very bad survey on old house

Doozergirl

ProDave wrote: »

What this thread highlights is the chronic state of a LOT of the UK housing stock.

We really can't just carry on patching up these old substandard houses can we? With the best will in the world they are going to remain a money pit pouring lots of heating into them to keep them habitable.

Surely it is time for another round of "slum" clearance and replace these old outdated houses with something more modern and eficcient?

Personally I would not even look at a house now that did not have an EPC of C or better.

All said as someone self building a new, very well insulated, air tight house that I expect to get an EPC of A when finished.

We're building ourselves an airtight house too, we start on Tuesday! It too will need maintenance and replacement items over the years. Such is the nature of things. And even if every house in the country were super efficient right now, some people would still neglect them and they'd still end up with damp. I can't imagine an airtight house with a dodgy ventilation system would be that much fun to live in.

If we weren't building our own, I would always choose an older house. Space, character, the ability to make it your own. Even to retrofit and make it airtight if one were so inclined.

And old buildings represent our heritage as a country and help to make it as beautiful as it is.

agrinnall

If I was your vendor having already accepted a lower offer I'd be telling you to take a hike if you came to me asking for a further reduction for things that you should have expected to need doing on an unrenvated older property. You should either pay what you agreed to or do the decent thing and withdraw now.

Rambosmum

You can live it while you do it!

We had a rewire a few months after we moved in. We "went on holiday" for the two weeks it took to do and we didn't fully unpack until it has been done. We've just done the central heating over the summer.

We are installing an en suite and then when that is done, will re do the main bathroom - which, shock horror, has 2 taps on the sink (which really isn't unusual or a problem!) Our bathroom is oooollllldddd, like 35 years old. But the toilet flushes, the sink drains and the bath holds water. It gets me clean. It need replacing as it looks awful and the toilet takes a couple of flushes to get everything to go and the shower is broken, but I can use it.

I think you sound naive. From your initial description I could tell it would need a rewire. How's the roof?

happypie

Rambosmum wrote: »

You can live it while you do it!

We had a rewire a few months after we moved in. We "went on holiday" for the two weeks it took to do and we didn't fully unpack until it has been done. We've just done the central heating over the summer.

We are installing an en suite and then when that is done, will re do the main bathroom - which, shock horror, has 2 taps on the sink (which really isn't unusual or a problem!) Our bathroom is oooollllldddd, like 35 years old. But the toilet flushes, the sink drains and the bath holds water. It gets me clean. It need replacing as it looks awful and the toilet takes a couple of flushes to get everything to go and the shower is broken, but I can use it.

I think you sound naive. From your initial description I could tell it would need a rewire. How's the roof?

Yes, i am first time buyer and this is my first offer on a house which is accepted after viewing about 10 properties so far in last 1-2 years in different interval.

about roof, survey says that its not accessible even with ladder so could be checked only with binocular from ground level. Tiles of 30 years of age and looks reasonable condition and will last another 30 years with general maintenance.

gycraig_2

So you put an offer on an old house that you knew needed work, then when survey said you needed to do work on it you want them to accept even lower offer.

I'd tell you to jog on tbh remember you aren't "wasting" money doing these things it will make the house nice to live in

happypie

So you put an offer on an old house that you knew needed work, then when survey said you needed to do work on it you want them to accept even lower offer.

I'd tell you to jog on tbh remember you aren't "wasting" money doing these things it will make the house nice to live in

for those who are saying me this thing again and again, I put a lower offer thinking it would require x amount of work but survey discovered it would require 2x amount of work hence I am asking for suggestions how to renegotiate price.

i've listed down things in my survey in various posts. would appreciate if I get suggestions on how to use those.
for example, damp is something even EA is agreeing that amount to fix it should be reduced. similarly what else is there which I can confidently say that that must be off the price...

davidmcn

happypie wrote: »

what else is there which I can confidently say that that must be off the price...

Nothing, really. Everything else seems to be either things which ought to have been obvious without a survey, or which (probably) aren't essential.

You can of course still say that you got your sums wrong and need to lower your price.

Crashy_Time

happypie wrote: »

for those who are saying me this thing again and again, I put a lower offer thinking it would require x amount of work but survey discovered it would require 2x amount of work hence I am asking for suggestions how to renegotiate price.

i've listed down things in my survey in various posts. would appreciate if I get suggestions on how to use those.
for example, damp is something even EA is agreeing that amount to fix it should be reduced. similarly what else is there which I can confidently say that that must be off the price...

Just tell the seller that the survey throws up more problems than you thought and that you are now lowering your offer, then leave it with them and go and view more houses. Don`t get overly attached to one house.

happypie

update - i have pulled out of purchase.
though seller was kind enough and reduced 15k more but i wasn't sure if i should buy a house with these many issues.

it feels bad that now i have to start all over again. some money and lot of time lost but hopefully i will feel better in few days.

societys_child

it has two separate tapes for cold and hot water in basin

Probably best to pull out, if this bothered you