Selling House with Broken Items

stucosby

Hi,

Our house should be going on the market soon and there are a few things which we've never got round to doing/fixing. The shower head attachment leaks and only gives out cold water, the bathroom sink sometimes leaks, the heater in the kitchen no longer works etc. If i have the time and money to fix it before i complete then i'd like to do so, but other than morally, is there any duty for me to get these things sorted before exchanging?

I wouldnt say there's an outside tap on the listing if it didn't work - I just wouldn't mention it. lol.

What do people think?

Browntoa

its buyer bewares......so if you can live with doing it

SmlSave

If you know there are problems then you should (legally) inform your buyers

The number of people who don't however.......

teddysmum

Shower heads are very cheap (under £10) from Aldi and Lidl.

ThePants999

SmlSave wrote: »

If you know there are problems then you should (legally) inform your buyers

No, not really. Legally, all you have to do is truthfully answer any questions put to you. You're not required to volunteer any information.

Hoploz

You're not technically under any obligation ... But i would really have appreciated my seller letting me know there was a huge crack in the toilet pan (only visible from the side of the toilet you don't see) That way I wouldn't have ended up with a nice brown stain on the kitchen ceiling below which they had just renovated.

I honestly don't understand how people can just live with bits like you have which need fixing. Just fix 'em now and get the benefit!!!

DigForVictory

I regard an outside tap as an asset even if it needs a bit of work.

The rest - well, the new owners will find out but it's a courtesy to tag it just so they're not *planning* on a hot shower.

ReadingTim

ThePants999 wrote: »

No, not really. Legally, all you have to do is truthfully answer any questions put to you. You're not required to volunteer any information.

Legally - this is the position.

Morally - well, different people have different morals, so it's not so easy to answer, but you may want to consider how you'd feel if the vendor of the place you're hoping to buy is asking the same sort of questions you are.

Finally, whilst I hope your packing will be thorough, your mail redirection will be efficient and effective etc, you might just find yourself in a position where you need to go back to the old house, or want the new owners to do something for you - in that case, it might be a good idea to have left on good terms with the new owners.....

dc197

ThePants999 wrote: »

No, not really. Legally, all you have to do is truthfully answer any questions put to you. You're not required to volunteer any information.

I agree with this. There's nothing I can add apart from phrasing the same point my own way:
Answer all questions posed to you verbally and especially on the Property Information Form honestly and openly. Otherwise you are not obliged to offer any information about problems.

Cakeguts

Do the simple fixing jobs now. You don't want to keep getting low offers because something doesn't work that is easily fixed.

brummieaxgt

Hi,

I had a similar question asked if the sellers of our new home leave broken item. Our solicitors response was as follows.

There is no liability attached to the seller following completion. You are deemed to have inspected the property yourselves fully prior to exchange of contracts and you take the property it is in upon exchange.