Concerns about lodgers

sammyjammy

Absolutely, if they want to exchange then they need to agree to your visit beforehand. It sounds as if the lodgers haven't left if he is agreeing to your visit in a weeks time.

sammyjammy

I agree with BJV, if they insist on exchange today without a visit pull out or at least te l them you will.

steeeb

You need to view the house for at least piece of mind.

princeofpounds

Am I really that wrong for asking for this viewing before committing to exchange?

No. This is a massive purchase, and there are real reasons to believe that things may not go smoothly.

I find not being let into bedrooms VERY odd.

Also a landlord/owner not being able to control their lodgers is highly suspect. If they are lodgers, rather than tenants, then the landlord should be in complete control and there is absolutely no way that the surveyor should have been blocked. NO WAY. Get it?

If the surveyor did not get to see a room, and you did not get to see a room, you have to wonder what is in that room?

(My bet is Gremlins).

PS Generally speaking, don't give notice before you exchange. Appreciate you do have a plan B, this is just for people reading the thread.

pmlindyloo

If the lodger(s) has a contract which gives the lodgers a set period to remain in the property then I do not believe that the lodgers can be evicted during that term?

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/housing_e/housing_renting_a_home_e/housing_subletting_and_lodging_e/housing_lodging_e/what_rights_do_lodgers_have.htm

How does this fit in with their being a Permitted Occupier.

Does the contract over rule their rights as a permitted occupier?

TwistedPsycho

Morning and thank you for your thoughts.

Unfortunately, we are no longer really in a position that we can walk away.

I do not think they are insisting on an exchange today; it was my solicitor who suggested that if their completion date is acceptable (it isn't) then we could exchange today.

We went through the EA to arrange the pre-exchange viewing who said that the vendor is not available until next week (why does the EA not facilitate this then?) and that the property will be completely empty at the arranged viewing. Although the solicitor is aware, I doubt there is nor much more we can do there.

princeofpounds wrote: »

I find not being let into bedrooms VERY odd.

Also a landlord/owner not being able to control their lodgers is highly suspect. If they are lodgers, rather than tenants, then the landlord should be in complete control and there is absolutely no way that the surveyor should have been blocked. NO WAY. Get it?

If the surveyor did not get to see a room, and you did not get to see a room, you have to wonder what is in that room?

The rooms that the surveyor and I were refused access to are different rooms. He revealed a few issues in the bedrooms which he believed were purely condensation; I found no issues in the room he was refused access to.

PZH

TwistedPsycho wrote:

...I do not want to exchange knowing that the vendor was hiding something that would stop us proceeding. The vendor has told us that we have to wait a week to be able to do this, but their solicitor is now saying they want to exchange today.

Why? What are they hiding ?

Ignore their solicitor - they have the client interest in mind and NOT yours.

TwistedPsycho wrote:

Am I really that wrong for asking for this viewing before committing to exchange?....

Absolutely not

Ensure you view the house in it's entirety BEFORE you exchange or walk away.

PZH

TwistedPsycho wrote: »

...The rooms that the surveyor and I were refused access to are different rooms. He revealed a few issues in the bedrooms which he believed were purely condensation; I found no issues in the room he was refused access to.

Then, in my opinion, he is quickly hiding issues with a lick of paint - hence the weeks delay.

The "issues" could be more serious then you think and surface months after you move in.


I cannot stress enough - INSIST on seeing the ENTIRE house BEFORE exchange.

Be nosey - pick it to bits - check everything.....

TwistedPsycho

Morning PZH

That is the plan, check everything, with a camera in hand if necessary.
We know that there is condensation damage in some of the bedrooms (picked up on survey) which we have accepted and planning to treat immediately on getting the keys. I am, like you, wondering what else is being hidden.

Brock_and_Roll

I bought a house with a lodger, "Colin" - he went to work under one landlord and came home to find a new one in my family! Lovely bloke who lodged with us for 3 years until his penchant for larger ladies meant that eventually he required a bigger place to accommodate them!