should seller pay for enlarging loft hatch for roof survey?

kelleth

Hi - the house I am hoping to buy needs a roof survey but the roof hatch to the attic is only big enough to fit someone head through! Who should pay for having to enlarge the loft hatch opening? And any idea's of costs involved?

martinsurrey

kelleth wrote: »

Hi - the house I am hoping to buy needs a roof survey but the roof hatch to the attic is only big enough to fit someone head through! Who should pay for having to enlarge the loft hatch opening? And any idea's of costs involved?

The house doesnt NEED a survey, you WANT a survey.

completley your cost, both for fitting, making good, and the cost of the survey.

my guess is that it'll take 1 1/2 days to get the work done and the painting finished, so around £300.

(by the way, this situation is NOT that uncommon, a lot of extensions and loft conversions have roof voids with no or limited access)

m0bov

I disagree, if the seller wants to sell, they he/she should allow a buyer to have a survey done. Why would the buyer pay for someone else to have their home improved?

The vendor won't do it, then point out the next seller will be wanting the same thing...or does the vendor have something to hide? You could also reduce your offer based on a loft with no access!

kelleth

Thanks - the Homebuyers report recommended a structural engineer to do a specific defect report on the gable end of the house as there is a vertical crack in the render - I believe the surveyor thinks this may be due to roof spread as the roof was not strengthened when the slate tiles were replaced with concrete one's. Obviously this means access would be needed to see inside the roof. I assume if I pull out of the sale any future buyers would hit the same obstacle.

m0bov

Yes def, I suspect the vendor knows there are problems and hence the small hatch. Point this out but be prepared to walk or reduce your offer.

googler

m0bov wrote: »

I disagree, if the seller wants to sell, they he/she should allow a buyer to have a survey done. Why would the buyer pay for someone else to have their home improved?

Why should the seller put up with this when there's no guarantee the poster here will buy the house?

googler

m0bov wrote: »

Yes def, I suspect the vendor knows there are problems and hence the small hatch.

Are you suggesting the owner installed a small hatch specifically to limit access?

martinsurrey

kelleth wrote: »

Thanks - the Homebuyers report recommended a structural engineer to do a specific defect report on the gable end of the house as there is a vertical crack in the render - I believe the surveyor thinks this may be due to roof spread as the roof was not strengthened when the slate tiles were replaced with concrete one's. Obviously this means access would be needed to see inside the roof. I assume if I pull out of the sale any future buyers would hit the same obstacle.

Your homebuyer no doubt also recommended an electrical survey, gas/heating survey, and numerous other surveys.

They are recommended as the homebuyer is covering his rear end, so does not really express an opinion on anything.

did he put a retention on the valuation, or recommend the lender withhold a mortgage offer until these surveys are in hand?

If so, the vendor is in a much worse position, and may need to address them at thier own expense, but if its just a casual recommendation, without any effect on the mortgage, the vendor has the upper hand.

George_Michael

The small hatch was probably there from the day the house was built, but if the seller wants to do as much as possible to ensure that the property gets sold, I can't see why they wouldn't spend a few hundred pounds getting the access enlarged. (one possibility is that they think there is something inside that may put buyers off).

If I was buying a car, I would expect to have to pay for an inspection if I wanted one carried out, but if the bonnet or boot of the car couldn't be opened, I would expect the seller to get this sorted out to enable the inspection to go ahead.

The seller of the house probably has an asset worth a couple of hundred thousand £'s, and if they really want it to sell, they should be willing to spend a small sum of money to help the process.

kelleth

I had every intention of buying the house as my first home - the sellers agents have now informed me this morning that the seller is pulling out of the sale.... I do wonder if it was to do with the possibility of more in depth surveys.

martinsurrey

George_Michael wrote: »

The small hatch was probably there from the day the house was built, but if the seller wants to do as much as possible to ensure that the property gets sold, I can't see why they wouldn't spend a few hundred pounds getting the access enlarged. (one possibility is that they think there is something inside that may put buyers off).

If I was buying a car, I would expect to have to pay for an inspection if I wanted one carried out, but if the bonnet or boot of the car couldn't be opened, I would expect the seller to get this sorted out to enable the inspection to go ahead.

The seller of the house probably has an asset worth a couple of hundred thousand £'s, and if they really want it to sell, they should be willing to spend a small sum of money to help the process.

for the bonnet, I read front door to the house, and yes I would expect the vendor to make sure the front door opens.

This is like you selling a car and a prospective buyer asking you to remove the head gasket and cylinder head so they can see inside the cylinders and check the gasket... and of course you would tell them to jog on, or pay themselves.

(and if you had the equivalent survey done on a car as on a house it WOULD say "head gaskets fail over time, and failure can cause significant engine damage, I recommend a specialist survey to inspect the condition of the gasket before completion”)