Private sale of my house + Buying flat from mother

Sooetie

My mum has memory problems but doesn't want to live with me and my sons. She is currently very happy in a flat (with a mortgage) in a retirement complex so my other option is to move nearer to her. She owns another flat that she rents out 400 m away which is the solution.

The main objective is to get us both mortgage free.

I have an offer on my house so I can buy mum's flat and she can pay off her mortgage on her retirement flat. I've got a solicitor but as the sale of my house is private (didn't even get it on the market as a friend of a neighbour snapped it up) and I'm buying from a relative I have a few questions.

1.Do I need to get an EPC certificate or any other stuff for my house as it is a private sale?

2 As I am buying a family owned propery do I have to get all the searches and surveys etc done.or can it be transferred with a payment?

3. I did think maybe I could just buy mum's flat and then we could live in each others. but then if she was in need of care she couldn;t afford the flat I was living in would have to be sold so I could end up losing my home. so is that an option?.

Thanks guys

AnotherJoe

1. No.
2 Not needed.
3. Are you eligible to buy in her retirement complex? Anyway it seems too, well, complex. KISS.

eddddy

Yes - you do need an EPC.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are needed whenever a property is:
- built
- sold
- rented

https://www.gov.uk/buy-sell-your-home/energy-performance-certificates

If you're not getting a mortgage, you don't have to have surveys and searches if you don't want to. (But you end up having to deal with any problems that surveys/searches would have shown up).

Sooetie

Thanks Another Joe fo answers to 1 & 2

Re 3. Yes I am 55 and qualify but it's too small for me lads lol.and they definately don't.

vanilla_twist

I sold a house privately last year and as was selling to a very distant family member I didn't need an Epic. I think you will for your house as buyers not related. You will not need one to buy your mum's flat.
I think if buying with no mortgage you will not need searches etc but case of buyer beware.

V x

Sooetie

Thanks V

I'm very aware of a couple of problems with the flat I'm buying but the issue is really about getting near my mum.

I've chewed this over for nearly a year and it's about time I made a decision.

X

AnotherJoe

Who checks if you have an EPC ?

eddddy

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Who checks if you have an EPC ?

It's down to Trading Standards to enforce it - the fine for not having one when you exchange contracts is £200.

Some buyer's solicitors insist on seeing the EPC before exchange - but I don't know if all solicitors do.

I've not heard of anyone being fined. In fact, I don't know how Trading Standards would find out with a private sale - except perhaps through a vindictive buyer.

AnotherJoe

If they cost around £100 and it's really only going to be the buyer that dobs you in, seems like good odds. If you came to exchange and the solicitor asked for it you could get it done last minute it's not as if there's a chain and dates are crucial.