PRC houses question..

csys

Hello,

I am looking to buy a house and to say the truth at first I had no idea about the non-standard constructions aka PRC.

Unfortunately there is no way for me to identify if a house is PRC (even repaired one),

Are the estate agents obliged to provide info if a house is PRC or not? As I noticed on the sale info on some 'similar' looking houses, some of them they state 'non-standard construction' others not...

thx in advance!

chris

Mallotum_X

I would ask the agent and the owner.

The agents will be keen to get a sale, and will often bend the truth on many things. But they will know mortgage companies have issues with such houses so there is no point in hiding the fact as the survey will make it clear which could lead to mortgage offers being pulled/delays.

stator

If the house is unmortgageable they would usually say so in the details to stop timewasters. But it's definitely something worth asking. Ask the agents to confirm how the house is built and if they don't know get them to ask the vendor. Your survey will show up if it is but hopefully you can find out before then to avoid wasting money.

csys

Mallotum_X wrote: »

I would ask the agent and the owner.

The agents will be keen to get a sale, and will often bend the truth on many things. But they will know mortgage companies have issues with such houses so there is no point in hiding the fact as the survey will make it clear which could lead to mortgage offers being pulled/delays.

thx I read somewhere that the mortgage companies can have the information, the issue is I am cash buyer, I don't like to have debts so I avoid mortgages.

Mallotum_X

csys wrote: »

thx I read somewhere that the mortgage companies can have the information, the issue is I am cash buyer, I don't like to have debts so I avoid mortgages.

As a cash buyer then you need to consider whether non standard construction worries you.

If it doesn't, then you need to consider whether it will have an impact when you come to sell.

Unless you have already told the agent you are a cash buyer I would hold back on that info while you check the construction type.

You may have this covered already but it is probably worth getting your solicitor lined up. Agents will want proof of funds and you really dont want to tell them how much cash you have. But you can have the solicitor confirm to them that you are able to complete the purchase at the price you offer, without telling them your bank balance.

csys

Mallotum_X wrote: »

...
Unless you have already told the agent you are a cash buyer I would hold back on that info while you check the construction type.

...

Thank you for the tip. I did not ask the agents yet.

Btw, silly question, but I m not an expert, I assume that if a property has bricks outside then is not a PRC or a repaired PRC , right?

Cuilean

csys wrote: »

Btw, silly question, but I m not an expert, I assume that if a property has bricks outside then is not a PRC or a repaired PRC , right?

Not necessarily, in my experience. We looked at an Airey PRC house which had been given the outer skin of brick, but we were told putting a skin on it was worthless unless there was a valid certificate of completion on the works. I'd ask if the vendor has such a certificate.


We would have been buying with a mortgage, which you're not, but our solicitor and lender were very wary, which was shame because it was a really nice house. Husband still talks wistfully of it. Unfortunately, the vendor lived abroad and could not product the certificate. AFAIK, they're now looking for a cash buyer, so be careful...

csys

Just to close the thread that I opened...

I managed to find lists of streets that there are PRC houses, what I did was to contact the city council, they provided me with a list, w/o street numbers but was enough for me.