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Buying with mortgage a terraced house wuth chimneys and load bearing wall removed.

Hello there,

we are in the process of buying a Victorian Terraced House and we expected to exchange next week but it turns out that the seller doesn't have building regulations in place for the removal of chimney breasts and load bearing wall. The sellers have been in the property 5 years and the works were done before they purchased the property. We don't know when. There is no proof of building regulations. Our solicitors proposed to have an indemnity policy at seller's expenses, but the seller's solicitors said that they don't want to pay any indemnity. We have been very accommodating, not even asking a reduction of the price for some work that needs to be done and we are pushing ourselves to respect their timeframe.
Now, I have contacted a structural engineer to have a look, but I know that they will have to make a bit of a mess to check that everything it is in place well supported.
I am not even sure if the seller is willing to go through this.
I think we should have the structural check and then also the indemnity, I am not sure we should be paying all of this since it's the seller problem.
Would this be a problem with the mortgage?

I am terrified of your answers, because the last time I wrote here and I read your answers I pulled out from buying a flat! It was the right choice! I just hope this time it will be different!:rotfl:

I am waiting to hear from the EA, but what if the seller is not willing to go through the structural engineer checks?

Thank you all!!

Comments

  • The indemnity insurance doesn't prevent it from falling down, nor does it cover you for the expense of repairing it should it fall down. It covers you from being the wrath of the local planning should they want to seek enforcement on the work that has been done (which they can only do within 12 months of the work being done). Indemnity, whilst a nice peace of mind for the lender - its usually a useless piece of paper.

    The "it was done before we moved in" line is an easy one to say but you can only work on what you are being told (and take that with a pinch of salt).

    You therefore need to get a quote to see how much it will be to secure the chimney correctly. Then make a decision on whether you want to proceed and take a risk it will be fine, or proceed and pay for someone to put right.. or negotiate the cost off the price to pay for this, or walk away...
  • araki
    araki Posts: 16 Forumite
    The "it was done before we moved in" line is an easy one to say but you can only work on what you are being told (and take that with a pinch of salt).

    You therefore need to get a quote to see how much it will be to secure the chimney correctly. Then make a decision on whether you want to proceed and take a risk it will be fine, or proceed and pay for someone to put right.. or negotiate the cost off the price to pay for this, or walk away...


    We are sure it was done before because we saw the old photographs from the previous seller on Rightmove and the wall and the chimneys were already removed. The building survey revealed that the property was above avarage standard and that it needed just little work, but it did say to check if building regulations were in place.
    I am not even sure there is anything wrong with the chimneys and the removal of the wall, and the only way to check is to make an hole with as tructure engineer and see how the work has been supported. I am not sure if it is normal practice to just buy the property without having the possibility to check if the work are properly done? Also, if the insurer will be happy about all of this.

    Thank you!
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