Buying a house on an unadopted road

SavingWolf

Hi All,
I have read many posts on here regarding unadopted roads and wanted to share my experience.
Two months ago we found out that the house was on an unadopted road and we haven't really progressed much further since then with solicitor asking questions and not getting good enough answers from the sellers solicitors. I think mainly because they are asking the council and they don't know the answers...

There is a street light outside the house which I am unsure what happens with this when it needs maintenance, I have also had no answer on the bins as yet but as the majority of the road is adopted I assume we will get bins emptied.

The house was built 20 years ago and we have the S38 but the council still havent adopted the road, so at this point I assume that it never will be adopted.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation as we are currently in two minds at the moment about whether to proceed.

moneyistooshorttomention

Re the street light, then ring the section of your Council that deals with street lighting and ask them. Chances are that they will say that it is their street light and, if so, they have to keep it maintained. The Council will know one way or another and should tell you straight off if asked by you personally.

Re the rubbish collection either ask the neighbours or, again, ask the Council.

I would imagine you would be covered for both those things okay. I live in an unadopted road and I am.

SavingWolf

Thanks, I will give them a call on Monday.
Had asked this via solicitors but never got a response but as you say it is probably better doing it myself...

Is there anything else I should check on too? Any advice good or bad from your experiences?

moneyistooshorttomention

Make sure to find out who owns the road and whether residents in that road are required to pay towards maintenance of that road surface.

If residents are expected to contribute towards the cost, then find out what the arrangements are for doing this.

SavingWolf

The developers still own the road and are responsible for maintenance based on the S38 agreement

The road itself appears in better condition than some of the council maintained ones near where we currently live, probably as there is very light traffic

moneyistooshorttomention

Just seen this post of yours. In the event then, I imagine it should be quite easily possible, if need be, to organise a proper Residents Association that would hold meetings and do things properly re sharing out responsibilities/costs of dealing with road maintenance.

stator

It's possible the developers are continuining to maintain the road for the time being but will stop doing so at a certain point in the future, usually when they have sold their last interest. At this point you may find that your house has an obligation to pay for it's maintenance. Your conveyencer should be able to check this out and let you know.

SavingWolf

The developers have sold their final interest on the site a long time ago, the house and the estate were finished 15-20 years ago.

SavingWolf

A further update on this - yesterday we received more correspondence from the council saying they have never adopted the road because of "unknown cause of settlement on paths and roads" back in 2007. This suggests there is possibly an underlying problem that was held back in the original searches?!

We have withdrawn our offer based on this as it sounds like a potential nightmare for the houses that the S38 agreement serves

Hoploz

Oh no what a shame!

SavingWolf

Agreed - but it isn't the only house in the world even if it did tick most the boxes!