Trying to buy but solicitor keeps finding roadblocks

deuteronomy

I have a house purchase saga that has been going on near 100 days since the offer was accepted.

It's a nice 1930's semi (modernised), buying with a mortgage, I sold my previous house a few months ago and am living with my parents. (who are a nightmare!)

I have already been advised by my solicitor to get an indemnity policy (£29) for the new boiler and windows which have been replaced, I have the paperwork for the boiler and only a receipt for the windows, no FENSA guff, but dont care as they will be replaced as they are leaded! (yuk)

Now my solicitor is concerned the fact that it has been modernised (new ceilings new french doors, bathroom etc) but not sure what she needs to redress (her words) with the buyer as he has already stated he has no approval or documentation etc for the works, and to be honest I dont give 2 hoots if they are approved or not, the quality looks good to me and if it was dodgy it would have fell down/shown by now.

Are my solictors doing this for my benefit or the mortguage company (first direct), what can I do to get this sale completed?

gettingtheresometime

Do you want her to do her job properly or not?

G_M

Is she working for the mortgage lender? Or have they appointed a different solicitor to act for them? Usually the buyer and lender appoint the same solicitor.

If so, she has 2 clients and must satisfy both.

As her client, you are perfectly at liberty to instruct her to ignore issues she finds and raises with you.

However her other client may instruct her differently when she raises thse same issues with them.

deuteronomy

My solicitor is working for first direct too, this firm met their criteria. I used the same firm for selling my old property.

stator

Any building works without signoff will cause a red flag. Ultimately it's up to the lender if they want to proceed or not. They might accept an indemnity, they might not. Just make it clear to your solicitor that these matters don't worry you and ask him/her to check with the lender for further instruction on their behalf.
ps you could have ordered the FENSA certificate for £20 online.

Slinky

stator wrote: »

ps you could have ordered the FENSA certificate for £20 online.

Only if they are actually Fensa certified which you can see by an address search on the website. And if you can see the certificate option is there, save yourself the £20 by not bothering to buy it!

ThePants999

What is the boiler indemnity actually indemnifying you against?

deuteronomy

The indemnity says it will only cover the costs of defending enforcement action taken by the council for the lack of building regulation and certificate.

moneyistooshorttomention

I cant see any documentation is involved for the work you mention - new ceilings, new bathroom, French door - other than a Fensa certificate for the French door.

There was never any mention of any "paperwork" for my new ceilings or new bathroom and I was duly given my certificate for the new outside door. My house has been ripped apart since I bought it - the paperwork I was given (despite removing pretty much everything) boiled down to Fensa certificates for that new exterior door and the new outside gutters/pipes/etc AND paperwork for the electrics AND paperwork for the central heating system work. No paperwork seems to have been required for anything else.

So what paperwork could they possibly be on about anyway? - other than that Fensa certificate for the French door.

eddddy

So has the work been done recently? If it were me, I would look at it like this...

Why didn't the seller get a boiler installation certificate and fensa certificates?

Does the seller use unqualified 'bodgers' to do work on his house?

Does that mean other work on the house might be bodged as well? E.g. New plasterboard fixed to rotten ceiling joists, 'damp stop' used to hide damp patches etc.


TBH, I would be very cautious of buying a house from somebody who chooses to get a boiler installed by somebody who is unqualified.

I'd be asking the seller lots of questions about this.

BJV

I completely understand that this is frustrating ( i had issues with my house move that went on for 5 months after we had moved out of our old house.) Nightmare!!!!!!

BUT she is, as other posts have already said not just working for you but also the lender. Equally this is your new home you will be excited and emotionally attached that means that it would be easy to miss something which could cause problems later.

Just because something looks fine does not mean it is fine. Promise ! I buy houses every now and again and keep them for rental. Normally a couple a year. We have a few and I always take my surveyor and builder with me. Even so the amount of times we have bought something which looks fine only to fine out that electrics are shot, buyer hiding damp, plumbing not up to regulation standards. It can take a normal renovation way over budget.

When I buy now I just assume that electrics and plumbing and windows will need replacing. Bear in mind that a rewire can cost anything from a couple of thousand to mega bucks. So the sockets could look fine, lovely chrome for example and nicely decorated for example but it could be a death trap behind.

She is trying her best to protect you.

The issue is that when somewhere is decorated and plaster you can not see the work hidden and it is this that can cause major problems.

So yes 100% I understand your position but you honestly have to let her do her stuff.

Good luck.