Problems found between offer and contracts.

teddyemm

Hello everyone need some advice.

Backstory: we have found a 2 bed semi and offered on the house after viewings. the offer was accepted second time round and things moved forwards. we then had a homebuyers survey done on the property and nothing was found to be amiss or wrong.

We booked a viewing yesterday to get sizings for windows and for sofas etc as the lead times on these things can be long and were living with family so don't have are own.

We found that the bathroom upstairs had no water pressure. it was unable to refill after flushing the toilet and shower or sink didn't work. i assume it has been turned off as downstairs sink was fine. i could not find the valve to turn it back on. downstairs under the bathroom area is a large wet patch on the wall and orange water drip marks on the ceiling. it was still damp to touch when there.

Now i guess they have turned it off due to this leak but I'm worried as we mentioned this to the estate agent and she advised us to get a plumber in to repair it. but I'm confused as we haven't exchanged or signed anything yet so was thinking it is not up to us?

I have emailed our solicitor and they said talk to the agent to get sorted and the estate agent is saying if you want to send someone thats ok but off are own backs. but i have said the repairs to damage isn't up to us its the sellers problem as it wasn't there 2-3weeks ago.

Am i the one who has to sort this or the seller?

They have told us that the property is in probate as we were never told this when we were viewing or made a offer until yesterday. were are paying top money for the property also. I'm very confused as to who sorts this out?. The house is empty and will be till someone moves into it the family of the woman lives very far away. the longer this is left i assume will damage the wall more? its damp around a plug socket also if this matters?

Any advice would be great. thanks

G_M

If the property is in probate then the sellers will have limited knowledge. However they may have found the leak and turned off the relevant water.

1) have you spoken to the surveyor? He should have spotted this.

2) Fixing it yourself before you Complete is out. It's not your property so
a) anything that went wrong with the fix would be blamed on you and
b) if the purchase collapses you'll have paid to improve someone else's property.

3) probably best not to get the seller to fix. Very hard to enforce, and no control on what they do or how professionally it is done.

4) either reduce your offer to allow for the cost of repair or just suck it up and pay a plumber once you own the property.


Have you been told Probate has actually been granted? If not the sale cannot go ahead till it is. In some cases this is a quickish formality. In some cases it takes months.... or even years.