Pulling out at a very late stage due to no exchange

BitterAndTwisted

If they've separated the loft into room, put lighting up there and a permanent staircase I'd say it was almost certain that they've been using that space as something other than pure storage.

Don't you do the same unless you have a professional to advise you about whether the work has been done satisfactorily or not.

KatieDee

Doozergirl wrote: »

No. To all intents and purposes it's a posh loft ladder for easy access.. It doesn't meet building regs, nor is designed to.

If I were the vendor I'd argue, but purchase the indemnity insurance if it's necessary just to push the sale forward.

Yeah, I feel a bit horrible pushing this so late but my solicitor confirmed it would be around £200? I don't think they cut corners on purpose, the vendor just fancies himself as "a bit handy". Father-in-law is the same, built his own garage because he fancied it, luckily met all the necessary criteria (or so he tells me!). Did his own electrics as well. Half expecting the entire thing to go but he saved a pretty penny along the way and he seems pleased.

I, however, am a born worrier and need to do everything by the book. If we do end up changing the loft in anyway, I'm going to have to make sure it's done properly. Never knew something like this could cause such issues! (probably naively)

KatieDee

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

If they've separated the loft into room, put lighting up there and a permanent staircase I'd say it was almost certain that they've been using that space as something other than pure storage.

Don't you do the same unless you have a professional to advise you about whether the work has been done satisfactorily or not.

Thanks B&T. I can assure you I won't be living up there or allowing anybody else to stay up there. The owners told us that they stayed up there for a while when they had family living with them but they haven't used it since. It's obvious that they built it with that in mind (albeit temporarily) but I still wouldn't fancy living in there until a lot of work had been done to it.

It's probably going to cost us far more to sort everything out than it would have done if they'd just left it as a pull down ladder but I suppose it was more convenient at the time.

Going to give it a bloody good kick though, if this exchange ever happens.



That is kind of what they look like, only not retractable and they're MUCH steeper.

Doozergirl

KatieDee wrote: »

Yeah, I feel a bit horrible pushing this so late but my solicitor confirmed it would be around £200? I don't think they cut corners on purpose, the vendor just fancies himself as "a bit handy". Father-in-law is the same, built his own garage because he fancied it, luckily met all the necessary criteria (or so he tells me!). Did his own electrics as well. Half expecting the entire thing to go but he saved a pretty penny along the way and he seems pleased.

I, however, am a born worrier and need to do everything by the book. If we do end up changing the loft in anyway, I'm going to have to make sure it's done properly. Never knew something like this could cause such issues! (probably naively)

It's a non issue. The simple fact is that solicitors have no practical knowledge of Building Regulations or Planning so start jumping up and down at the mention of the word 'loft'.

To demonstrate, unless you are in a conservation area, listed building or similar, you do not need planning permission for a loft conversion - contrary to what your solicitor has just told you. Building Control is a totally different department in the council.

It looks like you're nearly there, but the best way through this is to acknowledge the fact that buyers and sellers have very little control over the speed of things and, to that end, try not to make ownerous demands. You put pressure on yourself more than anyone else.

Eight weeks is rocket speed for a purchase with a chain. People probably need congratulating rather than beating with a stick!

boqq_2

Hi, I had this happen to me when we bought our current house. The selfish previous owners were going to emigrate to Australia and kept pushing the date back until they had everything settled their end. I was heavily pregnant at the time and also it was the winter of 2010. In the end we ended up moving in without any furniture as our rented cottage was snowed in... Was a real nightmare and any love we had for the house when we first saw it, evaporated before we even got the keys... It is not fair when sellers mess you about. I so regret not pulling out esp as the heating in the house was bust and we ended spending thousands to put it right, not to mention bringing a newborn home to a freezing house, all because the Mrs wanted to wait till a convenient time for her...

KatieDee

boqq wrote: »

Hi, I had this happen to me when we bought our current house. The selfish previous owners were going to emigrate to Australia and kept pushing the date back until they had everything settled their end. I was heavily pregnant at the time and also it was the winter of 2010. In the end we ended up moving in without any furniture as our rented cottage was snowed in... Was a real nightmare and any love we had for the house when we first saw it, evaporated before we even got the keys... It is not fair when sellers mess you about. I so regret not pulling out esp as the heating in the house was bust and we ended spending thousands to put it right, not to mention bringing a newborn home to a freezing house, all because the Mrs wanted to wait till a convenient time for her...

I'm sorry to hear that boqq. I suppose we're quite fortunate as looking back, this really wasn't an enormous issue. I can completely relate though.

Are you settled in the property now? Do you still regret the purchase?

Logan008

im in pretty much the same situation. ive been pushing a purchase to complete and feel like the agent and mortgage advisor (in the same office) have essentially been foot dragging for the seller.


we initially wouldn't do any legals or surveys, as ive been burnt before. he agreed to move into temporary accommodation then a month later agent tells me hes now found something and wants to complete on this before moving, in the mean time our mortgage app is taking forever, hmm. now apparently hes pretty much ready, the agent is complaining me for doing a late survey, im made out as being the slow one, and the mortgage advisor has pushed the nitro button on the app.

KatieDee

Logan008 wrote: »

im in pretty much the same situation. ive been pushing a purchase to complete and feel like the agent and mortgage advisor (in the same office) have essentially been foot dragging for the seller.


we initially wouldn't do any legals or surveys, as ive been burnt before. he agreed to move into temporary accommodation then a month later agent tells me hes now found something and wants to complete on this before moving, in the mean time our mortgage app is taking forever, hmm. now apparently hes pretty much ready, the agent is complaining me for doing a late survey, im made out as being the slow one, and the mortgage advisor has pushed the nitro button on the app.

I think the process is difficult for everybody involved, whether you're a buyer or a seller. Can't imagine how it must feel if you're both! I do think, at least in my experience, it's very easy to become selfish during a house purchase. You're always expecting to be undercut in some way so you're constantly on the defence. Something really tiny can suddenly mean the end of the world (just read my thread for a prime example!).

The best advice I've received from this website is to take a step back and re-evaluate before making any emotionally charged decisions. Things will more than likely go wrong at least once so just expect it and you should be fine!