Final inspections before exchange: Leak and Cut off utilities

bigfoot371

Hi,

A couple of questions to ask. I'm currently waiting to exchange, but amongst many ridiculous excuses for not exchanging from the seller (they've told me it;s vacant three times, I've walked past and found it to be a lie) the current issue is that they have NO ID to give their solicitor and they are waiting to get a driving license. I can't believe their solicitor went this far without checking ID.

I've just been for a final inspection. As the boiler is 13 years old and they have no gas safety (rented to daughter, so they didn't believe the law applied) and no proof of ever being serviced I've made it clear I want to check the utilities before exchanging.

The issues:

Gas and Elec are on some sort of prepayment meter, and it's been cut off by British Gas (Supplier) and they cannot put credit on. there wasn't a fob and I'm told they top u[p by phone.

Is there a way to put credit on to check utilities? How easy is it to have normal meters put in - is there a charge? I hate prepayment as they cost too much and I work away a lot, I don't want it to run out and the pipes to freeze when I'm away.

The living room radiator had a puddle under it, they say it just need tightening. Should I insist it's checked over?


Am I wrong insisting to see the utilities working? They left no information on reconnecting the prepayment system.

Any advice welcome.

michelle09

We moved into a place with prepayment meters and large amount of debt attached to it. If it is in debt then any credit you put onto it will just be absorbed by British Gas into their deficit and won't give you any gas. Don't. If you call BG they will tell you this (and recommend that you don't as they won't refund you if you do).

As for getting it off - it's relatively easy. Initially they will open you a new account on the prepayment meter and send you a new card. But they will come out and remove it - took a week for us. They made a cursory effort to keep us on a prepayment meter (you can't switch while on one, only the company that installed it can remove it) but I was firm and they sorted it fairly quickly.

LadyhavershamLost

You can switch utility companies if on a prepayment meter...

AnotherJoe

Seems a bit of a waste of time. Why would you trust them to fix any of this, I'd assume it's not working and knock off couple of grand on that basis. If they think it's OK, they will fix. If not, tells you what you need to know amd you've covered a decent part of the cost.

G_M

I agree.

They are making things difficult for you, denying access for inspections etc, so just assume you are going to have to get remedial work done on the system.

Knock off £1 or £2K and tell them take it or leave it.

I expect they did the same with their solicitor, giving excuses why they couldn't get in to the office with ID etc.

Let's hope they really are who they say they are, and really own the property........

bigfoot371

Because initially we were due to complete tomorrow (before the ridiculous farce), my solicitor has already ordered the funds.

If I reduce the offer, will it be a new credit check and application taking weeks, or can my solicitor reduce the contract cost and return the excess to my mortgage company?

There is now a house on the market 5 doors down for 12% less (70k instead of 80k, yay the north) - but the one i'm buying has new roof (£3-4k?), and has the kitchen knocked through to the old outhouse toilet (min £5k for building work and new kitchen - this is necessary because it's such a small house). This is my bargaining chip, despite being a hardened businessmen in my work life, I am an man of my word and didn't want to start reducing offers.

G_M

So you were going to Exchange/Complete same day? And you're not even sure it's vacant when they say it is?

Yes you mortgage lender would need to approve. Don't know if they'd run another credit check....?

The other house is £10K less, but yours has close to £10K's worth of upgrades.....?

bigfoot371

Apparently, they have reconnected the elec and gas online somehow... waiting to here if I can go this morning to inspect.

My solicitor has to return the mortgage money on Monday if no complete. Putting everything back a while.

As of last night they had not provided ID to the solicitor.

Yay for idiots.

martindow

This doesn't make sense to me. If the vendors has not provided ID I would not think that their solicitor would start any work and send a draft contract to your solicitor. Why did your solicitor suggest getting the money from your lender before everything was in place to exchange?

alchemist.1

You can pay online for Prepayment with British Gas. I presume they have paid their debt and added a few quid on the meter.

As for getting it changed go a credit meter, British Gas will do a credit check and will let you know if they can do it (dependant on your credit history).

Npower were happy to change ours over.

The problem with prepayment is that it is more expensive even with a change of supplier.