House checks before completion

Conner1992

Hi all,

First time poster here. I have currently had my offer accepted on my first ever property and Im currently going through the motion with my mortgage and solicitors etc to get an offer out and contracts exchanged so i can move in! Exciting stuff.
I must say though, im quite worried as im buying a repossession and the neighbour there tells me that it has been empty for nearly two years! When i have viewed the house, on both occassions it had all gas, electric and water switched off. Im worried that when i do complete and these are switched on there may be a huge fault which im liable for, in particularly the gas.
How do i progress this because when i speak to the mortgage company he has just told me that if i tested it myself in another viewing before completion “nobody would try and stop you”. Im worried that if there is an internal gas leak or water leak i could potentionally be liable to repair that costing thousands! The property is 10 years old so people keep saying do not worry but thats not the point.

Owain_Moneysaver

It depends on how the supplies have been switched off. It may just be at the main switch/valve, but it is also possible the electricity and gas have been disconnected by the suppliers to prevent standing charges or further debt accruing.

Turning things on when you don't know the state of the systems is unwise. You could cause a flood or worse.

This is, unfortunately, part of buying a reposessed property. It comes with no guarantees (even less guarantees than buying any other property).

G_M

This is a risk you take with a repossession.


You findall the gremlins after you move in.


Hence most people offer below market rate for a repo due to the uncertainty.

eddddy

You could ask an electrician/ gas engineer /plumber to inspect the property before you exchange contracts.

They may or may not be allowed to actually turn on the gas/ electricity /water - but they can give you an impression of the standard of the installations.

e.g. They might say that they are reasonably modern installations and unlikely to have any major problems, or they might say they are very old and/or very poor condition and you should expect big bills soon.

The biggest 'unknown' is likely to be the gas boiler (if there is one). Without turning on the gas, and firing the boiler up, it might be difficult to guess whether it's likely to work.

If the boiler is broken and unrepairable, that might cost a few thousand.

Conner1992

Asthetically, the house is in great order. I cant see there being any problems, however, i wouldnt be able to detect a problems with the utilities until they were switched on. At this time i think before exchanging contracts i will ask to see it in working order and ill hope they accomodate that request.

G_M

Good luck with that. Let us know.


but my money's on you hitting a brick wall........

eddddy

Conner1992 wrote: »

At this time i think before exchanging contracts i will ask to see it in working order and ill hope they accomodate that request.

Who will you ask to show it to you in working order?

It's a repossession, so it's being sold by a bank. They won't send a bank employee from their office to show you stuff in the house working.

It's very unlikely that anyone at the bank has ever seen the house, and they certainly won't know how to turn on the boiler etc.

Conner1992

I completely agree, i mean if i can get a gas engineer and electrician to have a once over before.
Unfortunately im in no position to pay thousands i simply dont have it. So whats the work around? Too much risk and pull the plug alltogether?

davidmcn

eddddy wrote: »

Who will you ask to show it to you in working order?

It's a repossession, so it's being sold by a bank. They won't send a bank employee from their office to show you stuff in the house working.

It's very unlikely that anyone at the bank has ever seen the house, and they certainly won't know how to turn on the boiler etc.

To be fair, they managed to send their agents/contractors round to turn everything off, clear the place, change the locks, and escort viewers, so it's not inconceivable that they might cater for an additional viewing. However, given how much of a hassle it can be to refill and then drain heating systems or other plumbing they are likely to say no.

In practice, stuff probably works, because even people on the verge of repossession tend to get their heating fixed if it breaks down.

Conner1992

Well the owner didnt pay his mortgage which forced the tenants out. Its believed that the owner lives abroad, but i have no idea. I just feel the risk is so much at the moment and im only getting it 10k cheaper than the market value! Will the gas at least be checked by the mortgage company when they send someone out for a valuation. I know they check damp but surely they would want to see the gas working?

HampshireH

Unlikely they will check the gas. This would be down to you.

My mortgage valuations person spent 15 minutes in my house, took a few photos and left. The only thing he tested was the toilet....though neccessity not profession.

In reality if your getting it 10k less them that's 10k you should have to spend on fixing thingd