Electrics - house buying, who pays?

tracy1402

Dear all

We are currently buying a house and had an offer accepted under the asking price. The house had been rented out for the last 2 years and needs a little TLC cosmetic wise, with a hold in the kitchen ceiling following a leak, and some bulbs missing in the spot lights (wires showing). The Vendor agreed on our offer but said he wouldn't clean carpets or decorate (which we're happy with as we will prob change), but did agree to fix ceiling and lights.

We went to view again (2md time) today and ceiling is fixed but some spot lights are still bare with wires showing. We also noticed the outside electric box has no cover and is broken, so the meter is exposed to the element, which we didn't like.

The other thing is the house had an extension/work carried out in 2015 (extra bedroom, kitchen extended and garage converted) by the previous vendor.

We are waiting for our Homebuyers Survey to take place (the bank messed up and did the basic valuation …. that's another story!), but my questions are:-

Who is responsible for the outside meter box to be fixed?
Should we have an electrical safety inspection done and if so, who pays?


Also, the fixtures and fittings says 'sold as seen'... should we be worried?

Sorry for all the questions

Thanks

mdori003

have you exchanged?

TBagpuss

If you want an electrical inspection then normally you would pay, just as if you want a survey or a damp survey.

If you have a written agreement that the seller will fix the light it is reasonable to expect him to do so, but the cover for the electricity meter is probably more of a cosmetic thing,

HampshireH

Meter box cover is very minor

Electric test is down to you if you want one.

If you are unhappy with "sold as seen" on the fixtures list get your solicitor to challenge it.

Nothing from what you have said is jumping out as an issue whivh cannot be easily resolved

agrinnall

£21.48 for a meter box door here


https://www.meterboxesdirect.co.uk/replacement-electric-meter-box-door-549-383-mm.html

Davesnave

tracy1402 wrote: »

The other thing is the house had an extension/work carried out in 2015 (extra bedroom, kitchen extended and garage converted) by the previous vendor.

That's quite a big 'other thing.' I'd want to know if these were signed-off showing that they met building regs, and if not, why not.


I probably wouldn't be too bothered about the other 'other things' in themselves, but they flag up that the current vendor is slap-dash and I'd wonder what else, like boiler servicing, hadn't been done.

If the previous owner before this one extended in 2015, then moved, the current owner hasn't been there long. I'd therefore be slightly concerned about this rapid turnover. It could be perfectly innocent, but I'd be giving neighbours and the neighbourhood extra special attention. People don't usually pour money into a substantial extension and then sell-up; there's usually no money in it.