' I'd be wary.

Tenants can take a long time to evict if they are reluctant,or unable, to leave their home.

Thanks for the warning - yes, I'm aware! Exchange will not happen until a satisfactory inspection of the fully vacant property.
I think these tenants are close to, if not related to, their LL (the V), and I understand he's looking for somewhere else for them. Which is great, they seem like a really lovely bunch.

ACG

If it was unsafe, do they not have to have stickers that say condemned on?
I only ask because i rented somewhere for 6 months between selling and buying and it has a gas fireplace in the living room saying condemned.

Dave_the_Ginger_Cat

If it's unsafe (as declared by British Gas or National Grid) they use more substantial things than stickers. My experience was that they disconnected an appliance and marked it, and the meter with plastic tags which were slightly harder to remove than stickers

The only circs I can think of to mark a WC 'Do not use' would be if the sewer or drains had an issue, and I think this would be marked very clearly, and there would likely be an associated odour.

Fizzymartini

Just looked back at my pictures, and I forgot, it was plastered on the electrical meter/mains unit too...

I'm just confused, especially after the positive survey. I'm sure it wasn't the tenants; they're effectively being relocated as opposed to plain evicted.