Walls, Mortgages and a First Time Buyer. help!

TMillo

Hi,


I seem to be going crazy with all my house buying issues (See other thread relating to Japanese Knotweed if you want to be frightened about a plant )


The latest issue is that of a retaining wall. My (potential) house’s garden backs onto a garden at a higher level on the road behind. The join is a 7footish retaining wall which a surveyor says is at risk of falling down. Unfortunately, the wall belongs to the neighbours behind who are apprehensive to get it fixed (£££) and I and the home owner do not have the cash to do it ourselves (and why should we!! It’s not our wall!!)


The mortgage lender’s position is likely to be (having to reapply due to JKW) that until the wall is fixed, they wont lend on the property. What would you do? It’s our dream first house, we got it at a great price and there is NOTHING else on the market that we like in our price range.

Thanks in advance!

Daerve

TMillo wrote: »

It’s our dream first house, we got it at a great price and there is NOTHING else on the market that we like in our price range.

In which case get your wallet out and offer to contribute to the cost.

The wall is at risk of falling down rather than has fell down and there are various methods to eliminate the risk which shouldn't cost more than a grand.

TMillo

Daerve wrote: »

In which case get your wallet out and offer to contribute to the cost.

The wall is at risk of falling down rather than has fell down and there are various methods to eliminate the risk which shouldn't cost more than a grand.

I'd love to, but being first time buyers any money would mean we can't have a fridge/sofa/bed. is it wrong to ask the owners of the wall to pay, as surely it's better to fix it now for cheap than for more when it falls

Daerve

TMillo wrote: »

I'd love to, but being first time buyers any money would mean we can't have a fridge/sofa/bed. is it wrong to ask the owners of the wall to pay, as surely it's better to fix it now for cheap than for more when it falls

It's not wrong to ask at all, it's their wall that's causing the problem.

Your problem comes if they say no. You then either have the option of paying for it yourself or walking away.

AdrianC

Is it "their wall"? Maintenance of the boundary might be their responsibility, but is the wall itself theirs? If a predecessor in your house reduced the ground height in your garden, rather than them raising theirs, then it's more likely to be your wall.

eddddy

Have you explained the problem to the vendor - ideally via the EA?

Explain that the vendor and their neighbour need to sort this out, otherwise you can't get a mortgage. And any other prospective buyer that comes along will hit the same problem.

At this stage, treat it as the vendor's problem, not yours.

The EA should put pressure on the vendor on your behalf. The EA will be keen to get this sorted out, so that the sale can proceed and they can get their commission.

Or if you have already done this, what was the vendor's response?