Seller lied on Property Information Form

Tiger28

Question 4.1- Have any of the following changes been made of the whole or any part of the property?
A) building works (including roof)
The seller has marked NO!
On further inspection I have been told I need a new roof from work the seller has done. I have proof that the seller did the work as is advertised on their Facebook and Twitter.
I bought the property from an investment company so trusted that they would have done the work properly so only got a valuation survey, but clearly I was wrong to trust a big business like this.
Anyone have any advice and if worth trying to claim with proof I have that they have done the work

maisie_cat

More detail about the work alleged and works required is needed.
Caveat emptor still applies, actually buying from an investment company would make me more diligent, not less. A company will do anything at the cheapest price & quality they can get away with.
Was it building works or bodged repairs/maintenance? Was it obvious on inspection that the work had been done? If it was did you check that the work was subject to building control? Lastly, do you actually need a new roof, or has a "friendly" roofer told you that? and was it entirely due to the "building works"? For example, it would take a lot for a new tiled roof to need completely replacing. If it was reconfiguration work that affected the structure that does not necessarily require an entire new roof to fix.
It is an expensive route to go after the seller, the legal fees can run into tens of £000's and having had a valuation survey only will not help a case.

Davesnave

How long ago was the purchase?


Bear in mind that the valuation survey gave an OK on the price you paid and that you don't appear to have had 3 quotes for remedial works yet, so it's hard for us to judge whether going after the investment company for their 'administrative error' would be just throwing good money after bad.


Whatever they did or didn't do, I'm fairly sure the company's actions did not destroy the entire roof! You need specific info here so stop relying on guesses and suppostion, as it hasn't helped you thus far.

Tiger28

The purchase was back in January.

Basically I have been told by 3 friendly roofers that my roof isn’t safe due to a new support that has been put in since the chimney was removed.
On the company Facebook page there is a picture of my house with them and I quote, doing a good job on the rip out in Hull. Chimneys are all out this weekend

sevenhills

Tiger28 wrote: »

Basically I have been told by 3 friendly roofers that my roof isn!!!8217;t safe due to a new support that has been put in since the chimney was removed.

So the roof and roof tiles are ok, but the structure needs more support?

Tiger28 wrote: »

Basically I have been told by 3 friendly roofers

Is there such a thing as a "friendly roofer", they all just want your money

Davesnave

You actually need a structural engineer's assessment to back you up if support is the main issue.



Roofers, friendly or otherwise, just won't cut it if you pursue this.

dunstonh

Basically, you need one structural survey to begin with to ascertain facts. Not opinions of those with a commercial bias.

You can instruct the surveyor to focus on the roof area in detail. If that supports the failing then you can start legal action. Legal action you are not guaranteed to win. If the surveyor does not say there is a risk and work was done to standard then legal action wont get you anywhere.

Get copies of the facebook entries for your file before the company delete any references to that property from facebook.

robatwork

If we put to one side the details of the work that does or doesn't need to be done, and take what the OP says at face value, then the seller has lied/misinformed/perjured himself on the form by answering NO to a clear question that should have been a YES.

Even if this has little effect to the house's value, is there any case law or precedent on what ramifications can be on someone who has ended up in court for similar?

Has anyone here actually done something about being misinformed on a TA6, or taken to court as someone who filled it in incorrectly?

shortcrust

Tiger28 wrote: »

The purchase was back in January.

Basically I have been told by 3 friendly roofers that my roof isn’t safe due to a new support that has been put in since the chimney was removed.
On the company Facebook page there is a picture of my house with them and I quote, doing a good job on the rip out in Hull. Chimneys are all out this weekend

My mum's friendly roofer (who she genuinely considered a friend and trusted implicitly) told my mum her roof was rotting and needed replacing at a cost of at least £3,000. The chap I got in for a second opinion said a couple of tiles needed replacing, nothing more. That was 15 years ago and the old roof with a couple of new tiles is still doing its job.

shortcrust

ruhe wrote: »

That's a horrendous story! She regarded him as a friend as well. It really beggars belief! Has our beloved nation turned into a "survival of the fittest" anything goes kind of society? Definitely it seems to me that things are changing and people are more selfish and more money grabbing than they used to be

I think she can be a bit naive and falls for a bit of charm, but I've learned there are people who recognise and exploit it.

I've remembered that she did actually have a new roof last year (:o), but still that was 14 years or so after she was told she needed one!

Hoploz

I'm a bit unsure about this investment company thing. Was it the same firm who did the work and posted it on Facebook, that was named as the legal seller? Just checking this is the case.

What made you get the roofers round in the first place?

Back to the question, I would think it needs investigation by a structural engineer and if further support is found to be required, have it done and then consider pursuing the company for the amount you are out of pocket. However in practice I feel you're unlikely to come out of this on top in reality.