No Building regs internal manhole affect sale of property

flexe

Hello,

I'd really like some advice if anyone has had a similar situation. There is a manhole in the bedroom that has overflowed and ruined carpets. The Freeholder claims the damage is down to me on my contents insurance. I bought the flat unaware of the manhole and have also been told by the Freeholder the flat had no planning permission. None of this information I was told before purchasing, I had a surveyor over to the flat before buying but they didn't lift carpets to find the manhole. I would like to sell the flat but I'm not sure how it much it affects the market value, also how easy it will be to sell. I am dealing with the carpets being replaced plus some damp issues which I am installing a powerful extractor fan to help with ventilation.

Any advice about how your situation came out would be great. It's been a completely unforeseen situation which I now keep suspecting the estate agents plus the Lawyers they encouraged me to use are all part of. It's difficult to know who to contact and trust will give me correct information. I guess I'd like to know overall if after having the problems rectified will it affect the market value considerably?

anselld

Did you get a Drainage and Water Search when you purchased?
What type of survey did you have?

flexe

it was a RICS homebuyer Property and Valuation Survey. I don't think it included water and drainage.

Kiran

Is it an internal manhole or has someone build over an existing external manhole and just changed the lid?

flexe

Yes, it's two internal manholes that actually service all of the flats within the building.

The building was converted in 2007, my flat has no planning permission but I has two surveys done, one by myself and one by the bank, neither suggested anything was against building regulations.

Dave_the_Ginger_Cat

I think the apparent lack of planning permission or building regs will be a material barrier to any sale rather than the manholes themselves

Are you really sure that these weren't checked when you bought it? I would expect most solicitors would insist on indeminity insurances against both of these events