Homebuyers survey results. Renegotiate??

Mizzy171189

Hi there, we had an offer accepted for 160000 on a property on the market for 195000. We were really chuffed with this. We had information from our vendors solicitor stating that the house was in a satisfactory state etc and stated the damp proof course had been done many years ago but was ok.

The survey has informed us that a damp proof course is needed on most of the walls. There is also signs of a wood boring beetle found internally in floorboards/staircase and also externally in the fascia boards. Other than that the only other major problems were that the boiler/central heating has no test or service certificate neither does the electrics (despite the vendor telling us his son is a qualified electrician and did the wiring himself). To be honest we were prepared to pay out for a re wire but these other problems have taken us a bit by surprise. The house was built in 1900 and is 96sq metres. Do you think we should renegotiate the price as we've had it cheap already and the surveyor valued it at the price we paid?

Does anyone on here have any idea of potential costs of a DPC and getting rid of this wood boring beetle?
I have spoken to the solicitor this morning but he wasn't really much help!

Dan-Dan

Mizzy171189 wrote: »

Hi there, we had an offer accepted for 160000 on a property on the market for 195000. We were really chuffed with this. We had information from our vendors solicitor stating that the house was in a satisfactory state etc and stated the damp proof course had been done many years ago but was ok.

The survey has informed us that a damp proof course is needed on most of the walls. There is also signs of a wood boring beetle found internally in floorboards/staircase and also externally in the fascia boards. Other than that the only other major problems were that the boiler/central heating has no test or service certificate neither does the electrics (despite the vendor telling us his son is a qualified electrician and did the wiring himself). To be honest we were prepared to pay out for a re wire but these other problems have taken us a bit by surprise. The house was built in 1900 and is 96sq metres. Do you think we should renegotiate the price as we've had it cheap already and the surveyor valued it at the price we paid?

Does anyone on here have any idea of potential costs of a DPC and getting rid of this wood boring beetle?
I have spoken to the solicitor this morning but he wasn't really much help!

If you do , be prepared to lose the property , it will be back on the market in minutes depending on the estate agent they used

AdrianC

The surveyor has said "Look, it's got these problems - but it's still worth the price you're paying". If I was selling, and you waved that survey at me, you'd get it handed straight back with my finger pointing firmly at that section...

What you've said sounds pretty much like bog-standard backside-covering boilerplate on a late Victorian house.
You'll find VERY few properties that have gas certification (unless ex-rental) or electrics to latest standards. Is there any sign that the woodworm is active (unlikely) or historic?

Mizzy171189

AdrianC wrote: »

The surveyor has said "Look, it's got these problems - but it's still worth the price you're paying". If I was selling, and you waved that survey at me, you'd get it handed straight back with my finger pointing firmly at that section...

What you've said sounds pretty much like bog-standard backside-covering boilerplate on a late Victorian house.
You'll find VERY few properties that have gas certification (unless ex-rental) or electrics to latest standards. Is there any sign that the woodworm is active (unlikely) or historic?

There are signs of an active infestation internally and externally.
I think we are only bothered about the damp proofing as he's told our solicitor it definitely won't need doing as he knows it's fine which is an obvious lie in our lies.

teneighty

"We had information from our vendors solicitor stating that the house was in a satisfactory state etc and stated the damp proof course had been done many years ago but was ok"

That is a very bold statement by a solicitor! Are you sure that is what they stated?

Anyhoo, surely the next step is to go back to them and say your survey has revealed signs of damp so could the vendor contact the original damp proofing company under the guarantee. That should reveal whether the damp proof course was done years ago and is OK.

In the meantime you could get your own quotes for remedial work but be careful which firms you approach and be cautious over the advice they give you. Some of the less scrupulous firms quote for thousands of pounds of remedial damp proof course work and re-plastering when it is not required, although it can be a useful bargaining position.

Mizzy171189

teneighty wrote: »

"We had information from our vendors solicitor stating that the house was in a satisfactory state etc and stated the damp proof course had been done many years ago but was ok"

That is a very bold statement by a solicitor! Are you sure that is what they stated?

Anyhoo, surely the next step is to go back to them and say your survey has revealed signs of damp so could the vendor contact the original damp proofing company under the guarantee. That should reveal whether the damp proof course was done years ago and is OK.

In the meantime you could get your own quotes for remedial work but be careful which firms you approach and be cautious over the advice they give you. Some of the less scrupulous firms quote for thousands of pounds of remedial damp proof course work and re-plastering when it is not required, although it can be a useful bargaining position.

Hi there, yes we have it in writing with forms sent by the vendors regarding fixtures and fittings etc.