Last minute demand from buyer

Atomix

lichfield22 wrote: »

I have definitely not agreed to cover costs or renegotiate if the checks show the electrics need work (they will - I've been there since 2006 and have done no work on them so although everything seems to be working fine, they won't meet current regs). Had the buyer found these issues earlier in the process I would happily have renegotiated but not now.

Wish me luck everyone, and really thank you all once again. I'll report back on Tuesday as to whether we do exchange! Eek!

The fact that they don't meet current regs is a myth, there is no law that requires you to update them, they are at the regulation in place at the time of build.... The amount of mis confusion baffles me (no they're not current regs- no !!!! the house was built 40 years ago to regs then)... If you wanted to do anything 'electrical' you may have to update it all so that the sparky signs it all off ok... As long as you have an 'earth' then it shouldn't be too bad, new fusebox, inc trip switches etc... Hundreds of pounds.

AnotherJoe

The upside of the OP paying for the report is that he gets to see it. Indeed he should make it clear to the electrician that he gets the report and then he passes a copy onto the buyer. Means if any issues arise later he has the original to refer to. Fingers crossed for you OP do report back a successful exchange on Tuesday!

lichfield22

lessonlearned wrote: »

I am sorry if I have missed something but is the buyer in question paying by cash or is she needing a mortgage, if she requires a mortgage then at the very least the her lenders would need a valuation.

No valuation no mortgage. Unless of course they did a sneaky "drive by survey". It has been known.

So I'm assuming then what we are talking about is either a home buyers report or a full structural survey. (Not the same thing).

However even a full structural survey will not check electrics etc.

OP I concur you shouldn't really have agreed to pay for the electrical report, it really is best to try and keep some distance. The emphasis is on the buyer. Caveat Emptor and all that,

As for the Dad..... I agree it sounds like he just has his daughters best interests at heart although at 40 she should be a little more savvy and have acquainted herself with the house buying process.

If she is not having a mortgage is he involved in helping fund the purchase. Not that it matters to you but it might explain his last minute heavy handed intervention.

Hope all goes smoothly for you. It must have come as a bit of a shock at the last minute.

She does indeed need a mortgage and the company only did a desktop valuation to agree the house is worth what she offered me. That was done back in May. Assume her dad might well be the source of the 10% deposit though.

I don't think either of them are terribly savvy about the process (despite the dad claiming he's bought and sold 'dozens' of houses and has apparently never met a vendor as unreasonable as me). The initial request I received yesterday was for a full structural survey to be carried out at my expense and given that the dad seemed to mostly be concerned about electrical problems, he wasn't even asking for the right kind of inspection! The estate agent had to explain that a survey doesn't look at the electrics in detail.

lichfield22

Quizzical_Squirrel wrote: »

I'd be nervous about this situation.

Is the father from another country/culture? He's certainly not familiar with the UK property buying process and he's belligerent to boot.

When he gets that report inevitably telling him the electrical system isn't up to date (because it wasn't installed 5 minutes ago) he might want to fight because he won't understand.

Even after completion, I would worry that this guy will attempt to harass you for other faults found later. He won't succeed but that won't stop it being stressful, especially if you still live in the area and he can come and knock on your door.

If this was the spring property market, and I had other interested buyers, frankly I'd pull out of this sale.
But it's the end of the selling season so I'd take the risk but be prepared for further issues from this guy.

I haven't met either the vendor or her dad but I know their names and don't think they're from another country or culture based on that. She actually already rents in the street I live in and according to the estate agent she's been desperate to buy a house in that street and was devastated when her offer on a neighbouring house wasn't accepted last year. Which makes her dad messing things up for her even more baffling. We're moving about four miles away and I have no intention of leaving a forwarding address and will tell the estate agent not to pass one on.

moneyistooshorttomention

lichfield22 wrote: »

I certainly will keep you all posted ... I'm still expecting the dad to try and pursue me for money after completion not only for the electrics but whatever else he discovers once he actually sets foot in the house on Friday!

Once he actually sets foot in it he'll probably be too busy planning what DIY he intends to do on it to think of much else.

It was quite clear what job my father had got in mind to start with as I was taking him round the house with me on my second viewing. You could just see his mind working the second he stepped in the kitchen:rotfl: - and that was duly the first thing he got on with....

Certainly not a cultural thing - my family have been English for generations. Some fathers can fully believe their daughter should be leading the life/being paid an income of a "person totally equal to a man" (tick) but think they need a "man by their side" and if there isnt a husband around....then they nominate themselves to carry on with that role...

anotheruser

AdrianC wrote: »

Any bets on when the report from the electrical check actually arrives? Two weeks later...?

Ours was instant.
They will fill in a report checksheet as they're doing it.

lessonlearned wrote: »

OP I concur you shouldn't really have agreed to pay for the electrical report, it really is best to try and keep some distance. The emphasis is on the buyer. Caveat Emptor and all that

This is the second time in just a few days someone has said something similar.

The situation is that the buyer may pull out if the survey isn't done. It may be [the buyers] responsibility to get it done but it's not always.

That's like saying nobody should do anything to improve their home for the buyer. Our neighbour spend just shy of £3000 getting their home into a state the buyers would accept. If it means a sale, for some people, it's worth paying.

lichfield22

The debate here about how long the report might take has made me think ... If I'm paying for it and the electrician does hand it to me when he's finished as some people are suggesting, what am I then supposed to do with it? I'm tempted to say I'll leave it in the house for the buyer to see when she moves in rather than share it before completion ...

catshark88

A father hearing about the lack of survey and then having a full discussion about it with his 40 something daughter, is "caring and protective".

A father phoning the estate agent to pull a deal that his daughter has agreed, in her own name, is something a whole lot nastier.

Good luck with this one OP, I suspect it will kick off.

DaftyDuck

lichfield22 wrote: »

The debate here about how long the report might take has made me think ... If I'm paying for it and the electrician does hand it to me when he's finished as some people are suggesting, what am I then supposed to do with it? I'm tempted to say I'll leave it in the house for the buyer to see when she moves in rather than share it before completion ...

You send it by mail to your estate agent, asking them to use the enclosed stamped envelope to forward to your solicitor, and ask your solicitor to use the further-enclosed stamped envelope to send it on to the buyer's solicitor... where I would not be including a further envelope for their convenience.

As you have forked out for their survey you will, regrettably, only be able to afford a second class stamp on each of the three envelopes, but do ask for proof of posting (it's free!) at the post office.....

Cheeky_Monkey

lichfield22 wrote: »

The debate here about how long the report might take has made me think ... If I'm paying for it and the electrician does hand it to me when he's finished as some people are suggesting, what am I then supposed to do with it? I'm tempted to say I'll leave it in the house for the buyer to see when she moves in rather than share it before completion ...

Strictly speaking, as you are paying for the electrical report, it belongs to you and you are under no legal obligation to share the information in it with anyone else AFAIK. Maybe you should offer to 'sell' it to your buyer's father

As it's being carried out after exchange, your buyer is hardly going to refuse to complete is she as she will lose her deposit.