Vendor sold house with very unsafe electrics

alchemist.1

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

We bought a bungalow in April.

We knew that one of the floors needed repairing and that the wiring would probably need replacing.

We found out that every floor needed completely replacing, that the soakaways for rainwater were pouring water into the cavity under the floor, that one supporting wall was being held up by a kitchen worktop, that there was no lintel over the patio door, that the garage was unsafe and would have to be demolished.

We never even thought of contacting the vendors. Our house, our problem.

You're comparing apples to oranges.

seven-day-weekend

alchemist.1 wrote: »

You're comparing apples to oranges.

Why am I?

Most of the damage was caused by botched DIY, same as the OP's.

alchemist.1

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Why am I?

Most of the damage was caused by botched DIY, same as the OP's.

Did the vendor mislead you when selling the property?

GwylimT

So you've admitted you knew the vendor had carried out work on the electrics and you knew he was a bodger. If at that point you didn't seek certification for the work done I imagine it will be difficult now as you were already aware of the condition of the electrics.

seven-day-weekend

alchemist.1 wrote: »

Did the vendor mislead you when selling the property?

Not AFAIK.

alchemist.1

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Not AFAIK.

There is the difference.

kaya

Believe it or not there is no law to stop the owner of a house doing his own gas or electrics, the regs are only concerned with the responsibilities of employers and employees. While using an extension lead for appliances may be bad practice it certainly isn't illegal or notifiable as you haven't in any way rewired anything or interfered with the electrics by plugging a lead into a socket

silvercar

I've just bought a place with all the electric certificates in place. we've needed to have walls removed and replastered, only to find that behind the plaster were bare wires and exposed cabling joints and even random plug points. No comeback as the electrician couldn't be expected to see behind walls. I understand that, but it just shows that even with certification you are never fully covered.

martin.cat

No electrical work done could actually be correct

Garage could be historic work

The use of extension leads in the kitchen suggests some work should have been done and is needed

The sink issue will be the lack of supplementary bonding, again suggesting work should have been done

Did your survey suggest the electrics should be checked? In the absence of paperwork if you did not undertake further work you have missed you opportunity to identify the problems prior to completion

Unfortunately the problem is now yours and there may well be a slim chance of redress from the vender but I wouldn't hold my breath

kinger101

The property information form would have said something like this (from form TA6);

Has the property been rewired or had any electrical installation work carried out since 1 January 2005

Yes
No
Not known



This can only be answered as far as the vendor is aware. If the answer to this was "yes" when it should have been "no", they they have lied. I'm not convinced your solicitor's argument about the safety is solid. People knowingly and unknowingly buy unsafe houses all the time.

If you can get some evidence that the vendor carried out work that should have been certified (either himself or by a contractor) after 2005, I'd be sending a letter before action to recover the costs of making the wiring safe and compliant. However, much of the stuff you've currently highlighted does not require certification.