What does the estate agent have to tell you?

Surrey_EA

aneary wrote: »

Again this is a flat, unless there is stud walling you aren't likely to be taking walls down?

Why not? It's quite possible.

In any event, Grade II listed restrictions apply to internal alterations, as well as external.

harshitguptaiitr

the consumer regulations oblige agents to disclose to prospective buyers what they know about a property and what they should reasonably be expected to know. They should also disclose what they become aware of during the marketing of a property which could affect a buyer's decision.

The regulations contain broad rules outlining when certain practices are unfair. These are:-

• misleading actions – for example, misdescribing the main characteristics of a property
• misleading omissions – for example, failing to disclose key information about a property
• aggressive practices – for example, applying undue pressure on a seller to make a decision
• banned practices – for example, claiming to be a member of a professional body when they are not
• lack of professional diligence – for example, not carrying out reasonable checks on the accuracy and truthfulness of information provided.

ReadingTim

Surrey_EA wrote: »

If I recall correctly Grade II listing applies to any alterations that materially affect the character of the building, be they internal or external.

Correct - it's internal as well as external. See here for some brief info.

I'm intrigued how the building's listed status only "popped up" so late in the process...

One wonders whether it wasn't its listed status which occurred, but the implications of its listed status....

Surrey_EA

harshitguptaiitr wrote: »

the consumer regulations oblige agents to disclose to prospective buyers what they know about a property and what they should reasonably be expected to know. They should also disclose what they become aware of during the marketing of a property which could affect a buyer's decision.

In this case I think the EA should be expected to know that the property was listed.

However, I would say the issue about covenants in a later post is different. You cannot expect every EA to understand how to interpret covenants, and know which ones are enforceable and which are not.

dares_uk

Surrey_EA wrote: »

In this case I think the EA should be expected to know that the property was listed.

However, I would say the issue about covenants in a later post is different. You cannot expect every EA to understand how to interpret covenants, and know which ones are enforceable and which are not.

That's true, I wouldn't expect an estate agent to know if a covenant was enforceable or not, but I would expect them to know if there was covenants or not.

Surrey_EA

dares_uk wrote: »

That's true, I wouldn't expect an estate agent to know if a covenant was enforceable or not, but I would expect them to know if there was covenants or not.

And in this case they asked the owner of the property, who could reasonably be expected to know, and were told, in writing, that there were none.