Pulling out at a very late stage due to no exchange

KatieDee

poppysarah wrote: »

If you pull out of the house purchase are you going to rent?

That can take weeks to organise too.

Go and have a short break away.

No, we'd probably just stay here for a month or so, keep looking, save up the legal/survey fees we had lost and just continue with buying. I'm not saying that there won't be other issues in future but these could have been so easily avoided.

Edit - short break would be perfect but unfortunately, solicitors took all my money so I cannot afford this! :-p

spacey2012

I am confused as to why your survey did not pick up on the structural alterations.
Someone asleep at the wheel ?

RAS

KatieDee wrote: »

looking at the work that needs doing due to the vendors crap DIY skills.

KatieDee wrote: »

We have had to revert to them in relation to the loft, as they have now confirmed that their client has installed a staircase, roof lights etc. Therefore regardless of whether it is used for habitation or storage, installation of a stairway would have at least required Building Regulation approval. We have asked that they provide Lack of Planning and Building Regulation Approval, to deal with this, at the Seller’s expense.

Even if you get insurance to cover the cost of any enforcement action by the Planning or Building Control, if you have doubts about what you can see of the vendor's DIY work, I would beeven more concerned about what you cannot see in the "extension" work

KatieDee

spacey2012 wrote: »

I am confused as to why your survey did not pick up on the structural alterations.
Someone asleep at the wheel ?

It was picked up on the survey which was emailed to the solicitors but I am led to believe that during the survey, they stated it was for storage only? The vendors solicitors then mentioned they built a big staircase leading up (God knows why) and this has apparently caused the issue.

RAS

KatieDee wrote: »

It was picked up on the survey which was emailed to the solicitors but I am led to believe that during the survey, they stated it was for storage only? The vendors solicitors then mentioned they built a big staircase leading up (God knows why) and this has apparently caused the issue.

Is it being sold as storage or as part of the living space? How many bedrooms have they declared?

KatieDee

RAS wrote: »

Even if you get insurance to cover the cost of any enforcement action by the Planning or Building Control, if you have doubts about what you can see of the vendor's DIY work, I would beeven more concerned about what you cannot see in the "extension" work

Good point. We're fairly confident that other than general wear and tear, there will be nothing in the property that is a "botch job". My main concern is how late this has all been picked up on. I mean, I'm glad it's being dealt with but this close to exchange/completion? Somebody must be on something if they all think this is going to be sorted in three days...am I right in that at least?

KatieDee

RAS wrote: »

Is it being sold as storage or as part of the living space? How many bedrooms have they declared?

3 bedrooms have been declared, the loft was sold as "storage with a view to extend" or something along those lines. The issue is the enormous wooden ladder they've stuck leading up to it, which cannot be moved (put away).

DRP

KatieDee wrote: »

3 bedrooms have been declared, the loft was sold as "storage with a view to extend" or something along those lines. The issue is the enormous wooden ladder they've stuck leading up to it, which cannot be moved (put away).

does a ladder require building regs?

Prothet_of_Doom

Dan-Dan wrote: »

I have been there and done it and if i could look back and do it again , it would be to STEP BACK and what will be will be

In the niceest possible way , to get this far and pull out would be utter madness!

The pragmatic approach is most likely the way forward, with a word of caution based on experience.

The vendor agreed to one course of action, but actually had no intention of following it through.

Don't pull out, but be very clear that you shouldn't trust a word anyone says without some proof.

I'd be looking at other properties, and maybe even putting some wild offers in. You have nothing to loose, and it might allow you to turn around and say "Nah, I'm not buying your house"

Southernlass

The difficulty as I understand it, is with permenant staircases to the loft that you need a fire door either at the top or bottom for building regs (this is what stops many people turning their loft into an actual room.