Buying a flat with the electricity disconnected

marksoton

optibearus wrote: »

I just talked to our solicitor. Much to my surprise they said that the only way to resolve it is to turn it back on, they also said any agreement to do it pre-exchange wouldn't be legally binding anyway. This is again, the agencies in-house solicitors.

You're purchasing a BTL property and you're not using your own independent solicitor!? :eek:

davidmcn

PasturesNew wrote: »

In my view, there's little risk here. As an ex-rental its electrics will have to have been "safe" and it's just been empty a few months. It's normal to turn the electricity off in an unoccupied building. I'd expect it to just need turning on again the day you got the keys.

I'd expect there to be no problems/issues .... unless there's some good reason why, from what you've seen of the place, you think there could be a problem. e.g. a really shabby place, with sockets hanging off the walls.

I agree, it's rare for there to be any significant surprise problems with electrics. I wouldn't regard it as a big risk or problem - and your surveyor can simply be pre-warned to inspect it in daylight (or take their torch out of the car!).

optibearus

To be honest. We had a mare when we bought our house with an independent. Plus, on this new flat. The purchase had already fallen through once apparently and we were up against some competition. We agreed to go in house in part to strengthen our hand.

MFWannabe

optibearus wrote: »

I just talked to our solicitor. Much to my surprise they said that the only way to resolve it is to turn it back on, they also said any agreement to do it pre-exchange wouldn't be legally binding anyway. This is again, the agencies in-house solicitors.

Quite prepared to walk if it comes to that but this really doesn't seem like it should be this difficult.

Get your own independent solicitor!!
Putting in an agreement that the electric needs to be turned back on prior to exchange of contracts will mean that you have stated if it is not done then exchange of contracts will not take place.
If the owner wants to sell then it will be done

mgarl10024

PasturesNew wrote: »

As an ex-rental its electrics will have to have been "safe"

I'm not sure that's a safe assumption. They should be safe while being rented, but in practice?

flashg67

I've just bought a BTL that was a repo, empty since May I think. Gas & electric were only switched off, boiler drained etc.

It had prepay meters which showed hundreds of £ in debt (with EDF). They wiped the electricity debt by providing a new key but I needed a visit from the 'gas man' to reset the gas meter (and a new card).

macman

OP, you've visited the flat-we haven't.
By 'disconnected' do you simply mean the power turned off at the CU (which simply requires you yourself flicking the switch to turn it on), or do you mean the main fuse and meter have been removed (in which case you will need the DNO to replace the meter and reconnect, which will be chargeable).
If the latter, it's up to the buyer if they want to comply with your request or not. The alternative is that they offer a small reduction equal to the cost of reconnection, or refuse outright. There is no legal requirement for them to reconnect.
The real risk here is that there could be a problem with the wiring which is not obvious until the supply is restored. So at the very least I'd be asking the vendor to confirm that the install is otherwise in working condition. Subject to that, reconnection is straightforward enough.

optibearus

The agent visited yesterday and said that it cannot just be turned back on. So I can only assume it has been disconnected and therefore someone is going to have to pay to reconnect it.

optibearus

G_M wrote: »

Is the water on?

Is there gas in the property and is it on?

The property does not have gas.

Honestly. It occurred to me after that we could have a similar issue with the water. I didn't check it during the fleeting visit we had.

Wish I had, but I don't want to make any further noise and risk jeopardising this.

davidmcn

optibearus wrote: »

The agent visited yesterday and said that it cannot just be turned back on. So I can only assume it has been disconnected and therefore someone is going to have to pay to reconnect it.

"Disconnected" these days usually just means it's a prepay meter which has run out of credit, as explained above. Did you look at the meter?

I doubt the seller will want to open up a new account just to demonstrate to you that it works.